FIVE acoustic acts are due to perform in Newnham between June 9 and 23 as part of a campaign to raise funds for the Newnham Bells Appeal.

The event is directed by Newnham resident, David Freeman, best known for his blues and boogie programme on Jazz FM.

David said: “This is a bespoke boutique music festival. Stadiums and big festivals are interesting, but Newnham Live offers the real thing, with musicians so close you can see and hear what they are doing without needing huge screens and booming speaker systems.”

David has used his connections in the music industry to assemble a line-up of five acts from the fields of folk, roots and blues. He added:

“Wild Willie Barrett’s French Connection perform with rip-roaring fiddle and banjo, Ninebarrow are a multi-award winning folk duo with an innovative and captivating take on the folk tradition and Mark Harrison is a thrilling, rhythmic finger-picker and slide player with a delightfully dry sense of humour. The Ric Saunders Trio, features the violinist in Fairport Convention, and Richard Digance, who is not only a superb guitar player and singer, but is also very funny indeed completes the line-up.

“All concerts will take place in St Peter’s Church at the top of Newnham’s Georgian High Street where you will find sumptuous views over the Severn and Vale.”

Concerts start at 7.30pm and on concert days there will be a festival bar which opens at 5.30pm. Full timings and tickets for each event can be obtained at https://newnhambells.wordpress.com/events