UPTON'S visitor season will get off to a good start with four days of singing and dancing at the annual Riverside Folk Festival.

There will be concerts and ceilidhs, street markets and sing-a-rounds, workshops, processions and dancing in the streets and on the waterfront.

The town will be host to many singers and 39 traditional dance groups, involving up to 600 people, who will be keeping feet tapping from about 11am till 6pm each day, from May 4 to 7.

Notable this year is the increase in clog and step dancing teams.

"The skill of the footwork is very impressive and the percussive striking of the clogs is part of the music," said dance organiser Richard Hannah. He particularly recommended performances by Isis on Saturday, Sweet Coppin & Wimberry Clog on Sunday, Castle Clog on Monday and some of the dances done by Ryknild Rabble.

There will be 26 different teams in the Sunday procession from the sports ground to the riverside.

There will be maypole dancing after the procession and again on Monday at 11am.

A unique feature of the festival is the mass dance at 4pm on Saturday, when 300 to 400 dancers and musicians will perform for 15 to 20 minutes, all at the same time, to the same tune.

In the past few years tickets for the concerts and dances have sold out, so it is advisable to book in advance at Upton Tourist Information Centre.

Non-ticket holders can enjoy barn dancing under the bridge to That Shallot from Newent at 4.30pm on Saturday and Sunday, the Sunday folk service in the Parish Church at 10.45am and plenty of singing and dancing in the pubs all weekend.