Irvine Folk Club is gearing up for this year’s Marymass Folk Festival.

The 52nd Marymass Folk Festival will kick off on Friday, August 23 at Vineburgh Community Centre with a three-day feast of folk music, storytelling, and World Championship events.

As in previous years, Seagate Rotary Club has again sponsored the Folk Concert for Senior Citizens.

It starts at 2pm on Friday, August 23 in the Volunteer Rooms and is free.

The community theme continues with professional storytellers Michael Kerins and Tony Bonning who will be spinning amazing stories in as many schools as possible on the Friday. Irvine Library will play hostto Storytelling Session for Big People at 2.30pm followed at 4pm with Storytelling for Families.

Marymass Folk Festival organiser Anne Clarke said: “It’s a packed programme over the three days so the best thing to do is arm yourself with a Folk Festival leaflet to make sure you spread your energy.

“Friday Night’s opening concert has Celine Donoghue and Friends topping the bill and that means first class musicianship and entertainment are guaranteed.

Also on Friday’s bill are Tom McConville and Andy Watt, The Alistair McCulloch trio and The Stavanger Harbour Band.”

Marymass Saturday and the Folk Festival sets up camp in the Woodlands Centre in Kilwinning Road for a day of musical mayhem. For folk music aficionados who want to escape the Marymass Saturday crowds, then head down to The Ship Inn on Saturday afternoon.

Ex-Clydesiders John Graham and Jim Jack will lead proceedings and people who attended last year raved about the Ship session.

The festival folds its tent again and moves to the Volunteer Rooms for the Marymass Saturday Night Concert – an event as traditional as The Captain’s Horse. Headlining the event – and not for the first time – are the fabulous Tannahill Weavers.

Also appearing on Saturday are The Jeremiahs and Stephen and Pernille Quigg.

On Sunday, August 25 the Vineburgh will play host to an Afternoon Singaround, Whammy-Diddling and Chuckie-Chucking World Championships plus you can book a fish tea for the bargain price of a fiver.

The whole festival winds down with a Survivors’ Session in the evening at The Ship. For tickets to this year’s festival phone Joyce on 077985 72926.