by Lorraine Gibson

It’s the season for kicking back in the sunshine (hopefully) and sipping a cool libation, while soaking up some great live music.

And if the line-up for this year’s Wimborne Minster Folk Festival is anything to go by, you can do just that all weekend from June 9 to 11.

Yes, there will be festi-frippery, yes there will be crafts – of both the brewery and the arty variety – and, of course there will be grub galore, however, with the Festival it’s really all about the music, the folk music.

As the already-rock-solid folk scene continues to draw the faithful while inspiring the next generation with its grassroots purpose, it’s been evolving. Embracing the new audiences, artists with contemporary narratives and reaching dizzying heights of hipness, Wimborne is set to be high on summer’s hot-list of festival must-dos.

Opening headliners are alt-folk outfit, Ranagri, who, with a string of music credentials as long as your fiddle arm and holders of Fatea Magazine’s Band of the Year 2022 title, will deliver a feisty start to the weekend with a new and gleefully-energetic sound that’ll have you air fiddling in no time.

Saturday’s big draw is BBC Radio 2’s award-winning trio, The Trials Of Cato, dubbed ‘the Sex Pistols of folk.’

Formed in the Lebanon, their extraordinary rise has attracted much critical attention. That they clearly pay homage to the folk tradition while wrangling its old bones into something more febrile and modern could well be why. Expect stomp-able tunes and enthralling stories.

Heading-up Sunday are the Joshua Burnell Band, an alluringly innovative lot, described as ‘Outstanding’ by Folk Radio U.K., as ‘… adding lashings of Peter Gabriel stylings to the world of trad arrangement’ by the Guardian, and as ‘Folk-fused baroque ‘n’ roll for the modern world’ by themselves.

Sounds fancy and probably why they were the winner of the Rising Star award in the Folk Awards.

Organised by volunteers, the festival is Wimborne’s biggest event of the year and regularly attracts tens of thousands to the town. It also features one of the largest gatherings of dance teams and musicians in the south.

Wimborne loves an event and really comes alive over this weekend of music and comedy, ceilidhs, workshops, dance displays, street markets and family areas.

Other acts to look out for:

Cool: 16-String Jack’s stripped-back, driving hybrid of Americana, Irish Traditional music and shanties, is so popular they get asked back every year.

Authentic: Blandford’s Allan Winter’s true, traditional folk sound comes via a repertoire of songs collected from around the world. With added intricate guitar playing, he’s a reminder of what folk is all about.

Spirited: The clue’s in the name. Bomo Swing comes bouncing out of Bournemouth to add a swing vibe to folky proceedings. The energetic eight piece offers a unique blend of influences, strung together by a vigorous gypsy violin. Should add a smile to your face and a fiesta to your feet.

Dorsety: Again, the clue’s in the name. Dorset Phil, a one-off with a big following for his light-hearted, original songs about cider, good times, and, well, Dorset.

Rockin’: Bournemouth’s Mikey Ball and The Company wow audiences and critics alike with numbers influenced by Bruce Springsteen, Frank Turner, The Levellers and Jason Isbell.

Hyper-local: Wimborne Guitars, a guitar group – funnily enough – ranging from advanced to absolute beginners usually meet up at the Allendale Centre, but they’re about to hit the festival, so be sure to give them a big, finger-pickin’ hand!

Story-weaver: Singer-songwriter, Will Adams is an expert historical storyteller and musicians like Simon Swarbrick and Leonardo McKenzie are in his line-up of musos who form part of Graffiti – a flexible collection of talented English Folk sorts located in Dorset.

Crowd pleaser: Fancy that, it’s Tit4Tat! This acoustic-covers duo from Bournemouth and Wimborne packs a hefty selection of much-loved covers with a few surprises thrown in. Be warned – you will sing along to their classics ‘with a twist’.

Poignant/funny: Female-led musical comedy outfit, the Polly Morris Band, performs both laugh-out-loud songs and heart-breakingly-moving ones. Dorset based, they advise their audience to ‘Expect the Unexpected.’

Must-see: Shimmie Theatre helps adults with special needs build their confidence and get creative through performing. This enables social interaction, a sense of self-esteem and increased health and wellbeing. They’ll be showcasing the music, dance and drama they’ve been rehearsing – so go see!