A FOLK singer dubbed ‘the Welsh Bruce Springsteen’ will join music’s brightest young stars this month to prove that folk music is entering an exciting new era.

Ambitious prog-folk quintet The Moulettes, BBC Young Folk Award winner Megan Henwood and local favourites Fearne are just a few of the new wave set to rock the Bournemouth Folk Festival at the BIC’s Tregonwell Hall this Friday and Saturday.

Folk enthusiasts are also looking forward to a multi-cultural jamboree over the two days, with electrifying Anglo-Spanish outfit Urban Folk Quartet, globe-trotting trio Korasong Radio and Grupo Lokito, a heady mix of Congolese and Latin rhythms, among 20 diverse acts.

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Martyn Joseph has been favourably compared to Bruce Springsteen and takes to the stage on Saturday afternoon as well as fronting his own songwriting workshop.

Local musician and singer Alex Roberts, Martha Tilston and The Woods and Australian singer-songwriter Emily Barker and her band the Red Clay Halo also appear on Saturday, alongside hoedown and ceilidh favourites Cut-a-Shine.

Throughout Saturday, the Purbeck Lounge will host performances from artists including The Paper Shades, Holika, local favourite Malcolm Bishop and Southampton band Jigfoot.

For full schedule and ticket details, visit bournemouthfolkfestival.co.uk.

• For details of this year’s Purbeck Folk Festival over the August Bank Holiday, visit purbeckfolk.co.uk.