EVERYTHING’S ready for another fantastic Holmfirth Festival of Folk.

The three-day long feast of music and dancing from May 9 - 11 is all set to go with the Picturedrome back on board and a host of talented artists booked.

More than a dozen venues will host an eclectic bunch of performers from Morris Dancers to poets to bands and musicians.

This year a showcase of young bands will perform at the town’s Picturedrome and all the usual venues including, The Old Bridge Hotel, The White Hart, Stamps Bar and the Nook will host folk infused music and dance.

The festival kicks off on Friday night with a choice of musical maestros including rising star Jack Rutter at the Old Bridge and local favourites Old Man Pie at the White Hart, while Barnsley based folk group James Cannon and the Sinners will get a good craic going at the Y Bar.

On the Saturday the Picturedrome is expected to sell out as the bard of Salford, renowned Punk Poet, John Cooper Clarke, is in town followed by special guests BBC Radio’s Mark Radcliffe and his lively Irish folk jigsters, The Family Mahone.

Over at the Market Hall, feet will be tapping as the Climax Ceilidh Band get things going, and at the Nook, OneChipPotato & Transendental Watermusicians will hypnotize the crowd with beautiful folk music before unleashing chaos in the form of electronica, pirates and disco.

Sunday brings yet more chances for partying with performances by folk singers Ann Curran, Hamish Currie, Norwegian influenced duo Kalbakken, and the Family Ceilidh with the Good Egg Band.

All things crafty will be available at the Market Hall on Saturday and a host of fringe events including an Egyptian Dance workshop, Appalachian Dance, poetry, and spoon playing with Dame Patti Smith EPNS, will feature across the three-day schedule.

Other family friendly features are the street theatre with Pete White’s Suitcase Circus and Colonel Custard and his Punch and Judy show, and for the youngsters and tots, Dragon Tails, story telling and dragon building at Holmfirth Library on Saturday.

And on Saturday evening, listen for the drums and look for the flames if you want to catch spectacular fire-throwing drummer Mr Fox.

The Sunday procession will this year follow a longer route to the Memorial Gardens due to ongoing works at the traditional end point in Victoria Park.

The parade will feature local children with a dragon, samba bands from Barnsley and Upperthong and all 30 Morris sides including Slubbing Billy’s, the Britannia Coconut Dancers and Bunnies From Hell.

Hollowgate will be closed on Saturday (May 10) from 11am to 4pm for dancing and street entertainers and traffic will be stopped on Sunday afternoon (May 11) for the procession along Huddersfield Road to the Memorial Gardens.

This year the main concerts at the Old Bridge Hotel are all ticket for a modest £5 charge.

CONTACTS: For tickets and information call Holmfirth Tourist Information Office on 01484-222444, or email:holmfirthfolk@btinternet.com.

Programmes featuring comprehensive listing information are £1 from Holmfirth Tourist Information Office, The Old Bridge Hotel and from other participating venues.

For tickets for Picturedrome or Cragrats events contact the venues direct.

Festival website: www.holmfirthfestivaloffolk.co.uk