THE Purbeck Valley Folk Festival (27-30 August) is set to celebrate the flourishing UK folk scene with its very own talent contest, Purbeck Rising. Started in response to the hundreds of applications received from bands and artists wanting to play the Festival, Purbeck Rising offers an opportunity for new acts to play at the family festival with a main stage slot, a day’s studio recording and much more up for grabs.

Organiser Catherine Burke said: “We have thousands of applications from bands to perform at Purbeck Valley Folk Festival every year. We think we make pretty good choices when it comes to the music but as Purbeck Valley Folk Festival is your festival as well as ours, we thought it might be a good idea to let you do some of the deciding!”

Previous finalists, Bournemouth-based trio Kadia, have since released their debut album East of Alexandria earlier this year and seen their profile grow rapidly since entering Purbeck Rising in 2013. Kadia return to play the Purbeck Valley Folk Festival on 28 August and say: "Purbeck Rising offered Kadia a chance to link our name to an established and well-loved festival, but the festival offered us much more than a great name-drop.”

They added: “We enjoyed genuine exposure, contact with people excited about our potential as a band and we met new friends who were eager to share musical ideas. The experience played a huge part in setting the band on our current path and cemented a real love of contemporary and traditional folk music."

To enter this year’s Purbeck Rising artists should email a link to a YouTube video to info@purbeckvalleyfolkfestival.co.uk before 14 July with the subject ‘Purbeck Rising’. The best 10 acts will be put up for public vote between 24-31 July, with the five most popular acts going through to a live final at Purbeck Valley Folk Festival on the Saturday afternoon of 29 August.

The five finalists get weekend tickets to Purbeck Valley Folk Festival for themselves and a guest each. The contest will be decided by public vote and a panel of experts with the winning act invited back to play a main stage set next year, as well as a spot at the Folk on the Quay festival in Poole in June 2016 and a day’s recording at Sizzle Studio in Bournemouth.

Headliners announced so far include Chris Difford, Justin Currie, Richard Thompson, Stornoway, Hot Rize, Kathryn Tickell, Megson, Martha Tilston & the Scientists, Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin and The Moulettes. 

Running over the Bank Holiday weekend, 27-30 August, revellers can expect the very best folk, roots and world music. The organisers have carefully chosen an exciting line-up that reflects the diversity of the current folk scene, with plenty to keep music lovers and families entertained.

Music fans are also in for a special treat, as Saturday’s Songwriting Circle will see headliners Chris Difford and Justin Currie taking part. This is an intimate opportunity to hear the stories behind the songs from the musicians themselves.

Featuring a host of favourite attractions including kids entertainers, storytellers, craft workshops, music workshops, song sessions, cinema, poetry, Purbeck Rising, open mics and the very best folk, roots and world music. All this surrounded by stunning views of Corfe Castle, accessible camping and some truly delicious food.

Tickets are selling fast for this year’s festival, which takes place on 27-30 August. Weekend tickets (Fri-Sun) include free camping and are on sale now at just £100 (youth £50, children over three £20). A limited number of Festival day tickets are also now on sale at £50 per day (£25 youth, £10 child).

For more information please visit www.purbeckvalleyfolkfestival.co.uk and for tickets call 023 80711818 or www.ticketsouth.co.uk