England’s biggest free folk festival is coming to Weymouth with its biggest lineup yet.

The Wessex Folk Festival has grown to become one of Dorset's favourite events, with thousands of music lovers visiting every year.

This year's lineup will feature more than 30 live stage performances throughout the weekend.

The two stages on Weymouth quayside on the first weekend in June will feature established artists, such as the award-winning Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman, as well as new artists and returning old favourites.

Bob Ford, the festival’s musical director, said: “It is the largest collection of award winners, award nominees and critically acclaimed acts that we have ever assembled.”

One new act is Harbottle and Jonas, a young husband and wife duo from Devon, who have recently released their second album. They have a reputation for their intertwined vocal harmonies and authentic musical arrangements on a wide variety of instruments.

Dorset shanty crew The Wareham Whalers will be performing, boasting a repertoire of more than 100 shanties and songs of the sea. They host a popular monthly folk night in their namesake town of Wareham and have raised thousands for Wareham and Purbeck Multiple Sclerosis Society.

The Weymouth Ukuleleans will provide sing-a-long entertainment at the festival, providing family-friendly foot-tapping fun through their shared enthusiasm of the ukulele.

Another highlight of the first day of the festival is expected to be The BeauBowBelles, whose music is a compelling mix of contemporary English folk with the dance rhythms of gypsy swing, topped off with three-part vocal harmonies.

The festival will also feature Morris dancing troupes in the streets and around the pubs of Weymouth.

The festival is a not-for-profit event run by a team of volunteer committee members and relies on support from the public with collection buckets, local traders and sales of programmes.

There will be a variety of workshops held throughout the duration of the event, more information is available on the website.

The Wessex Folk Festival takes place around Weymouth Harbour from May 31 to June 2. Full details can be found on the festival website at www.wessexfolkfestival.com