FOR the sixth year running Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford on Avon hosts the popular Bradford Roots Music Festival to beat the January blues and is seeking volunteers to help run it.

The Roots Music Festival should provide a terrific start to the Centre’s 20th Anniversary year in 2018 when it takes place on Saturday and Sunday, January 20 and 21.

It will feature folk, rock, blues and jazz music with crafts, dance, crafts and food thrown in for good measure to attract local young people and adults from Bradford on Avon and the surrounding area.

The Centre will come alive with performances by over 50 musical acts plus workshops, family fun, dance and magic, celebrating the very best in local talent.

Following the success of last year’s food marquee, the festival will again be catered by Hartley Farm Shop and Kitchen and Box Steam Brewery, who will be selling their finely-crafted ales.

The line-up for Saturday is headlined by Bristol-based singer-songwriter Sam Brookes, one of alt-folk’s best kept secrets with over 10 million streams on Spotify.

Also performing will be Verdisa, a six-piece band inspired by Jimi Hendrix, bluegrass trio Feral Beryl and Wiltshire’s own reggae outfit TrainToSkaville.

For the first time this year, Bradford Roots welcomes the talents of magician Ben Woodward, a veteran of Covent Garden, whose charisma has captivated audiences from Hokkaido to Hollywood.

As well as enjoying the great music, there are plenty of ways to take part with a rock ’n’ rolling introduction to Ceroc dancing, a Mandolin and Cornish Music Workshop where you can use instruments provided or bring your own, craft activities for children, a beautiful light-parade, wassailing and open mic sessions.

Lisa and Chris Samuel, the Festival founders, said: "We're massively excited about the line-up for Bradford Roots and can't wait for the festival to begin. January's celebration will be bigger, brighter and better than ever, epitomising the best of brilliant Bradford on Avon.”

The Festival comes near the start of Wiltshire Music Centre’s 20th Anniversary year, when celebrations will include concerts with jazz singer Claire Martin, pianist Joanna MacGregor, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and the Choir of Clare College Cambridge, plus special events such as a live music quiz and a Big Family Music Day in June.

In 2018, Wiltshire Music Centre will also launch an 20th Anniversary fundraising appeal to raise £100,000 to support the centre into its third decade.

The festival will open from 11am to 10pm on Saturday, January 20, and from 11am to 4pm on Sunday, January 21. A weekend pass is £20 if booked in advance, or £22 on the day. For U18s, the ticket is £14. Day passes are free to Under-12s with an adult ticket-holder.

All proceeds will support the Wiltshire Music Centre Zone Club for learning disabled young adults and Wiltshire Young Carers.

To book please go to www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk or call the Wiltshire Music Centre Box Office on 01225 860 100.

To find out about volunteering over the weekend, please email volunteers@wiltshiremusic.org.uk.