FOLK rock band Levellers will be the headline act at next month’s Coastival festival in a packed programme of more than 100 music, theatre, dance, comedy and arts events, many of them free.

The festival will begin on Friday, February 18 with a spectacular parade featuring dinosaurs from a distant age along with lights and music. The parade will culminate in a free concert at The Spa featuring Scarborough’s finest. Levellers top off the day on Friday at the Spa Ocean Room. Described variously as punk-folk, Celtic punk and alternative rock, Levellers have been around since the late 1980s. Anarchic and outspoken on political issues, the band has had a string of successful albums and sell-out concert tours across Europe and they are a festival favourite, loved at events like Glastonbury. They will be supported by local blues favourites, The Tom Townsend Blues Band.

Coastival organiser Wendy Clews said: “We are thrilled to have Levellers on board for Coastival 2011. They are a tremendous live band, with a great following and the perfect way to kick-off three days of music, comedy, theatre, dance and more.”

Other highlights during the event, which finishes on Sunday, February 20, include a jazz day with Claire Martin, Dennis Rollins, Tribute to Atlantic Jazz and Sarah Ellen Hughes Quartet; comedy from Count Arthur Strong; a Musicport day with 17 Hippies and Rafiki Jazz, and late night tunes with Baby Charles and DJ Tooley.

There will be performances by the Paper Birds Theatre Company and Reckless Sleepers, exhibitions and installations across the town, concerts including Sound of the Sands and a series of light classics, plus Rollercoastival – events, activities and entertainment for children.

There will be performances from Connecting Youth Culture’s Outdoor Stage, Beach Hut Theatre Company and STAMP as well as Hull University (Scarborough Campus) and the Maritime Heritage Centre presenting Punch and Judy.

Coastival also serves as an ideal showcase for local talent with major contributions from artists including Rachel Welford, Gaby Naptali, Kate Evans, Lindsey Tyson, Tracy Himswell, Maria Silmon, Vivien Mousdell, Simon Verboef, Helen Birmingham and photographer Tony Bartholomew.

Coastival Open Exhibition will run over the Coastival weekend and then continue until April 4 at Hull University’s Scarborough Campus, giving local artists an opportunity to show their work to a wide audience.

“We are really pleased to team up with the university to stage this first Coastival Open Exhibition, it promises to be a fantastic addition to the weekend and beyond,” said Wendy.

“Coastival is all about showcasing talent – both established and new. The open exhibition gives all local artists the opportunity to submit work. It is a very exciting prospect and we are really looking forward to seeing what innovative and inventive work we are able to display.”

For tickets and further information about the Coastival festival, phone 01723 384545, visit www.coastival.com or email info@coastival.com