tickets on sale for Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2013

Tickets for the 2013 Shrewsbury Folk Festival have gone on sale for Shrewsbury Folk Festival held over the August Bank Holiday weekend, with the first acts also announced.

The line-up includes the only UK appearance for American band Carolina Chocolate Drops, plus Capercaillie, and Oysterband.

Bellowhead frontman Jon Boden and an array of other folk stars will present Bright Phoebus sings Tom Waits. A tribute to the singer, it will feature a house band of Jon Boden, Martin Simpson, Sam Sweeney, Andy Cutting and Andy Seward along with Fay Hield, Roy Bailey, Neil McSweeney, Rowan Rheingans, Jess Arrowsmith, James Fagan, Nancy Kerr, Sharon Krauss and Rob Harbron.

Also booked so far are Heidi Talbot and special guests, the event's two patrons Steve Knightley & John Jones performing together in a one-off, Barnstar!, Martyn Joseph, Nidi D'Arac, Fay Hield & The Hurricane Party, Mark Erelli, Nancy Kerr & James Fagan, Nic Jones, Jez Lowe, Lucy Ward, Sam Carter, The Melrose Quartet, and Jim Moray will lead a band of performers, including a special guest, in the 2013 Folk Slam finale in Marquee 2.

Other acts confirmed are Lori Watson & Rule of Three, Blue Rose Code, Colvin Quarmby, Doyle & Debbie, Luke Jackson, Elbow Jane, James Riley, Jess and Richard Arrowsmith, Keith Donnelly, Lady Maisery, Madeleine Vaughan, Monster Ceilidh Band, Moss, Moore, Rutter, Randolph Matthews and Byron Johnston, Something Nasty in the Woodshed, Steamchicken, The Wilsons, and Ursula Holden Gill.

More artists including headliners will be announced in 2013.

Tickets are on sale today, Wednesday 28th November with organisers predicting a huge demand for early bird bookings following this year's record early sell-out of weekend tickets at the end of April – four months before the event so people are advised to get their tickets as soon as possible. It was the second year in a row that the festival sold out so far in advance.

Festival Director Alan Surtees said: "We are still in negotiation with some very exciting artists to appear at Shrewsbury in 2013, both from the UK and abroad. We will announce more artists early next year but we’re delighted to be able to offer some exclusives including the Carolina Chocolate Drops who will be making Shrewsbury their only UK performance.

Our festival is recognised for its imaginative and interesting programming, allowing people to see their favourites and discover new artists in the same weekend. We organise a packed programme that can keep you entertained from first thing in the morning to last thing at night.

We offer a brilliant festival site in a central location so it's great value for money for less than £30 a day."

The Shrewsbury Folk Festival was formerly known as the Bridgnorth Folk Festival, and is a four day event blending a tradition of folk music and dance and offers musical and cultural diversity in a family friendly format. In 2013 the festival takes place from Friday 23rd until Monday 26th August.

Early bird tickets (bought before 29th February 2012) are priced at £119.50 for a full weekend ticket. A youth (aged 12-17 years) weekend ticket is priced at £73. A child (aged 5-11 years) weekend ticket is priced at 30. Children aged four and under go free. Day tickets start at £32.50 for adults, and there are also family tickets priced at £327.25 available.On-site camping is available to all weekend ticket holders with prices held to the same as this year at £20 per adult.

To buy tickets, click here.

The festival features five music venues, a dance tent, dozens of workshops, a children's festival, Refolkus - a dedicated youth programme for 12 to 25 -year-olds, on-site camping, a craft fair, and food village.

Every year, it supports its charity partner Hope House Hospice to fund its music therapy sessions for children with life limiting illnesses and has so far helped raise more than £26,000 for the Morda based centre.

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