MUSICAL scarecrows have been popping up around the streets of south Gloucestershire this week, heralding the Rockhampton Folk Festival, which takes place this Saturday.

The Festival is punching above its weight this year and is aiming to bring top-quality music to a lovely countryside setting.

Organisers are particularly pleased to announce that this year the Festival has been recognised by Arts Council England. With their support they have a great line up of top-quality artists including a BBC Young Folk Musician award winner, Greg Russell.

Outreach work is ongoing in the days leading up to the Festival, and 1,000 local children will experience live music in their school when world music duo Vocal Global perform in five local primary schools, a special needs school and an old people’s community.

Music is what this Festival is all about, and the line-up includes gypsy swing from The Schmoozenbergs, enchanting folk from Fife & Strum, exotic vocal sounds of the Middle East and Caribbean and the sounds of the traditional Bavarian beer hall with The Hosen Ones.

Children are well-catered for with an activities tent and there will be participation workshops with the artists for all the family.

The festival field is in a lovely countryside setting, by the church in Rockhampton and is compact so you can keep an eye on children while enjoying the music, good local food and locally brewed beer.

  • Rockhampton Folk Festival is on Saturday, June 17. Opens 2.30pm. More information and tickets at rockhamptonfolkfest.org.uk