FOLK-loving folk of all types will be set to enjoy a weekend of their favourite music in Cheltenham, starting tomorrow night.

The ninth annual Cheltenham Folk Festival kicks off at 6pm and organisers are set to prove folk isn't all beards and woolies by keeping to their pledge of encouraging new music and inviting some of the top young folk acts in the country to join in.

With this in mind, headlining tomorrow will be Bellowhead, a ten piece acoustic band, fronted by John Spiers and Jon Boden, BBC Radio 2 Folk Horizon Award winners.

On Saturday night, another young award-winner Eliza Carthy will be followed by Irish folk star Sharron Shannon, both performing with accordionist Harriet Bartlett.

And throughout the weekend, look out for Jez Lowe and the Bad Pennies, Bob Fox and Stu Luckley, Equation, Flook, Crucible, The Fraser Sisters and more.

There are all kinds of extras too, with a new market area and a session called Pieces and Harmony on Saturday at the Cheltenham Music Library.

There will be workshops, interviews, strolling events around the town, children's events, late night sessions and more.

Most of the concerts take place at the town hall, while others are scattered at venues throughout the town.

And organiser Angie Osman promised: "Our audiences are in for a real treat."

Contact the town hall box office for further details on 01242 227979 or just make a beeline for Cheltenham this weekend and join in the fun.