GAZETTE & HERALD: Chippenham Folk Festival 2005, the 34th annual event, promises to be a feast of traditional music, lively Morris dancing and colourful parades.

Some of the country's top folk performers will be visiting the town and for the May Bank Holiday weekend. Chippenham will be a Mecca for folk enthusiasts from Britain and abroad.

Thousands of people are expected to visit the festival, from Friday, May 27 to Monday, May 30 and Chippenham-based Wavin Plastics is continuing in its support of the event.

Many new acts are on the programme, along with some favourites from previous festivals.

Sid Kipper's hilarious show entitled Cod and Ships is one to look out for, taking the audience on an eye-opening cruise around the Norfolk coast.

Craig Morgan Robson's Tales of the Otherness brings together a wonderful array of ballads, songs and stories from Britain and other countries, exploring a twilight zone of deception and masquerade, trickery and betrayal, transformation and enchantment, where creatures and people are seldom what they seem.

Topping the bill this year is festival favourite Roy Bailey. Described as the greatest socialist folk singer of his generation, Roy has performed at the Chippenham Folk Festival many times and is among the most requested artists.

Festival organiser Bob Berry said the line up this year was as good as ever, and promises three days of top level entertainment, including the now traditional parades through Chippenham on Saturday and Bank Holiday Monday.

"This is going to be an amazing festival again," he said.

"Over recent years a much wider British audience has switched onto the rich variety of traditional music that this country has to offer, thanks to the inspirational performances of artists such as Martin Carthy and many others.

"The Chippenham Folk Festival continues to play its part in bringing the very best in traditional folk arts and entertainment to the heart of Wiltshire, with over 200 events throughout the weekend."

Other top liners this year are Tickled Pink, playing for ceilidhs as well as in a concert special. John Spiers and Jon Boden will be performing on Saturday, together with Bob Fox with his own inimitable style of songs.

The festival is proud to welcome for the first time Shooting Roots, the nationally acclaimed youth programme that has featured at both the Sidmouth and Towersey folk festivals.

Shooting Roots features workshops of every kind, sessions, and a chance for young people just to come along and enjoy the music. More information is at www.chippfolk.co.uk.