LYME Regis’s annual folk festival will this weekend provide a grand finale to the town’s summer programme.

Lyme Folk Weekend, now in its fourth year and firmly established as one of the highlights of the summer, features more than 40 acts in nine venues, including the showpiece Marine Theatre concerts.

From September 9 to 11, three evening shows, hosted by the highly acclaimed Devon folk singer Jim Causley, the festival’s patron, will culminate in a brilliant evening of sparkling entertainment from two of the folk scene’s most renowned names, Martin and Eliza Carthy.

Eliza, arguably the biggest star in British folk music, is making her first appearance at the festival, and will be joined by her father, folk legend Martin, returning for the first time since 2013.

Also gracing the Marine Theatre stage will be John Kirkpatrick, another legendary figure from British folk. John, a stalwart of the British folk scene for five decades, will be performing his solo show on Saturday night as part of a double bill with the brilliant Dorset duo Ninebarrow, who are rapidly making a big name for themselves.

The weekend gets off to a brilliant start on Friday with a very special one-off event in the company of Jim Causley and Friends.

The show, which was such a success at last year’s festival, features a great new nine-strong line-up including The Longest Johns, Nick Wyke and Becki Driscoll and Ninebarrow, in the intimate and atmospheric setting of the Marine Theatre – an evening not to be missed.

The festival’s ‘second stage’ at the Pilot Boat offers great value for three brilliant nights of lively entertainment. Last but not least, residents and visitors to take part in the Lyme Folk Weekend Parade (Saturday 11am). The only rule is: you have to be dressed a a pirate.

n Full details for the Lyme Folk Weekend events are available online at lymefolk.com or by calling 01927 442138.