Soap actress and singer Denise Black is swapping Coronation Street for Cromer Pier.

The well-known small screen star who played 'Corrie' hairdresser Denise Osbourne, and has appeared on stage in Calendar Girls, is also an accomplished singer fronting a band called Loose Screw.

They perform original folk rock songs with a 'gipsy flavour' and are among the acts lined up for the Folk on the Pier festival of roots music which marks its 13th year at Cromer in May.

Organiser Scott Butler said her appearance came about after his bid to bring the re-forming Home Service band was thwarted by their commitments to providing music for the Steven Speilberg War Horse movie - but guitarist Graeme Taylor suggested Loose Screw, which he also appears in, as Plan B.

'It might bring us in a new set of fans of Corrie,' said Mr Butler, who in 2008 also had Street star Geoffrey Hughes - who played Eddie Yeats and is a big folk fan - as compere to one of the festival days.

Denise, who formed the band two years ago, said she had sung in Norfolk before, 20 years ago with an earlier band called the Kray Sisters which included actress Josie Lawrence, so 'it was about time to come back', she said.

She was a singer before she was an actress, but, after 'the stage, TV and kids' years, was now back on the road with her music, and was really looking forward to the Cromer folk event.

This year's festival was concentrating more on singers and songwriters, with fewer larger instrumental electric acts, following audience feedback, said Mr Butler.

Headlining acts are Nine Below Zero on Friday night, Chris While and Julie Matthews on Saturday, with Martin Simpson and closing the event on the Sunday night.

The festival, which runs from Friday May 6 to Sunday May 8 from 2pm daily, is also showcasing young artists including Dan Walsh and Will Pound, and Ahab.

Tickets and more information from the Cromer Pier box office 01263 512495, or visit www.folkonthepier.co.uk