A FOLK festival’s ‘inclusive spirit and spectacular location’ make it one of this summer’s hottest tickets.

Sidmouth Folk Festival returns to the town from August 4 to August 11. This year will see more than 700 events taking place across the week. Crowd favourites Show of Hands are bound to get the masses singing and dancing when they take to the stage.

They are festival patrons and the event is celebrating its 63rd year this year.

Organisers said: “The longevity of the event is down to a number of factors: a high quality, diverse programme with something for all – a spectacular location and warm, inclusive spirit.

“One of the mainstays of the festival is the celebration of South West talent. This year, we feature festival patrons Show of Hands, in concert with Dartmoor-based choir, Lost Sound Chorus, plus Dartmoor stalwart Geoff Lakeman.

“His son, the dynamic and talented Seth Lakeman also appears during the week, as does Jim Causley’s Trio, Fisherman’s Friends and Ninebarrow, who will be supporting Barbara Dickson.

“And there will be a welcome return for Michael Morpurgo, with Where My Wellies Take Me, after his two previous sell out shows at Sidmouth with War Horse and Private Peaceful.

“And that’s just scraping the surface.”

The taster programme is available now and the full programme will be announced in July.

Tickets are available for the full week or for the weekend, or if you only have a few hours to spare, why not opt for an evening concert?

There will be small concerts, roots dance parties, folk dance, ceilidhs, concerts, dance displays, storytelling, workshops and much

more.

This year there will also be the popular children’s festival too.

Organisers promise that there will be ‘something for everyone.’

For more information or to see the taster programme visit sidmouthweek.co.uk