THIS weekend's Beverley Folk Festival boasts an impressive line-up of over 100 acts and artists, organisers are expecting music fans from both the local area and much further afield.

Festival Programmer and Manager, John Watterson, said: “This year we have a bumper line-up, with 30% more live music than ever before. Whilst we still have the main 1,200-seater marquee for our headline acts and the popular Wold Top marquee will be housing Area 2, Moonbeams and the Late Night Club, this year our smaller concert marquee has been replaced by a big top.

"Alongside a whole host of artists throughout the daytime, this will be the venue for energetic late night entertainment with Bop in the Big Top on Friday and Saturday, with a cracking party night on the Sunday."

He added: "Festival revellers have said in previous years that they would like more late night entertainment to compliment what happens in the Wold Top venue – we listened to them and hope they will be delighted to hear we have taken up that challenge.”

Headline artists include:

Friday 17 June:

Kate Rusby, Tim Edey, Anthony John Clarke

Saturday 18 June:

The Lindisfarne Story Band, Jez Lowe, The Animals and Friends

Sunday 19 June:

Steeleye Span, The Acoustic Strawbs, Churchfitters

This year, event organisers are also opening their doors to folk clubs from the area, who have been invited to run their own venue within the event itself and bring their music to festival-goers.

In addition, back by popular demand are The Westwood Sessions, a branch of the folk festival that is dedicated to young and emerging talent.

Also returning are the Dance Teams, Workshops and The Film Club, plus literature, poetry, comedy and activities for children.

Jim Pybus, one of the festival’s voluntary directors, added: “It’s impossible to describe everything we have on offer in just a sentence or two. The best way people can get a flavour of what will be taking place is to either visit our website or just turn up to the festival itself. "

Other artists appearing on the Main Stage include:

Emma King; The Young’uns; Roger Davies; Maia; Steve Tilston and Friends; Gilmore & Roberts;

The Goat Roper Rodeo Band; Flats and Sharps; Dan Webster; Carrie Martin; and Wild Ponies.

In the new Big Top, you will find:

Sam Carter; Maia; Gilmore & Roberts; Billy Lee & the Swamp Critters; King Courgette; Jim Boyle & Dave Gray; Anthony John Clarke; The Grand Old Uke of York ; Tim Edey; Joe Broughton’s Conservatoire Folk Ensemble; Flats and Sharps; The Young’uns; Buffalo Gals Stampede; The Churchfitters; Mitchell & Vincent; Mestisa; Maddison’s Thread; Jez Lowe; Róisín Bán; Celtarabia; and Merry Hell.

There are also dozens of other artists performing in the Wold Top Marquee as part of the perennially popular Area Two, Moonbeams and Late Night Club – this is the perfect place to see tomorrow’s stars today, as the festival has an excellent track record for spotting and nurturing news musicians who have gone on to carve themselves professional careers on the festival scene.

Jim said: “We want to encourage as many people as possible join us this year to celebrate the diverse range of music and other entertainment we have on offer. This is Beverley Folk Festival’s 34th year and our fourth at the Racecourse, who are fantastic hosts. Once again, we look forward to seeing many old friends and new faces alike, as we join together in what promises to be a fantastic weekend of music, song and laughter.”

For more details about Beverley Folk Festival and to buy tickets online go to http://www.beverleyfestival.com or visit Beverley Tourist Information Centre, Butcher Row, Beverley.