VISITORS to the Wimborne Minster Folk Festival this year are to be entertained by acts performing on a brand new stage.

The Edwards Stage in the Square - sponsored by estate agent Edwards - will play host to a range of live music and dance performances throughout the daytime on Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14 finishing at 6pm.

The line-up for the stage includes Gilmore & Roberts, Gugge 2000 and world street dance champions Shake, alongside more traditional Appalachian and morris dance teams. Nicole McNally, a winning contestant at the festival’s Live and Loud youth music competition at the Allendale Centre, will also perform.

Moe Kochar, chairman of the folk festival committee, said: “We are delighted that Edwards is supporting this year’s folk festival by sponsoring our new Stage in the Square.

"This will be a new daytime focal point in the town’s recently refurbished square, which we will use to showcase our own young local talent alongside established names and a variety of dance styles."

Grant Brooks, director of Edwards, said: “We are thrilled to be part of such a fantastic event that draws thousands of people to the area. The Edwards stage will be an exciting addition to the festival and one that we hope will be a centrepiece to the weekend of entertainment. As always, we are proud to be part of this wonderful community. ”

This year’s Wimborne Minster Folk Festival will take place between Friday, June 12 and Sunday, June 14.

Headline artists for the concerts at the Allendale Centre include Gilmore and Roberts, Alex Roberts Duo, Monkey’s Fist, Poacher’s Moon, Ninebarrow, Kadia, Louise Jordan, Will McNicol and Luke Selby, and Threepenny Bit.

The official festival programme featuring the full line-up and dance programme is on sale now at Wimborne Tourist Information Centre and Square Records. Concert tickets are available for the Allendale Centre, Square Records and the TIC as well as online at wimbornefolk.co.uk