Wimborne Minster Folk Festival

Wimborne’s annual folk festival has been a highlight of Dorset summers since 1980. The 2013 festival promises three days of ‘folk, family and fun’, with the much-loved mix of dance displays, family activities, workshops and stalls returning to the historic minster town’s streets.

The concerts at the Allendale Centre will showcase superb live music from artists spanning the current folk spectrum including the new-look Albion Band and BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards nominees Blair Dunlop and Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts.

They will be joined by Corncrow (Kim Guy and Steve Hunt) with their distinctive take on mainly traditional folk songs, and the Carrivick Sisters, runners-up in the 2010 BBC Young Folk Awards, with their lively blend of folk and bluegrass played on guitar, mandolin, fiddle, dobro and clawhammer banjo.

Saturday sees the festival’s main ceilidh at the Allendale Centre, led by Gareth Kiddier and The Watch with caller Sheena Masson. Adding an international flavour are Ritchie-Parrish-Ritchie, born out of Tanglefoot, one of Canada's greatest folk bands. Finally, five-piece ColvinQuarmby will close the festival to send everyone away smiling and looking forward to next year’s festival.

This year will also feature a large Children's area on Willow Walk, with pedal boats, zorb balls and free circus skills workshop. Plus there will be free craft activities and workshops for all the family on offer at the Community Learning and Resource Centre (CLaRC), a moment's walk from the Minster.

For more details information plesae visit www.wimbornefolk.co.uk or call into Wimborne Tourist Information Centre for a copy of the programme.