A LONG Preston folk band and two members of the Wharfedale poets will perform in Ilkley this month.

The Manor House in Ilkley will be the venue for a special evening of poetry and songs at 7.30pm on Saturday, June 16.

The Moonbeams, a contemporary folk band, will bring their original songs from the Dales.

The Moonbeams are part of The Moonbeam Collective, a community organisation that celebrates the environment, countryside and rural life through the arts.

They have just released their third album This Land and their 2015 album Watching Wildlife was critically acclaimed as well as being voted in the top 50 Daily Telegraph albums of the year.

Two members of The Wharfedale Poets will be reading from their work.

Colin Speakman is a well-known poet, author and environmental campaigner and Ilkley’s Mandy Sutter, as well as being an acclaimed poet, recently won a prestigious national short-story writing award.

The Wharfedale Poets were established in 2010 and have since grown and reputation, counting published poets and national poetry prize winners amongst their numbers.

They regularly give performances in the region and the group have produced four highly praised anthologies since 2014. The latest, Music and Milestones, was published in April.

Jon Avison of The Moonbeam Collective said: “We are looking forward to bringing our music to Ilkley and it is a particular joy to be able to play at The Manor House and share the evening with The Wharfedale Poets. The combination of poems and music always works well.”

Colin Speakman of The Wharfedale Poets said: “It will be a real privilege and pleasure to share a platform with The Moonbeams.

He added: “Music and poetry are sister arts, and what better way to celebrate a summer evening in the Yorkshire Dales than with wonderful music and words.”

The evening starts at 7.30pm and tickets available on the door cost £6 and include a free glass of wine.