THE team behind the popular Cleckheaton Folk Festival is holding a series of extra concerts as part of Kirklees Year of Music 2023.

The festival itself will return in its usual spot at the beginning of July bringing first-class folk artists to the town, including the renowned Martin Carthy and his daughter, award-winning Eliza Carthy.

Other guests include local lad Jack Rutter, Yorkshire-based Bryony Griffith and Alice Jones and festival favourite Jez Lowe.

But first two spring concerts will be taking place, the first on March 25, featuring Dougie MacLean.

More information and tickets are available online from cleckheatonfolkfestival.org.

The venue has had to be moved from Cleckheaton Town Hall to Batley Town Hall due to renovation work. Existing tickets and seat numbers are still valid though.

A second concert will take place on May 23, featuring the Young‘uns as part of their Tiny Notes tour, back at Cleckheaton Town Hall.

Festival Director Dave Minich said: “It’s a brilliant line-up for a brilliant festival but we have more for everybody this year – as an additional contribution to Kirklees Year of Music 2023 we are presenting a series of concerts for all to enjoy.”

He said they were hoping to hold a further two concerts later in the year, details of which will be announced as soon as they are confirmed.