LONG Preston folk band The Moonbeams has organised an evening of folk music to raise funds for the 2016 Settle Folk Festival.

It will showcase local talent and will be held at Settle's Victoria Hall next Friday, March 11, from 7.30pm.

"We like to play locally and Settle Folk Festival is a great event," said band member Jon Avison. "It is one of the few free folk festivals in the country."

The Moonbeams are known for their original music, which is rooted in the environment and culture of the Dales and their 2015 album, Watching Wildlife, was recently placed at No 37 in Daily Telegraph 70 top folk albums of 2015.

But the band is taking time out of writing music for its third album, due out later this year, to take part in the folk festival fundraiser.

It will share the stage with The William Small Small Orchestra - Mike Harding’s legendary ceilidh band - as well as folk singers Karin Grandal-Park and Rosie Glegg, who will perform original songs and classic covers, and local musicians Ben Avison and Sam Lawrence who will play guitar, pipes, whistles, accordion and mandolin (although not all at once!).

Tickets are available from settlevictoriahall.org.uk or call 01729 825718.

All proceeds will go to the Settle's third folk festival, which will be held from Thursday, September 1, to Sunday, September 4. Once again, it will feature concerts, workshops and sessions in and around the town and all events will be free,

Meanwhile, The Moonbeams can be seen at Cowling Village Hall this Saturday.

They will perform at a charity concert, with the proceeds being split Manorlands and the locally based Drystone Radio.

Doors open at 7pm for the concert at 7.30pm. Tickets are £5 and are available from Steve Brown on 07955 033170 or email steve.brown@drystoneradio.com