THE 20th Arran Folk Festival line-up has been announced – and it includes an enticing mix of established and emerging talents.

This year, all events are based in Brodick with concerts in the Brodick Hall and sessions in the Douglas Hotel – meaning a shorter dash to catch the ferry if you have to!

The weekend kicks off with a welcoming session on Friday, June 6 from 12-5pm and closes with an inaugural open mic event on the Sunday at 8pm which festival organisers hope will become a regular feature of the weekend.

The traditional Sunday afternoon Survivor’s Session is from 12-5pm. Both sessions and the open mic are free admission.

This year for the first time the sessions will be broadcast live by web-based Celtic Music Radio bringing the event into the digital age.

Friday night’s concert features Carradale piper and BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year finalist Lorne MacDougall in his trio, Arran’s own Gillian Frame and fellow Bar Room Mountaineer Findlay Napier, plus renowned Glasgow-born Gaelic songstress and harp player Mary Ann Kennedy’s trio.

Saturday sees the established talents of Kent born virtuoso guitarist and box squeezer Tim Edey in a solo show, and singer-songwriter Scott MacDonald – a well kent face on the circuit – plus two of the rising stars of the Scottish folk scene, Jenn Butterworth and Laura-Beth Salter.

In addition to this musical feast, there will be an opportunity to get involved at the ‘Really Big Sing’ workshop led by local singer and fiddler Gillian Frame in the Brodick Hall from 2-3.30pm (admission £5).

Festival director Jon Hollingworth told The Herald: “We are delighted that the line-up for the 20th Arran Folk Festival is complete and quietly proud that we are in some small way responsible for helping steer the festival to this milestone and helping it adhere to its two main aims – a love of live music, and a love for this island.

“In this anniversary year, we have tried to move forward while acknowledging the past with acts playing both traditional and new folk music.

“And we are thrilled to welcome home Arran’s own Gillian Frame!” The festival runs from Friday, June 6 to Sunday, June 8. See www.arranevents.com for full details including ticket ordering information.

An ‘early bird’ two day festival pass is available priced £30 until the end of April. Individual concert tickets are £17.