ORGANISERS are planning a super-human effort to make sure 2015’s Black Country Festival is a soaraway success.

The team behind the event has been joined by the heroic Black Country Mon, aka Steve Pitts from Teetshirts in Cradley Heath, who will be flying the flag during the countdown to the festival.

The official Black Country Day is Tuesday July 14 and there will be a host of events around the region to mark the occasion, including a flagship celebration weekend on July 11 and 12.

Leading community characters are urging people to display their Black Country flags in the run-up to the festival, including writer and performer Billy Spakemon, who has penned a Fly the Flag song especially for the 2015 event.

Billy Spakemon, whose real name is Brian Dakin, said: “It was wonderful to see so many people of all ages celebrating the Black Country at last year’s festival and we want to start building the excitement now for an even bigger celebration this year. The Fly the Flag song will hopefully help raise awareness and remind people to start flying the Black Country flag with pride this summer.”

Councillor Pete Lowe, leader of Dudley Council, said: “Now is the time for the countdown to begin for this year’s Black Country Festival. Last year was such a success that it has given us all the appetite to want to do it even better this time. Whether it’s from their home, their business, their school or their car, we are looking forward to seeing the flag being flown across the area again this year.”

The flag, which was designed by Stourbridge schoolgirl Gracie Sheppard, has been seen flying a Glastonbury, the Tour De France, the football World Cup in Brazil and in Afghanistan.

A wide range of events including live music, comedy, a beer tour and a 10km run are already confirmed for this year’s festival itinerary.

For more details on the festival or to order a flag visit www.blackcountryfestival.co.uk