PLANS are falling into place for this year’s Leigh Folk Festival as organisers’ preparations get into full swing.

The popular free event, run by a group of volunteers, is less than a month away and this year will see a number of changes made.

Creative Director and founder Paul Collier said: “As local pop pundit Daryl Easlea once remarked the Leigh Folk Festival is ‘always different, always the same’ and this year will be no exception.”

One of the most significant changes is the introduction of the Railway Hotel, in Southend, as the venue of choice for the festival’s opening night.

Mr Collier added: “We normally try to keep it in Leigh but the Railway Hotel is really a musical centre for the town so it made sense to have our low-key opening night there.”

The opening night features a typically eclectic Leigh Folk Festival selection of performers on Thursday, June 22.

Lost Harbours, an experimental folk combo, will perform along with MG Boulter and Friends. Mr Boulter is a songwriter and musician from Leigh.

Rising stars Phelan Burgoyne and Rob Luft will join forces in a special one-off duo format.

Commenting on the changes coming to the festival this year, Paul added: “Change is a natural process for us and to a certain extent incremental changes are made every year.

“Options present themselves and we’ve implemented changes for various reasons.

“I always get excited around this time as things start to fall into place.

“When you start off it’s all a bit up in the air but now there’s a plan and it’s just a question of putting it together and making it all work.

“There’s going to be a lot of activity on the website and social media over the next few weeks as plans get firmed up and details are announced.”

A highlight of the festival will be the final performance of the Estuary Song Writing Project which will take place on Friday, June 23.

Paul said: “It’s the first time we’ve ever had a work commissioned and funded by the Arts Council so it’s a really exciting project.

“I’ve been to the other performances of it and I’m really pleased with it so that’s one thing I’m really looking forward to.”

The Saturday concert will also be a first for the festival as it features a multimedia performance called I Made Some Low Enquiries featuring Justin Hopper.

“It’s an exploration of the links between the USA, where the artist is from, and East Anglia and so will use music, spoken word and visuals.

“There should be some fantastic imagery so hoping that will attract a nice crowd.”

The full line-up can be viewed leighfolkfestival.com/line-up