FOLK music will be heard around Evesham this weekend as the town's first ever Great Big Almonry Folk Weekend takes place.

The event is set to take place on Saturday and Sunday, April 18 and 19 and see some of the brightest stars on the contemporary folk circuit head to Evesham.

The folk festival is being held in aid of Evesham's Almonry Museum, a 14th Century Grade I Listed former almoner’s home currently at the centre of a fundraising campaign - the Great Big Almonry Project - to carry out essential repairs and maintenance to the building and it's artefacts.

Tonia Collett, event organiser and centre manager, said she was looking forward to the event, which will raise money towards the project total of £1.7 million.

"We came up with the idea of doing folk performances here because we know a chap that runs folk performances and the first one in October did so well," she said.

"He came up with doing a weekend and he has managed to get some amazing performances. We are very lucky.

"People are really looking forward to it. We haven't had anything like this in Evesham so people are excited."

As part of the weekend there will be a headline evening concert at Evesham Arts Centre on Saturday, with afternoon performances on the Saturday and Sunday in the intimate medieval hall at the Almonry itself, with music from traditional folk to American roots, from contemporary original acoustic songs to folk-rock.

The evening concert, starting at 7.30pm will feature BBC Radio 2 folk awards best duo 2012 Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin, 2015 BBC Radio 2 folk awards horizon award nominee Ange Hardy and the multi-talented singer and songwriter Lisbee Stainton.

One of Scotland’s finest traditional musicians, Patsy Reid, will headline at the Almonry on Sunday.

There will be performances from Kent-based folk-rock band, Green Diesel, Emi McDade, Bristol folk quarter Road Not Taken and the hard-working acoustic duo from Cirencester, Ethemia. The Wanted Men, Noey McElwee and Wychavon based singer/songwriter Mike Weaver complete the line up.

"I am personally looking forward to Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin, Patsy Reid and Green Diesel," added Ms Collett. "I will be at every event."

Tickets for the evening concert cost £15 each, the Saturday and Sunday afternoon concert tickets are £10 per day, with full weekend tickets costing £25 each. All tickets can be purchased from the Almonry Heritage Centre, Abbey Gate, Evesham, or by calling 01386 446944.

For further information visit almonryfolk.com.