AROUND 400 dancers and musicians are set to have Crewe and Nantwich buzzing tomorrow, Friday, when the international folk festival hits town.

The festival, in its ninth successive year, will start the town swinging on Friday September 11, with festivities lasting throughout the weekend.

Welsh, Border Morris, Appalachian and Irish dance workshops have been arranged to encourage lightfooted locals to tread the boards and join in the fun - whatever ability they have.

Special dances will be held on Friday and Saturday night and there's the chance to attempt to play the Irish drum (Bodrhan) with Celtic Craic or the small harp with Savourna Stevenson.

Nantwich Civic Hall will host a range of trade stands selling music, instruments, quality crafts, charity goods and C.A.M.R.A guides all weekend.

The hall will also stage woodworking demonstrations from Black Cat Workshop and a "Celebration of Youth" concert on Saturday afternoon.

A grand parade will leave the hall at 10.15am on Saturday for a full day of street entertainment in the town.

The Crewe to Shrewsbury Passenger Rail Service, which is also celebrating its 140th birthday, will be offering a special £1.40 fare to the festival on Saturday.

Programmes giving full information on performing artists, events, venues and times will be on sale for £1 at Nantwich Civic Hall, the Crewe Tourist Information Centre and the Municipal Buildings.

Tickets go on sale from 4pm tomorrow at the Civic Hall, or can be ordered in advance by calling 01270 662633.

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