ONE of Britain’s most successful folk acts Bellowhead will be headlining Pocklington Arts Centre’s new summer event.

Platform Festival will be held at The Old Station, Pocklington on Saturday, July 18, and will feature an array of musical talent across two stages including The Shires, The Magic Numbers, Stornoway, David Ford, Buffalo Skinners, Barcode Zebra, Beth McCarthy, Sam Griffiths, The Grand Ole Uke of York, TE Morris, Dan Webster.

The event will also have an outdoor stage curated by Access to Music.

The music college offers courses in music performance, vocal artist, music technology, artist development, music business and skills through music.

The aim of the enterprise is to showcase and to provide a platform for young, emerging performers from around the region.

Malton based Brass Castle Brewery along with York Wine & Beer Shop will be sourcing a diverse range of drinks for the festival and there will be a number of local and regional caterers including the Pocklington based Smokin’ Blues Smokehouse & BBQ providing southern state street food, Bánh mì Booth a Yorkshire-based purveyor of delicious Vietnamese-inspired street food and noodles and Judsons of Pocklington.

Bellowhead are widely praised for their stunning live shows and they are often acknowledged as one of the greatest ever live acts the UK has produced in recent years, wowing audiences in venues across the UK, Europe and North America and becoming a key fixture on the festival scene.

In the process they’ve won BBC Radio 2 Best Live Act five times, as well as Best Group twice.

Pocklington Arts Centre assistant manager James Duffy, said he was “delighted” with the range of acts that are set to perform.

He said: “I have been a big admirer of Bellowhead’s music for several years now and have seen them perform on numerous occasions including Cambridge & Truck festivals.

“John and Jon have both performed at the venue in various guises over the last decade, so it seems fitting to have them and their award-winning band headline the first Platform Festival.”

He added: “We are delighted to have The Shires perform at the festival, as they have already sold out three performances at PAC within the last year.

“The venue is extremely pleased and proud to have been there from the very start with the band and look forward to celebrating with them in July at the festival”

Platform Music Festival takes place from 1pm with doors opening at noon.

Tickets for the event are £41 and £30, for under 18s.

They are available from the box office on 01759 301547 or go to the website pocklingtonartscentre.co.uk