TREVOR HEATON, EDP Whats On Editor Cromer's excellent Folk on the Pier is back until Sunday with another packed weekend of top British and international acts in prospect, plus fringe events at local venues.

TREVOR HEATON, EDP Whats On Editor

Cromer's excellent Folk on the Pier is back until Sunday with another packed weekend of top British and international acts in prospect, plus fringe events at local venues.

After experimenting with widening the scope of the event, festival director Scott Butler has decided to focus more on acoustic-based music.

t The event is back in its home venue - the Pavilion Theatre - and kicks off at 2pm today, Friday, May 11, with an afternoon session featuring No Fixed Abode, former “best live act” Folk Awards winner Rory McLeod and the traditional English Acoustic Collective. The evening session (7.30pm) features the Clay Faces, Fairport Convention bassist Dave Pegg with his colleague PJ Wright (Steve Gibbons Band/Dylan Project/Little Johnny England), with headliners Scotland's celebrated Battlefield Band.

t For Saturday afternoon (2pm) it's Pete Smith with Chris Williams, Strawhead, ColvinQuarmby, with the evening (7.30pm) session in the hands of American performer John McCormick, Swedish quartet Winter and headliners folk-rockers Oysterband.

t Sunday afternoon - again, 2pm - sees tall-tale teller Keith Donnelly, witty singer-songwriter David Hughes and the always-upbeat and sometimes-bizarre New Rope String Band.

Then from 7pm it's Ireland's Anthony John Clarke, award-winning Terrafolk (playing the second of two local dates this weekend) - with special guest classical violinist Anja Bukovec - and Swarb's Lazarus, featuring Kevin Dempsey and ex-Jethro Tull stalwart Maartin Allcock supporting the legendary Dave Swarbrick. The name of the band is inspired by that embarrassing 1999 incident when the Daily Telegraph published Swarbrick's obituary. Rumours of his death were - happily - greatly exaggerated. Now back touring after a double lung transplant, “Swarb” will be featuring a selection from his vast range of folk tunes and songs.

Full-event tickets £60, individual days £20 (subject to availability), telephone 01263 512495. www.folkonthepier.co.uk