FOLK fans are gearing up for Wessex Folk Festival.

This year in addition to the usual free music and street dancing during the festival weekend at the end of May, there will also be two very special folk concerts, held in the intimate surroundings of Hope Church, Trinity Street.

Steve Turner will be performing on Friday May 29, while Tim Laycock and Colin Thompson will give a concert on Saturday May 30.

Steve comes from a family of concertina players and singers and began his career on the Manchester folk scene.

He is known as a pioneer of highly sophisticated English concertina song accompaniments, stretching the boundaries of traditional forms, with one of the best voices in the business.

He is also multi-instrumentalist, who accompanies himself on the cittern, and plays mandolin and banjo.

Tim Laycock is a multi-talented actor, playwright, singer, musician and song-writer.

He has been playing and singing at folk clubs and festivals for over 25 years using mainly the concertina, melodeon or guitar to accompany himself.

His repertoire is drawn from the great collections of traditional folk songs, sea shanties, ballads and music hall songs as well as other singers and self-penned material.

Many of his songs and stories are inspired by his native county, Dorset, giving them a West Country flavour.

Tim will be joined by local musician, Colin Thompson, for this concert.

Support for both concerts will be the fantastic local female duo, ‘The Two Peas’.

Both concerts start at 8.00pm with doors open at 7.30 pm.

Refreshments will be available. There is no bar, but you can bring your own alcoholic drinks.

Tickets are £8 for one concert or you can book both concerts and pay the reduced price of £14.

Tickets are availabe online at wessexfolkfestival.com or from Weymouth Pavilion Box Office 01305 783225.