ORGANISERS of a popular blues festival will be hoping to make it a hat-trick of sell-outs after announcing this year’s line-up.

Blues at the Fold returns to the community enterprise in Bransford, between Malvern and Worcester, for the fifth year on Saturday, July 6 and another capacity crowd could be on the cards to follow the success of 2011 and 2012.

Oliver Carpenter, who also sings and plays trumpet with Stomp & Holler, said: “The festival has gone from strength to strength since 2009, with the quality of the line up increasing every year.

“Following research from the attendees of 2012 we have adjusted the format by putting the festival completely under cover so it will be totally weather proof.

“We have also re-introduced a dancey act at the end of the night so everyone can have a great dance and introduced a wider range of food options, still local and largely organic.”

One of the main attractions is Wille and the Bandits, who were voted as one of the top three live acts in the UK by the Daily Telegraph last year and have opened gigs for Status Quo, Joe Bonamassa and Deep Purple.

Wille is a highly regarded lap slide guitarist and the band take swampy blues, world music and everything in between.

Ricky Cool and his All Star Band will provide the requested danceable last set with one of the best swing harp players in the UK fronting the outfit.

Oliver’s new band Stomp & Holler will also be making an appearance, with six vocalists and brass section working to bring the dancefloors and swamps of New Orleans to Worcestershire.

Steve Ajao Blues Giants have been playing for almost 30 years and the powerhouse trio continue to create a sound reminiscent of the Mississippi Delta.

Local singer Sarah Warren will perform an acoustic set with Nick Lyndon and Stu Field.

While the Swaps treat audiences to a mix of hard rolling, funked-up, folky blues, electro-acoustic waltzes, pop wig-outs and dubstep boogaloos with their line-up of singer, rhythm section, blues harpist and guitarist.

Gates open at 1pm and the music runs from 2-11pm.

Tickets are £13 for adults, £3 for under-12s and children under five go free. Camping is available at £6 per person.

For more information and tickets, go to bluesatthefold.co.uk or call 01886 812989.