Shrewsbury Folk Festival will be tribute to founder Alan Surtees
The countdown is on, the stage is set and final preparations are being made for the Shrewsbury Folk Festival which is being held this Bank Holiday weekend.
Contractors have been on site at the Greenhous West Mids Showground for more than two weeks building the huge tents which will house the bands as they perform over the four days of this weekend's festival.
And may of those performing will do so in tribute to festival co-founder Alan Surtees, who died earlier this year after battling cancer.
The festival attracts folk fans not only from the UK but further afield. Many bands fly in from as far away as Australia to be part of the festival experience.
Months of planning go into organising the sell-out event and up to 7,000 music lovers are expected during the weekend.
Apart from the live music there are workshops for musicians to enjoy as well as a dedicated dance tent, a kids area, circus workshops and village arena.
Festival spokeswoman Jo Cunningham said: "This year looks to be a real treat for all those who enjoy folk music. I know this will be a festival to remember and one which Alan would have been very proud.
"His death touched many people but there was never any doubt that the festival would not go ahead. It is a true tribute to him that so many of the bands wanted to perform in his memory.
"We have a huge number of bands, some of whom have flown from across Europe, taking part. There are numerous workshops for festival goers from drumming to morris dancing, ukulele playing and yoga.
"We have some of the finest folk musicians performing.
"Everything is coming together now to make this one of the best festivals we have had. The tents have been put up without a hitch, the weather is looking good and tickets have sold out."
Among those performing are Coven, The Wilsons, Andy Fairweather Low & the Low Riders, Eric Bibb, Loudon Wainwright III and Seth Lakeman.
The festival opens on Friday night with a special tribute performance to Alan by festival patrons John Jones and Steve Knightley, and will close on Bank Holiday Monday with a performance by Faith, Hope and Anarchy.
