THE occasional downpour didn't dampen the party spirit at the Purbeck Folk Festival.

Most of the entertainment at the big party on a farm in Langton Matravers is set up in barns, so the event was prepared for this summer’s weather.

For what was the fourth year of the festival there were two stages in large barns, a smaller one in a cosy farm building and the Fire outdoor stage for when the sun did shone.

On top of the big headline acts like KT Tunstall there were lots of acts that delighted me as a bit of a folk virgin.

In the smaller Moby Duck barn on Saturday the Bonzai Pirates upped the tempo after some great open mic performances and they got everyone clapping with their novel mix of French rapping amongst the violin, drums and guitars.

The sun was shining for a beautifully relaxing set from Kat and Alex on the Fire stage.

Later in the Long Barn Rory McLeod and The Familiar Strangers had the crowd joining in for a rousing and touching mass singalong.

There was also a children’s arts and crafts tent where they could create pirate costumes. In a small field the youngsters could try their hand at circus skills.

There was none of that overpriced festival food either with local fish, meat and Dorset cider and apple juice in full flow alongside the many beers on offer.