BROMYARD Folk Festival is making a welcome return with more than 170 hours of traditional music, song and dance. 

The event, from Thursday to Sunday, September 9-12, is back for its 53rd year after last year’s cancellation due to the pandemic.

Festival director Lynne Barker said: “We are so looking forward to welcoming people back after such a long break. 

“The pandemic has been especially hard on the festival scene, with the artists and support staff affected so badly. We are very proud to be getting the ball rolling again. 

“We’ve got a great weekend lined up so please come along to my home town and say hello!” 

Acts include Edward II, the return of the popular 80s reggae folk fusion combo, Breabach, and winners of Scottish Folk Band of the Year Kinnaris Quintet playing Scottish and Irish traditional music with sprinklings of bluegrass and classical. Other well-known performers include The John Martyn Project, Calan, Granny’s Attic, Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne and Crows.

As well as these highlights, there will be dozens of other artists performing throughout the weekend. 

On top of this musical line-up, there will be dancing, children’s entertainment, storytelling, a craft market, a range of workshops, a real ale bar, sea shanties, an organised walk on the Saturday morning, a wide range of global festival food and on-site showering facilities. 

The four-day festival has been supported by local businesses, including Alfie Best of Wyldecrest Parks, who has sponsored a concert on Saturday evening. 

Tickets are selling fast, with only a few remaining for Thursday evening. However, availability remains good for the rest of the weekend with plenty space for campers, camper vans and caravans. 

Tickets held over from the cancelled 2020 festival will remain valid this year. 

Organisers have requested that guests test themselves for coronavirus before arrival, respect other people’s space and make use of hand sanitisers around the festival site. 

To avoid crowds, the event’s traditional torchlit parade on Friday evening has been cancelled.

The gates open at 4pm on Thursday. For more information and to book tickets, visit the festival website at bromyardfolkfestival.co.uk.