AN array of musicians, dancers and singers will be at this year's Chippenham Folk Festival.

The four day festival in May attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world.

Now in its 37th year the festival will have more than 200 events in the town centre between May 23-26.

The main ceilidh and concert events take place in Monkton Park but pubs and other venues are used for workshops and smaller concerts and dances.

Festival organiser Bob Berry is hoping for clear skies this year as heavy rain caused some events at last year's festival to be cancelled and resulted in the festival making a loss of £7,500.

The festival has achieved a coup in securing Solas, an Irish band, to perform at the festival.

Solas, described as one of the finest Irish bands in the world, has not toured the UK before but will be playing on May 26 at the festival.

Other performers making their debut at the festival will be Greek born George Papavgeris and Albatross Pie.

There is an additional new stage this year, outside the Olympiad Leisure Centre on the triangle of grass will stalls nearby manned by local community groups.

This year the youth music workshops and sessions will move from the Bridge Centre to a marquee in Monkton Park Mr Berry said Morris dancers were mourning the closure of the Rose and Crown pub in the Market Place as that was a venue where they danced.

Mr Berry is in negotiations with the pub's owner Enterprise Inns to continue the tradition of dancing outside the pub but Morris dancing will be taking place at the Gladstone Arms, the Black Horse pub, the Angel Hotel, the High Street and Borough Parade.

Mr Berry hoped Chippenham Folk Festival might attract more visitors following the news that Cleethorpes Folk Festival, held on the same weekend, had been cancelled.

He added: "Chippenham Folk Festival offers a hugely diverse range of music and dance and is a fun weekend.

"It has got a reputation of being a good, solid traditional festival and the quality of the performers is unrivalled.

"People say they don't like folk music but I would say come along and see what there is. People also think it's just about Morris dancing but that is just a part of the festival, there are 200 events taking place."

For details of the acts and tickets visit the website at www.chippfolk.co.uk or call the festival office on (01249) 657190.

A ticket to cover all four days is £68 but day tickets are also available.