Tickets are on sale now for the main events at this year's FolkWeek, and there is an amazing variety to choose from. One of the figureheads of English folk, Eliza Carthy, pictured, opens the festival at the Ham Marquee on July 31.

Tickets are on sale now for the main events at this year's FolkWeek, and there is an amazing variety to choose from.

One of the figureheads of English folk, Eliza Carthy, pictured, opens the festival at the Ham Marquee on July 31. Eliza has no less than seven BBC Radio Two Folk Awards to her credit, as well as two Mercury Prize nominations.

She will be showcasing self-penned songs from her latest album Dreams of Breathing Underwater, inspired by her travels around the globe.

On Friday, August 1, you could listen to roots duo Show of Hands in the Ham Marquee or dance to English tunes infused with the rhythms of Africa and Asia from Boka Halat at the Festival Clubhouse at the Bulverton Marquee.

Saturday night at the Ham features songwriter John Tams, perhaps better known as Rifleman Daniel Hagman from the Sharpe TV series, or you can hear the sublime piano music of Finland's Timo Alakotila accompanied on the piano accordion by Karen Tweed at the Manor Pavilion.

Virtuoso Irish fiddle player Martin Hayes and guitarist Dennis Cahil take to the Ham stage on Sunday night with their beautiful rousing music, or you could join Dalla at the Clubhouse for a Cornish 'Noze Looan' - an evening of dances easy enough to pick up as you go along by watching everyone else.

On Monday afternoon young innovative Scottish band Breabach blend double bagpipes, flute, fiddle and stepdancing in the Ham Marquee. Follow that dancing to Quinteto Mambo Jambo's mix of Afro-Cuban-Salsa-Samba music at the Clubhouse.

And so the week goes on, with other guests including world-famous Nothumbrian piper Kathryn Tickell, Irish music from Last Night's Fun, a five-hour mega-dance to the bagpipes, saxophones, accordion, brass and hurdy-gurdy of Blowzabella, finishing as usual with the torchlight procession and fireworks on Friday, August 8. Eddie Upton, FolkWeek's artistic director, said: "I am delighted with the range of artists and events we've put together. I know it's an often misused phrase, but there really is something for everyone."

A free programme with details of all events and many more is available from Sidmouth Tourist Information Centre, telephone (01395) 578627. or you can download it from the website www.sidmouthfolkweek.co.uk