Talent show to launch folk festival

THE 12th Linlithgow Folk Festival will get under way next week with a grand opening concert - Lithca's Got Talent - in the town's Masonic Hall.

The opening night concert, which takes place next Wednesday at 8pm, will launch the biggest-ever folk festival programme in Linlithgow.

Events will be held from September 8-12, including concerts, an outdoor ceilidh at the Vennel, an open stage for budding performers, and musical cruises and sessions at the Canal Centre, as well as Bluegrass music performances at the Masonic hall and sessions in local pubs.

There will also be children's events and free outdoor performances by a number of musicians on the Nora Devine stage at the Cross, and the Pedal for Scotland stage in the Peel.

There are 20 free events included in the programme.

The headline concert, which is on at the Linlithgow Academy Theatre next Saturday, will feature one of Scotland's top traditional folk bands, Old Blind Dogs.

Full details of the Linlithgow Folk Festival programme can be found by visiting www.linlithgowfolk.com