MALMESBURY Abbey provided a stunning backdrop for the town's first ever folk festival over the weekend.

Families and friends congregated at the Cloister Gardens behind the historic 12th Century abbey with blankets and camping chairs on Saturday, September 23 to enjoy soulful tunes at the inaugural Malmesbury Folk & Roots Festival.

This brand-new event was timed to take place on the same day as European Folk Day.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Festival-goers enjoying folk music in the Cloister Gardens behind the Malmesbury AbbeyFestival-goers enjoying folk music in the Cloister Gardens behind the Malmesbury Abbey (Image: Richard Harris)

The event was organised by Malmesbury resident Catherine Burke who wanted to share her love of folk music with the town.

She also helps run the Purbeck Valley Folk Festival so decided to set up a similar event in her hometown.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: The Carrivick Sisters performing at Malmesbury Folk & Roots FestivalThe Carrivick Sisters performing at Malmesbury Folk & Roots Festival (Image: Richard Harris)

Rock legend and Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson, who lives near Malmesbury, appeared in a promotional video encouraging people to get tickets a few weeks ago.

Festival-goers enjoyed eight and a half hours of relaxing, soulful tunes from the likes of acoustic band 3 Daft Monkeys, English folk singer-songwriter Martha Tilston and musical duo The Carrivick Sisters.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Wiltshire-based duo Fly Yeti Fly Lorna Somerville and Darren Fisher performing at Malmesbury Folk & Roots FestivalWiltshire-based duo Fly Yeti Fly Lorna Somerville and Darren Fisher performing at Malmesbury Folk & Roots Festival (Image: Richard Harris)

Wiltshire-based duo Fly Yeti Fly Lorna Somerville and Darren Fisher also treated the audience to blended vocal harmonies with guitar arrangements, a mandolin and a harmonica.

Children could be heard laughing from across the town as a clown entertained them with his humorous tricks.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: A clown had a lot of tricks up his sleeve to entertain children with A clown had a lot of tricks up his sleeve to entertain children with (Image: Richard Harris)

Visitors also got to enjoy an array of food and drink stalls at the festival site.

All proceeds from the event went towards Cllr Gavin Grant's three mayoral charities HEALS of Malmesbury, Malmesbury Animal Sanctuary and Malmesbury River Valleys Trust.