Ruby Mae in session

Warning: This show may contain future headliners! Andrew Marston introduces the best new music from our area, including:

• From town takeovers to long-awaited returns, our festival guide unpacks one of the biggest weekends of the year, so far, with Hanley welcoming the brand new Foundry Festival, Loopfest taking over the whole of Shrewsbury, the almighty return of the Upton Folk and the launch of the Embers Fire Festival in Ironbridge - and we ask the question - is Bromyard's Nozstock Festival back?

• "A Dream Come True" - that's how a Stoke-on-Trent band have described their upcoming gig at the iconic Shepherd's Bush Empire this weekend. We're catching up with The Crystal Teardrop, who are also heading over to France and Spain in the next few weeks, to play some fairly high-profile gigs.

• We've followed her from those first uploads to major festival stages and a record deal - and now she’s back where it all began. We hear from Albrighton's Nieve Ella after a special run of intimate shows as she lands the coveted Tune of the Week on BBC Radio 1.

• He’s played the Royal Albert Hall, had tracks featured on Love Island, and now Keith Forde returns with The Linkwells, a Malvern band who've just been signed by Nick Brine, the Rockfield engineer behind the anthemic sound of Oasis.

• In our Musicians' Masterclass: Forget the one big breakthrough moment. At the Music Awards of Staffordshire & Cheshire, we hear how modern writers are stitching careers together through pop sessions, indie cuts, and everything in between.

• Nantwich got a touch of pop royalty as Melanie C brought a sold-out, intimate set to St Mary’s Church this week, where Spice Girl energy met stained glass and standing ovations in a gig snapped up in just nine minutes!

• It started with a last-minute leap onto a festival main stage, and ended up with a global touring diary. This Herefordshire force have turned chance into destiny. Award-winning, road-tested and rooted at the foot of the Malvern Hills, we’re catching up with the Roving Crows.

• In our Music News: How Kidderminster's Led Zeppelin legend has come to the aid of a British broadcasting icon.

• From a packed Crown Ballroom at the Nantwich Jazz, Blues & Music Festival, BBC Introducing steps right into the story with Ruby Mae. Born in Stafford, shaped by soul, reggae and her grandad's record collection, those early sounds have grown into a distinctive voice that is now lighting up festival stages across the UK.

Upload your tracks now: bbc.co.uk/introducing