HUNDREDS of folk music fans will be flocking to Dorset next week for the family-friendly Purbeck Valley Folk Festival which kicks off on Thursday.

Legendary acts will rub shoulders with upcoming talent amidst the beautiful hillside surroundings of the Purbeck Valley Farm from August 16-19.

The impressive line-up announced so far includes Richard Thompson, Beth Orton, King Creosote, Trad.Attack!, and this year's BBC Folk Award winner Siobhan Miller and nominees Elephant Sessions, O’Hooley & Tidow, Sam Kelly and The Lost Boys.

Festival-goers can also get involved in lots of other activities including kids' workshops, poetry, storytelling, music and craft workshops, singing/tune sessions, Wessex Circus, a space-hopper obstacle course and the ever-popular beard competition.

Purbeck Valley Folk Festival is great for families and this year they have more kids stuff than ever. The site has enough room and grassy areas for them to run around and explore new fun experiences and skills.

Festival organiser Catherine Burke says: "Kids activities are going to be bigger and better than ever this year with kids crafts running throughout each day. Wessex Circus will be joining us again giving our folky kids a chance to learn and practise all sorts of circus skills, juggling, stilt walking, unicycling, diablos, devils sticks and acrobatics with an inflatable tumble mat, and low-level practice trapeze! Kids can have a go at all these circus skills themselves under the guidance of Wessex Circus, and the Wessex Circus guys will be putting on a few displays and shows over the weekend too.”

Catherine Burke said she is extremely excited to be bringing so many well-loved artists together: “We have a broad definition of folk music at Purbeck Valley. As promoters we listen to the feedback our audience gives us. We always ask festival-goers to tell us who they'd like to see at the festival and, as well as introducing them to new music that we think they'll like."

Weekend and day tickets are still available. For more details, please visit purbeckvalleyfolkfestival.co.uk

Six things not to miss at Purbeck Valley Folk Festival 2018

• Richard Thompson and his Electric Trio - Having co-founded the groundbreaking group Fairport Convention as a teenager in the 60’s, Richard Thompson and his mates virtually invented British Folk Rock. Witness a true folk legend headlining the Saturday night. Named by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the Top 20 Guitarists of All Time, Richard Thompson is also one of the world’s most critically acclaimed and prolific songwriters.

• Beth Orton - Her mix of acoustic and electronic elements have won her huge acclaim over the last three decades. Sunday night headliner Beth Orton first came to prominence in the mid-90s with her debut album, Trailer Park. Her 1999 follow-up Central Reservation picked up the BRIT Award for Best Album, she’s earned two Mercury Music Award nominations and her recent releases, Sugaring Season and Kidsticks, continues to beguile.

• Ninebarrow - Local favourites Ninebarrow are a multi-award-winning folk duo, who are impressing audiences across the country with their innovative and captivating take on the folk tradition. Jon Whitley and Jay LaBouchardiere play on Saturday and are not to be missed with their beautiful songs steeped in Dorset folklore and influences.

• Purbeck Rising - With thousands of applications from bands to perform at Purbeck Valley Folk Festival every year, the Purbeck Rising competition sees a handful of lucky artists performing in a live showcase final in the Long Barn at the festival on the Saturday afternoon. The perfect place to experience many seriously talented upcoming folk musicians.

• Trad Attack! - Always expect the unexpected at the Purbeck Valley Folk Festival. Trad Attack! will be adding a high-tempo blast of originality to the Friday night with a mesmerising set of exciting Estonian sounds. For only a trio, they make a very big sound with acoustic 12-string guitar, drums and an array of whistles, bagpipes and harps.

• Siobhan Miller - At the very top of her game, Siobhan received a BBC Folk Award earlier this year for Best Traditional Track. Sure to be a big draw on the Friday with her exceptional talent, Siobhan is one of the foremost traditional singers in Scotland.

READER COMPETITION

As a special offer for Daily Echo readers, we have four weekend tickets which includes camping worth XXX to give away. All you have to do is answer the following question, and email your entry along with your name and daytime contact number to Purbeck valley Folk Competition to digital@bournemouthecho.co.uk by 12noon on Tuesday, August 14.

Question: What is the name of this year's BBC Folk Award winner?

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The winners’ personal details will be provided to the competition sponsor/s, for the purpose of facilitating the competition prize.

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