THE headline acts are coming thick and fast for this summer’s eagerly awaited Purbeck Folk Festival.

The latest name to cause a commotion is ’80s legend Lloyd Cole, who will make plenty of brand new friends this August bank holiday.

Having come to the fore in 1984 fronting The Commotions and racking up hits like Perfect Skin, Brand New Friend, Lost Weekend, Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken? and Jennifer She Said, Lloyd moved to the States five years later to pursue a solo career that has seen him develop his distinctive songwriting across a range of styles from orchestral pop to edgy rock.

“Getting Lloyd Cole to headline is a real coup for the Purbeck Folk Festival,” says festival director Michael Callaghan.

“He’s genuine indie pop royalty, a cult hero to thousands of fans around the world and a true music aficionado.

“He fits in perfectly with the festival’s broad approach to folk music and we know he’s going to love meeting fans old and new at Purbeck this year.”

Lloyd will be appearing solo at Purbeck Folk Festival on the Long Barn main stage, joining a bill that includes the previously announced Scottish singer-songwriter Eddi Reader and, still beautiful after all these years, The South, to top the Festival’s strongest line-up to date.

Running over the Bank Holiday weekend, August 21-24, on a working sheep farm in the heart of the beautiful Isle of Purbeck, the festival, which recently won the Fatea Music Award for Countryside Festival Of The Year, promises four days of fine music, great food, fancy dress, comedy, film and magic on Dorset’s stunning Jurassic Coastline.

Now in its sixth year, the Festival’s inclusive booking policy ensures an eclectic mix of outstanding, original young folk, established roots, traditional and world music in a fun, family-friendly environment.

The four stages are contained in the farm’s ingeniously converted barns and a marquee venue that hosts the Purbeck Rising final and open mic sessions.

But there’s much more than music on offer, with a host of additional entertainment that includes a comedy line-up, an on-site cinema programme, art interventions and workshops, a fancy dress parade, a poetry slam, kids’ activity pen and a beer festival with 40 local real ales, 20 ciders and even a Dorset pils lager.

Until March 31, weekend tickets from Friday to Sunday include free camping and are on sale at just £80 (£40 for 12-17 years, £10 for 4-11 years and under-4s free).

Day camping is available on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at £10 a night on arrival. A limited number of festival day tickets will also be available.

For more details call 023 8071 1818 or visit purbeckfolk.co.uk