Sunday Folk

Shrewsbury Folk Festival organisers promise 'musical and cultural diversity' over the bank holiday weekend, 22-25 August 2008. Over 5,000 visitors are expected at Shrewsbury's West Mid Showground site to enjoy a packed line-up featuring new and established artists from the UK and around the world.

Bellowhead at 2007 Shrewsbury Folk Festival

The headline acts for 2008 include Richard Thompson, Winnipeg-based The Duhks, Irish band Lunasa, regular favourites Oysterband and the incredibly popular Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. There will also be a focus on dance bands such as Trinculo and the Oyster Ceilidh band, as well as traditional dance troupes, including local groups The Shropshire Bedlams and Martha Roden's Tupenny Dish.

Other popular names from the folk and wider festival circuits include The New Rope String Band, Rory McLeod, the Tim Van Eyken Band, The Demon Barber Roadshow, Boka Halat, Bella Hardy, Kerfuffle and Sheelanagig. For a full line-up, visit the official festival website.

The Shrewsbury Folk Festival site is self-contained, with marquees for the main stage, as well as several smaller tents, including the Sabrina marquee for open mic sessions and a second performance venue. There are also events taking place in Shrewsbury town centre.

Shrewsbury Folk Festival on the BBC

Genevieve Tudor's Sunday Folk radio show will be broadcasting live from the festival across the Midlands 7-9pm on 25 August. You can also listen to the show on-demand on the BBC iPlayer for the following seven days. Genevieve Tudor's show will include a live session from Richard Thompson as well as sampling the best of the festival weekend.

The BBC bus will also be at the showground 10am-5pm on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 August. There's a chance to try your hand at digital editing in the morning and the BBC team will be recording live sessions in the afternoon - so bring along an instrument and a tune!

History

Formerly known as Bridgnorth Folk Festival, the Shrewsbury Folk Festival moved to the county town in 2006, after outgrowing its original South Shropshire home.

After only one year based at the Quarry in Shrewsbury town centre, organisers found the popularity of the festival demanded a new, even larger venue, and the West Mid Showground on Berwick Road was adopted. With plenty of room for camping and other facilities, the new site has proved popular.

Shrewsbury Folk Festival audience

Festival patron John Jones said: "It's a fantastic venue. I have walked around the site and looked at it and it's great, everything in one place." Keith Donnelley said: "It feels like the Shrewsbury Folk Festival has come home."

Every shade of folk is reflected over the weekend. There is also a series of workshops catering for all standards of musicianship, and a dedicated children's programme.