Programme announced for Littlehampton Folk, Roots and Art Festival

Now in its seventh year, the festival has grown into the town’s biggest annual arts event and will be spread across a record 25 venues.

Details of this year’s programme have just been announced and a 16-page colour booklet packed with festival information is being distributed around the town.

Funded by Littlehampton Town Council and organised with key input from volunteers led by Mal Simms on the music side and Mark Jolly for the art, the festival takes place from May 28 to June 5.

Acclaimed folk duo Chris Sherburn and Denny Bartley will be the headline act at the main festival concert at the Windmill Entertainment Centre on Saturday, June 4, and the night before at the Littlehampton Badminton and Squash Club. Pied Merlin top the bill, with support from Sarah Saville and Flying Toads.

There are a host of other folk gigs in the second half of the festival week at pubs and clubs, mainly with free admission.

As with the music, the arts trail is bigger and better this year, with 18 venues showcasing the town’s creative talent, ranging from restaurants and pubs to Littlehampton Museum and even a funeral director’s.

The festival’s second weekend, June 4/5, coincides with an open weekend for Littlehampton harbour and it’s hoped the two events will support one another.

On Sunday, June 5, from 2pm, there will be a special Party at the Oyster Pond, highlighting that area’s interactive sculptures Mr Crab and Mr Bird, and including free children’s activities with the Play Rangers, live music from Triskel and a Portuguese band and a storyteller.

The museum will also be hosting pottery and music workshops during the festival and the Silk Road Writers’ Group will be launching a new collection of its members’ work.

As well as being available from the town council’s Manor House offices in Church Street, and other outlets in Littlehampton, the programme can be downloaded at www.littlehampton-tc.gov.uk.

The Littlehampton Gazette will also be giving more details of the festival and people taking part over the coming weeks.