FOLK fans are celebrating after the Shepley Spring Festival scooped an award alongside more illustrious rivals.

The popular music event is well and truly on the map after it was featured in the top five 2012 festivals of the year by online folk magazine Fatea.

The respected website dubbed it Village Festival of the Year.

The other four were Cambridge Folk Festival (2012 urban festival), Purbeck Folk Festival (countryside), the Great British Folk Festival at Skegness (indoor) and Shrewsbury Folk Festival (interactive).

Shepley Spring Festival director, Nikki Hampson, said she was delighted to be listed in the top five.

“It definitely means that other people think we’re good,” she said.

“I think we’ve got something for a range of ages and that attracts families.”

This year’s festival has recruited some of the stars of the UK scene with three of this year’s BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winners already booked to perform.

Nikki said she was especially pleased to have rare appearances from Flook and Nic Jones.

She added: “Booking Flook is a bit of a scoop as they’re only doing five concerts this year and only did one last year.

“People are coming from far and wide just for that.

“Nic Jones is also a coup as he was very much a recluse for 30 years after he was injured in a car accident.

“Nobody thought he would perform again.

“He’s gradually come back over the past 18 months and was named as folk singer of the year for 2012 at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

“Shepley is the only Yorkshire festival he’s doing this year.”

Early bird tickets have already sold out for the May 17-19 event and Nikki said she was hopeful 2013 would be the biggest year ever.

Nic Jones is appearing on Saturday night at Shepley in a trio which includes his son Joe and Golcar pianist and singer Belinda O’Hooley.

Fellow BBC2 Radio 2 Folk Award ‘Best Duo’ winners, Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman (brother of Seth Lakeman), are headlining the Saturday afternoon stage.

Shepley Spring Festival’s tradition of encouraging young musicians and singers continues with the winners of the ‘Young Folk Award’, Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar, performing.

Other performers lined up include Brighouse troubadour Roger Davies, Martin Simpson, Moulettes and Kan.

More information at www.shepleyspringfestival.com or look on Facebook or Twitter.

For tickets phone 01484 604704