Oysterband, Frigg and Altan among bands playing at Buxton Folk in May

Several of the country’s top folk artists and talented musicians from the High Peak will be participating in a major new programme of live music.

Buxton Folk in May is a month-long celebration of music at venues around town.

Young fiddle septet Frigg, pictured, launch the programme on Friday May 1. The group have already dazzled at Celtic Connections and Cambridge Folk Festivals with hip-twitching Finnish tunes and feisty Norwegian detours.

Running over May 2 and 3 will be Big Session in Buxton, launched by melodeon wizard Simon Care on the Saturday afternoon at 4pm in The Old Clubhouse, Buxton.

This will be followed by Oysterband plus folk legend June Tabor, and Blair Dunlop in concert at the Opera House at 7.30pm.

Rounding off bank holiday Saturday, local musicians will perform back in The Old Clubhouse (from 11pm).

Big Session in Buxton continues on Sunday (May 3 at 11am) with a guided walk around Buxton, led by Oysterband frontman John Jones. Afterwards walkers can join John and his band members at 12.30pm, for live music back in The Old Clubhouse.

Buxton Folk in May carries on with Altan (May 9), sure to get audiences up on their feet with their Irish reels and jigs.

Other events include Celtic Fiddle Festival on Sunday, May 10, which sees three of the finest folk violinists in the country perform. Merrymouth (May 22), led by Ocean Colour Scene songwriter Simon Fowler, will also entertain with a joyful mix of piano, cello, trombone, clarinet, muted trumpet and double bass.

Buxton Opera House is offering a special offer on tickets for Big Session in Buxton: session events are free to ticket holders of Saturday night’s Opera House concert featuring Oysterband & June Tabor, and Blair Dunlop. Contact www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk or call the box office on 0845 127 2190.