THE 45th running of the Chippenham Folk Festival promises to offer the very best in singing, dancing and entertainment when it is held this weekend.

Thousands of people are expected to attend the four day event, which will include 234 events and performers such as The Pitmen Poets, Isla St Clair and Bob Fox amongst other well-known stars from the world of folk.

“What we have been trying to do is give people the opportunity for people in Chippenham to come to individual events,” said festival organiser, Bob Berry.

“We have themed concerts which cost only £10 as opposed to buying a ticket for the whole day.

“The crowds over the past six or seven years have been about the same but the music has changed, there’s a younger element coming into it.”

A whole host of venues throughout the town will be used, including the Neeld Community and Arts Centre, Town Hall, Olympiad Sport Centre, St Andrew’s Church, the Buttercross Inn, Angel Hotel, Mosaic Centre and Constitutional Club.

The Folk Festival, which costs £165,000 every year to run and will start Friday (May 27) until Monday (May 31), will also be supported by the Chippenham BID for the first time.

“We’re being supported by the Chippenham BID and absolutely it’s good to have the support of the BID and important that we’re going to be working together,” said Mr Berry.

“I think we can build on it over the next few years.”

One of the new additions for this year will be Folk by Degrees, a performance by students studying folk at the University of Newcastle.

“It’s the one we want people to come and see because they are the future stars of folk singing,” added Mr Berry.

“We’re not bringing them down because they are superstars though it’s because we can show them what we have been doing for 45 years.

“It’s not about stardom, that’s the problem area we have got with young people in the music industry, it’s about the music and the songs.

“We’ve always done this event for the community, not for reward.”

Tickets for the events can be purchased from the Chippenham Town Hall box office or www.chippfolk.co.uk, where further information can be found.