LAST-minute preparations are being made for a summer music festival.

The family-friendly Chesil Rocks event supporting Samaritans of Dorset is due to take place this year on Saturday, June 18 in a beautiful setting overlooking the Jurassic Coast.

It is organised by the Warren family who open up their home at Higher Farmhouse, Langton Herring, for a day of music and entertainment.

Showcasing a variety of music performing on three stages, the 500-capacity event is in its fifth year and has sold out for the last three.

Appearing will be a number of great bands and musicians, including for the first time the Gravity Drive, Jess Upton and the Guilty Pleasures, the Strange and the Beautiful, Ken Watkins, Hustle, Slipstream, the Mighty Fine, the John Stone Band, George and the Red Rangers, Darron Garnett, the Unprepared Jug Band, Meredith Baker, the Band of the New Hardy Players and the Million Dollar Bash. Organisers will also be welcoming back Wilson, Jolly Boys Outing, Jess Vincent, WTF Band, Tamara Konstantin, the C Sharp Blues Band, Sarah de Warren, Magdalena Atkinson, Seren, the Dorset Wrecks, Portesham Ukulele Band and Ian Sedwell.

Stand-up comedy will be returning, hosted by Tom Glover.

There are also activities for children including facepainting, fossil painting, storytelling and a treasure hunt.

The food outlets will be similar to previous years and there is a well-stocked bar. Visitors should not bring alcohol with them.

Co-organiser Tim Warren said: “People attending Chesil Rocks in the past have commented upon the beautiful setting, how well organised it is, the intimacy of the event, the diversity of music and arts, the quality, variety and price of food and drink, the charity we raise funds for – but above all, comment has most often been made about a very special atmosphere, captured last year with competition winning photograph from Ross Gooding.”

He added: “We are indebted to our major sponsors, without which Chesil Rocks would not take place – Magna Housing Association, Weymouth and Portland Scaffolding, John Richards, Poundbury Dental Practice, Atlantic Audio, Vivid Commercial Interiors, Studio B in Bristol, Studioprint and local farmer Robert Mayo.”

The event starts at 11am and finishes soon after midnight.

Tickets priced £15 for an adult and £7.50 for 11-16 year olds (under 10s free) available from chesilrocks.com (£1 surcharge to cover postage) or from outlets including the Lugger Inn, Chickerell, Market House Tavern, Weymouth and Pinnow Music, Dorchester.

n Organisers are looking for additional sponsors, a few more volunteers and a few stallholders able to do hair-braiding, nail painting etc. Get in touch via

chesilrocks@gmail.com