Organisers of this year's Raglan Music Festival have announced a stellar line-up of stars including British folk-rock legend Steve Ashley, internationally acclaimed horn player Owen Farr, and hotly tipped Welsh singer-songwriter Lowri Evans. The full line-up for the three-day festival, which opens on June 6, is now live on the official website and is sure to set music fans' pulses racing with more than 40 concerts throughout the village. Other standout gigs include headline slots by rock protagonist Geoff Downes of the hugely famous Asian, Britain's biggest Madness tribute act One Step Behind, Celtic Bluegrass specialists The Potboilers and the rousing Bridgend Male Voice Choir. Steve Ashley's headline gig is a huge coup for organisers. With an international career spanning more than 30 years, his most recent album, Everyday Lives, was acclaimed by the music press, earning four stars from Q magazine. Described by Mojo magazine as the Inspector Morse of the folk world, his romantic flair for songs of mystery and fireside dreamy poetry has sold albums across the globe. Lowri Evans' headline set is another must, with those in the know predicting her to follow in the footsteps of Wales' latest singing sensation Duffy. Having first made a name for herself in her native Pembrokeshire, Lowri then took her guitar and haunting melodies to some of the UK's biggest festivals. Since then she has released a series of EPs in between fighting of the record label bosses desperate to sign her. Keeping up its tradition of showcasing some of Wales' hottest indie talent June's festival also features disco-pop-rock eclectics The MAMs and Cardiff's Cakehole Presley whose fans include Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles. And there'll also be a slice of theatre for fans of the stage with performances by Theatr Ffynnon and The Devil's Violin, who mix the storytelling of Welsh gypsy tales with the sounds of the violin, cello, accordion and guitar. The festival was launched in 2005 and last year picked up the award for best-marketed event in Monmouthshire. More than 3,000 fans attended that year and organisers are expecting hundreds more in June with tickets already selling fast. Festival committee member Charles Fountain said: "We're really excited about this year's line-up. We've still got a couple of surprises up our sleeves, which we'll reveal before the festival begins, but there's a real diverse and exciting flavour to this year's festival." Tickets and weekend passes are available to purchase exclusively from http://www.raglan">www.raglan- festival.org" http://www.raglan-festival.org">www.raglan-festival.org.
