FANS of the Leigh Folk Festival will be pleased to hear that plans for this year’s event are progressing well - and that  along with old favourites, some big name stars are set to perform.

The much loved celebration of music, dance, poetry, storytelling and street theatre has been going since 1992 and regularly attracts crowds of 20,000.

Now a landmark date on the local calendar, the festival has expanded enormously and has been embraced by performers and festival goers alike, attracting visitors to Leigh from across the world.

This year’s event festival take place in June and artists announced so far include celebrated comedian and folk singer Richard Digance, a fusion of traditional and early music from the Emily Askew Band, a new and much anticipated collaboration between Alasdair Roberts, Amble Skuse and David McGuinness, as well as local jazz legend Digby Fairweather.

Also on the musical menu will be the French vocal trio Tartine de Clous, and the new folk collective Bird in the Belly.

Some old favourites also appearing this year include the now high-flying Stick in the Wheel, an expanded  You are Wolf line up and there’ll be a long overdue return for the wonderful Doomed Bird of Providence. 

Many more names will be announced over the coming weeks so keep a close eye on the festival’s website, facebook and twitter feeds. A usual the Leigh Folk Festival will take place over four days, starting this year on Thursday June 21 and culminating in the final, climactic day in Leigh Old Town on Sunday June 24 and with a procession led by the world famous
Dagenham Girl Pipers. 

Visit www.leighfolkfestival.com