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The first Isle of Wight Folk & Blues Festival, returning the Island to its musical roots............

Taking place over the weekend of 21-23 September, the new Isle of Wight Folk and Blues Festival marks a return to the musical roots of the Island's Festival scene back in the late 1960's when acts such as this year's headliners Fairport Convention entertained crowds with their fresh take on traditional British folk music.

The Festival will feature a whole weekend of music at various venues in and around Ventnor from the American acoustic blues of Guy Davis to the nu-folk of Jim Moray and the Hendrix set of the Hamsters. The full line-up can be found on the official website www.iowfolkblues.co.uk

Ticket prices for this family-friendly festival start at just £10 (£5 for children) and can be purchased on-line at www.iowfolkblues.co.uk or from the Festival office on 01983 856206/856200. There is a last-minute ticket sales desk at the festival in the free entry bar and open-mic marquee just off Dudley Road on Salisbury Gardens - note please bring cash as credit cards may be possible due to erratic mobile terminal signals.

Here are a few tips to help you know where to go and what to do:

- The Folk & Blues Village is in marquees on Salisbury Gardens, Ventnor.

- The higher level marquees just off Dudley Road are FREE for anyone to enter and contain the open-mic stage, bar, diner and Craft Crazy & kiddies corner.

- The lower main arena is for entry by appropriate ticket holders only. This area has the main stage, a bar run by Rosemary Vineyard, food by Just Falafs and Marvilouse Oriental all in Moroccan tents. To enter this zone you will need to buy or already have bought any of the following:

o A Weekend Rambler ticket for all weekend access including Hamsters
o A Day Rambler ticket for one day access including Hamsters
o A Folk & Blues Village Day pass for one day access NOT including Hamsters on Saturday
o For the Hamsters only - a Hamsters gig ticket

- The Baptist Church is not far away on Pier Street just up from the Cascades. The Boathouse is on the headland and is part of the Spyglass Inn. These are Rambler ticket or Pay on the Door or Double Gig Passes venues.

- St Catherine's Church, on Church Street left of the traffic lights, hosts Guy Davis on Friday night.

- The Winter Gardens hosts Salsa Celtica on Saturday night and Fairport Convention on Sunday night

Camp in the sites not far out of town, or stay in B&B or hotel accommodation but do give this festival-for-all-ages a try and be a part of the historical heritage of the Island as it is being written.