ONE of Yorkshire’s best folk festivals returns for a fifth year today.

Shepley Spring Festival hosts a long weekend of folk and traditional music as well as crafts and entertainment.

The festival, at Shepley Cricket Club and other venues across the village, features acclaimed contemporary British folk group Bellowhead and Scottish ‘supergroup’ Session A9.

John Jones of the Oyster Band will be leading a walk from Holmfirth Picture Drome to Shepley where he will be performing on Sunday afternoon.

From across the Atlantic French Canadian duo Le Vent du Nord will be playing on Saturday evening followed by fellow Canadians, Finest Kind, on Sunday evening.

From closer to home, Huddersfield duo Bryony Griffith and Will Hampson from the Demon Barbers will be launching their new albums along with Derby performer Lucy Ward, supported by Golcar duo Belinda O’Hooley and Heidi Tidow.

The weekend includes a climbing wall, archery, a potter’s wheel, instrument tasters and circus skills sessions.

Festival director Nikki Hampson said: “We try every year to get a unique line-up from well known acts interspersed with top quality acts that people may not have heard, and young performers from across the country.”

For more information and tickets visit: www.shepleyspringfestival.com or call: 01629 827013.