CLECKHEATON’S annual folk festival returns to the town in a fortnight with a host of musical entertainment on offer.

Headlining the 30th festival at Cleckheaton Town Hall are John Tams and Barry Coope on Friday night and on Saturday evening, to mark the pearl anniversary, Oysterband will take to the stage.

On the Sunday afternoon there will be an All Star concert, featuring The Willows, Tim Edey, Colum Sands, and Other Roads.

The three-day folk festival is being held from Friday, June 30, to Sunday, July 2.

Other artists to see over the weekend include Winter Wilson, Scolds Bridle and the Duncan McFarlane Band on Friday; and Flossie Malavialle, Risky Business, and Jimmy Aldridge and Sid Goldsmith on Saturday.

Special events taking place over the weekend include a Welcome to the Festival event on Friday at 2pm at the Masonic Hall Temple, where there will be an informal session of music to keep the early arrivals entertained.

Upstairs at the Station Tavern there will be a number of workshops on the Saturday, from guitar and folk songs to poetry. In addition on the Saturday evening there will be an open mic session with Skelsey Row, from 8pm.

There will also be the usual sessions, workshops and sing-a-rounds over the weekend, with sessions taking place at The Commercial as well as sing-a-rounds at The Wickham on Friday evening, on Saturday and on Sunday afternoon.

Visitors are invited to sing out the festival on Sunday evening with Copper Kettle from 7pm onwards.

Back for the ninth year, the festival’s small venues project features a number of cafes and eateries in the town hosting artists in a small and welcoming atmosphere.

On the Saturday, the traditional parade will start from Cleckheaton Fire Station at 11am and there will be a host of street entertainment throughout the day.

On Sunday, there will be a family fun day in Savoy Square from noon to 4pm with a Punch and Judy show, a bouncy castle and face painting too.

There will also be a street market on the Saturday and Sunday, with 22 stalls on Albion Street, as well as the monthly food market on the Saturday morning in the Bradford Road car park.

Festival director Dave Minich said that this year the festival was pleased to welcome an Australian radio presenter, Eric Ford, to the festival.

He said: “It’s not often we get visitors from 10,000 miles away but Eric will be made as welcome as any of our visitors.

“We are known as one of the most friendly festivals on the circuit and look forward to making new antipodean friends through Eric and his community radio.”

For more information about the events visit cleckheatonfolkfestival.org.