A much-loved music festival is making its return to Bridport following last year's cancellation. 

The Bridport Folk Festival is taking place this weekend from Friday, July 26 to Sunday July 28, with the town centre transformed into a stage for hundreds of musicians and dancers.

This year's line-up will feature 58 music acts and 18 dance sides, performing across different locations in the town such as Millennium Green, Rax Lane, United Church on East Street, next to the Bridport Museum on South Street and Bridport Town Hall. 

Bridport Folk Festival 2022Bridport Folk Festival 2022 (Image: Tim Russ)

It comes after last year's event was "reluctantly" cancelled due to "health issues and financial trends."

READ MORE: Bridport Folk Festival 2023 is cancelled by organisers

Now the festival is returning and the three main stages have been retained for this year: Millennium Green, Bucky Doo Square and Borough Gardens. 

It will kick off on Friday with a classical concert featuring performances from the Glorishears, Pauline Vallance, David Mitchell, Moonfleet and Bob Carter. 

This concert will take place at 7pm at Bridport Town Hall. 

On the Saturday the two headline acts - folk/rock band Merry Hell and the Swamp Stomp String Band - will be performing at Millennium Green at 7.30pm. 

Bridport Folk Festival 2022 (Image: Tim Russ)Bridport Folk Festival 2022 (Image: Tim Russ)

The first of the Morris and related dance sides will be taking to the town during the afternoon on Saturday and Sunday, including Wyld Morris, Festus Derriman, Quayside Cloggies, No Mean Feet Appalachian, Hobos Border Morris, Grimspound Morris, Billy No mates, Wild Moon, Otter Morris , Cynewulf Morris, Enigma Border Morris. Borderline Morris - Band.

Road closures will be in place on South Street on Sunday 8.30am to 6.30pm as dance sides perform. 

The afternoon also features the alternative Celtic rock band Whight Hot Pipes, an open air Ceilidh, and banjo, guitar and song writing workshops. 

There will also be a dedicated children's entertainment area within sight and sound of the Millennium Green, offering activities to help them engage more fully with folk festival traditions, including dance and song. 

The first Bridport Folk Festival took place back in 2017 and the festival has helped raise money for many charities over the years, including the RNLI and Harmony Mental Health Project. 

More information is available on the Folk Festival Website: https://www.bridportfolkfestival.com/ 

Tickets are available to buy on the Bridport and West Bay website: https://bridportandwestbay.co.uk/tickets/