POET Simon Armitage is the latest big name to be added to the line-up for this year’s Holmfirth Festival of Folk.

Add the talents of poet Les Barker, plus those of singer and storyteller Nick Hennessey, and it becomes clear that the spoken word has a powerful place in this year’s festival programme.

Simon, who has an international reputation for his work as a writer for stage and television as well as for his poetry, was brought up in Marsden and still lives in the Huddersfield area.

He will be joined at Birdsedge Village Hall on May 11 by acoustic folk singer and songwriter Roger Davies for an event which is selling out fast.

Festival organisers are delighted to have successfully bid for money from Arts In The Neighbourhood organisation.

There is already a fine line-up of singers, musicians and dancers for the festival, which runs from May 9-11.

There are also lots of events planned for the whole family, with street theatre, children’s events and bags of workshops covering everything from Egyptian, French and Appalachian dance, to spoons and sacred harp.

Major venues in Holmfirth itself include the Picturedrome, where confirmed guests are Nick Harper, John Cooper Clarke and the Family Mahone with others still to come.

The CragRats Theatre on Dunford Road will host guests Quicksilver on May 10.

Many of the area’s pubs will throw open their doors to musicians and singers.

Acts will include Mike Silver and Johnny Coppin, Sara Grey, Pete Morton, Stanley Accrington, Duncan McFarlane and Ann Brivonese, Meridian, Carmichael, Steve and Kristi Nebel, Dame Patti Smith and Ned Clamp, Roy Clinging, Paul and Liz Davenport, James Cannon, Treebeard and Paul Pearson, the Alun Parry Band, Howard Brothers, Soundsphere, Old Man Pie, Ray Padgett, FYRISH, Gerry McNeice, Hamish Currie, Ann Curran, Harry Rowlings, Jack Rutter, James Meadows and Alex Quinn.

Stalwarts of Holmfirth Live will appear at Harrows and there will be concerts at the Old Bridge and bands at the White Hart, Y Bar, The Nook and Herveys.

Acoustic music will find a home at Les Caveux and Carniceria while The Postcard will host a variety of styles, including singarounds in Stamps Bar, music with Rocks and Reels plus something with an Irish flavour.

One of the big draws of the festival weekend could well be the two ceilidhs. The first will be led by the Climax Ceilidh Band, with caller Jan Porter. On the festival’s final day the Good Egg Band will host a family ceilidh.

Children’s events are high on the ‘folk is fun’ theme, with street theatre from Pete White's Suitcase Circus and Colonel Custard.

Arts For All cash is expected to support a series of workshop with schools. These will feature Caribbean music and dance, Indian dance, Yorkshire longsword with Sue Coe and traditional singing with Pete Coe. Shabang Theatre will visit Lydgate School, New Mill.Š

A taste of what the youngsters have been doing will be on offer in a family concert.

If you are more of a dance fan, then watch out for a return visit from The Britannia Coconut Dancers along with Rumworth Morris of Bolton, Boggarts Breakfast and Urban Gypsies.

For more details visit www.holmfirthfestivaloffolk.co.uk