HUNDREDS of folk fans will be heading for one of West Somerset’s most popular summer music events when the 24th South West Folk Festival returns to Carhampton Recreation Centre from June 19 to 21.

The weekend of concerts, singarounds, music sessions, and workshops will raise funds for the Brain Tumour Charity.

This year, the festival spreads throughout the village to include events in the parish church and the nearby Butchers Arms pub.

A folk concert will be held in St John the Baptist Church on Friday at 7 pm and entry is by donation to church funds.

The festival organisers have also arranged an informal concert on the Sunday at 2 pm when Liz Harris will lead a session called ‘Lift Up Your Voice’.

Visitors will be invited to listen, join in, or bring a song.

Headline acts at the festival include comedian Rob Barratt and singers Rosie and Mike Longhurst, Ma Butcher, Windward, Vicky Cooper and Richard Toller, Road to Avalon, the Woodwards, Bex Gilbert and Chris Lambert, Trevor Valentine, and Wyrdkin.

The packed weekend programme also features a Saturday night concert, afternoon singing with tea and cakes, stories and ballads sessions, sea shanties, and ‘meet the singer/songwriter’.

An American session will be held in the Butchers Arms.

A real ale bar will be available in the recreation centre on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

The festival was first held in the Britannia Inn, Alcombe, and run by singers Alan and Lynda Baker, later moving to Minehead Rugby Club, and, finally, to Carhampton.

In 2022, Terry Helyar took over the running of the event on the retirement of Mike and Di Dibble.

Tickets for the weekend, including the Saturday concert, are £35, an all-day Saturday ticket £17, Saturday concert only £10, and individual events £5 each, accompanied children under-16 free.

More details are on the festival website.