FOLK rockers Rusty Shackle will be heading eight miles up the Wye Valley to headline a popular local festival this Spring.

The Caldicot-based band will be returning to the family-friendly Devauden festival on May 18 to 19 to headline the Saturday night.

And in another date for music fans, ska hitmaker Buster Bloodvessel and Bad Manners will be returning to the area in April, when they play the Grand National day race meet at Chepstow Racecourse.

Rusty Shackle, who wowed fans with a sold-out home concert at Caldicot Castle last July and welcomed in the New Year with a special home town gig at the Severn View Club, say they can’t wait to kick start its 2018 festival season at the village’s ninth music festival.

Band member Scott Mckeon said “Every year we kick off our festival season in style at Devauden Festival.

“It’s always a guaranteed big crowd and with the addition of the big top tent, the atmosphere got even better last year.

“We are really excited to try out some new material with our new drummer George Barrell and we know the Devauden crowd are always up for it.”

The group, which has successfully toured the UK, Europe and America, has also announced March and April dates in Bristol and Cardiff and has released a DVD of its Caldicot Castle gig.

Billed as the “small festival with big ideas”, Devauden has also announced that Merthyr’s Upbeat Sneakers, “a pop influenced band with sharp brass”, will be headlining the Friday night in the big top, which it hires from Glastonbury.

Meanwhile, Bad Manners will be playing at the racecourse at the end of the Grand National day meeting on Saturday, April 14.

The band’s hits in the early 1980s included Special Brew, Lip Up Fatty, My Girl Lollypop and Can Can, which was recorded at Monmouth’s Rockfield Studios.