BLAZING sunshine made a welcome appearance for a new folk festival in Poole.

The inaugural Folk on the Quay took place on both Saturday and Sunday at venues around the area, and boasted four main stages across the quay side, two ceilidhs, Morris dancing and more.

More than 10,000 people visited to watch the 40 music acts performing across the weekend.

Many performers were based locally, including three piece acoustic band Willowen, who hail from Bournemouth, Poole-based group Thirsty Man, and Dorset duo Ninebarrow.

However, the event also drew in big names from further afield, such as Mark Kermode’s favourites, Owl in the Sun, and two-time winners of the BBC Folk Award for best duo, Spiers and Boden.

Audiences were also treated to more than 20 folk and Morris groups, who brought colour and dance to the quayside.

Bruce Grant-Braham, chairman of the Poole Tourism Partnership, said; “It has been a superb weekend with bumper crowds, great music, loads of dancing and fantastic weather.

“We saw a lot of new people enjoying the friendly laid back atmosphere and it was great for all the Poole Quay businesses. Our thanks go to everyone who supported Folk on the Quay. We’d love to see it become an annual event and will be talking to the local businesses to see how they want to see it go forward in the future.”

The event was created as the result of collaboration between Poole Tourism and Folk Dorset, who are responsible for the Bournemouth Folk Club and Purbeck Folk Festival.

Although organisers had planned for bad weather, with performances to be moved to the United Reform Church in Skinner Street in the event of rain, the sun shone all weekend.

Councillor Judy Butt said: “The music throughout the weekend was first class and our thanks go to Paul and Catherine Burke for their expertise and knowledge which has helped to deliver such a wonderful event.

“I know that everyone was blown away by the talent and the fact that so many of the musicians were local – the whole thing was just brilliant.”

See all our pictures from Folk on the Quay in our gallery here