Putney’s streets will be alive with the sound of music during a three-day festival over the Easter Boat Race weekend.

Beginning on Friday, April 2, artists from all over London will showcase a diverse range of music, including rock, opera, Spanish, Latin, folk and the blues.

About 20 pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants will host more than 40 live acts, with about 100,000 people expected to visit the town centre.

Carrie Davis, manager of the Halfmoon music venue, said: “It’s a really exciting weekend.

“Everyone in Putney comes out, plus you have thousands of people coming from outside the area. It’s a great time to see live music.”

Now in its 13th year, the event is an established highlight of Wands- worth’s music scene and has been dubbed south London’s answer to the Camden Crawl.

The line-up includes old favourites plus a host of new bands, including some of the capital’s up-and-coming artists.

There will also be food stalls at St Mary’s Church and an Italian market in Church Square, next to the Odeon.

The world famous Boat Race, which is in its 156th year, will start at around 4.30pm on Saturday from Putney Bridge.

Among the festival’s highlights will be 80s “rockney” Chas, of Chas ‘n’ Dave, who is playing with his band at the Halfmoon on Sunday.

The venue will also host live bands and DJs on the Friday and a hog roast on the Saturday.

For those who pre-book, Carluccios in Putney Wharf will offer dinner accompanied by the romantic sounds of live opera.

Meanwhile the Boathouse in Putney Wharf will welcome Scalectrix and Fake Tan, along with Lola Jones and the Big Hand, plus Marner Brown.

The Boat Race, between Oxford and Cambridge, was founded in 1829 by Charles Wordsworth, nephew of the poet William Wordsworh, and his friend Charles Merival.

Oxford won last year’s race, although Cambridge currently holds the lead in the series, by 79-75.

q For information and full listings, visit theboatrace.org or wandsworth.gov.uk/putney