A political singer-songwriter and west Dorset resident has been announced as one of the headliners of Lyme Folk Weekend.

Billy Bragg will take to the stage on the Saturday night of the festival, which takes place over the August bank holiday weekend from Friday, August 25 to Monday, August 28.

People will be able to enjoy three days of music across the town, with headline concerts at the Marine Theatre.

Bragg, thought by many to be the UK’s foremost political singer-songwriter. has 13 studio albums, eight compilations, two box sets, and countless tours across countless international borders to his name.

In his 50s, neither the fight nor the fight songs have left Billy Bragg.

Headlining the festival on the Friday night will be Mad Dog McRea, who blend a unique mixture of folk rock, pop, gypsy jazz, bluegrass and ‘shake your ass’ music.

From self-penned songs of adventure, drinking, love and life, to traditional songs of gypsies, fairies, legless pirates and black flies – Mad Dog never fail to capture their audience with their infectious songs.

The band have five albums under their belts and are acclaimed recording artists too. 

Ninebarrow and Friends will return to the festival this year and will headline on the Sunday night. 

Jon and Jay bring their innovative and captivating take on the folk tradition. Combining breathtaking vocal harmonies and melodies, delivering songs and stories inspired by landscape and history of Dorset.

Joining them on stage will be Christina Alden and Alex Patterson, multi-instrumentalists and songwriters from Norwich who wowed audiences at Lyme Folk Weekend in 2019. Their music is rich with intertwining harmony, sensitive accomplished musicianship and a creative song-writing style that is both delicate and moving. 

Completing the line-up are  Janice Burns and Jon Doran, an Anglo-Scottish duo who came together after discovering a shared love of traditional music rapidly making a name for themselves on the folk scene. Janice and Jon’s compelling storytelling comes alive through tight vocal harmonies and sensitive interplay between mandolin, bouzouki, and guitar.

Also part of the festival's line-up is Anne Boleyn - Wolf at the Door - A musical tale of love and Tudor tragedy.

Hot on the heels of last year’s Magellan: Circumnavigation, Bob Whitley (guitars and mandola) and Lee MacKenzie (cello) bring to Lyme Folk Weekend their brand new show, to be performed on the Sunday at 12.30pm.

Journey back to the 16th century and the story of the triumph and tragedy of Anne Boleyn.

For more information on Lyme Folk Weekend, see the website www.lymefolk.com​