THE late May bank holiday weekend saw and heard the thirteenth Bude & Stratton Folk Festival, focused around the Falcon Hotel, the rugby club, St Michael’s Church and the Barrel.

The festival goes from strength to strength and attendance was better than ever, with an excellent take-up of local hotel rooms and bed and breakfast places.

Friday afternoon saw the picturesque children’s furry and Maypole dances at Bude Light, led by local teacher Kate Tidball. All weekend, Morris dancers and buskers enlivened the Wharf area.

The concert programme heard starring performances from Geoff Lakeman, Pete Morton, Granny’s Attic, Si Barron, Steve Hunt, Vicki Swan and Jonny Dyer, Lynne Heraud and Pat Turner, Georgia Lewis, Mick Ryan, Harbottle and Jonas, and Rowan Piggot and Rosie Hodgson.

A special highlight this year was the Saturday night performance of Mick Ryan’s tuneful folk musical, Here at the Fair, sponsored by the Elmgrant Trust.

Mike O’Connor, festival co-ordinator, said: “The organising committee would like to thank the Blanchminster Trust, Bude-Stratton Town Council and Bude’s Cornwall Councillors for their grants to the festival, and to all at the Falcon Hotel, the Barrel, the rugby club and St Michael’s Church for their tireless support.”

To find out more about the festival, the acts and performers, and to keep up to date with future festival announcements, visit www.budefolkfest.com