A WHOLE weekend of music is making a return to Horwich as the town relaunches its festival.

The Horwich Music Festival returns to the event line-up this month as residents and performers team up for three days of music.

Concerts will take place at the Horwich Resource Centre from May 13 to 15 with some events free and others ticketed.

The Festival Committee’s aim has been to organise a varied programme, covering a range of genres; featuring local amateur and professional musicians alongside renowned performers from further afield.

A spokesman for the committee said: "Although Horwich had a formal Music Festival in the past, it has not been an event on our calendar for some time.

"This year, in conjunction with Horwich Town Council, a group of local people and professional musicians have come together to re-launch what we hope could be a successful annual event."

Acts this year include Bolton singer and songwriter James Holt who performs a mix of rock and folk around the UK including the 2015 Music for the Youth Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

James will be joining the Friday Folk Evening alongside former winner of the British Blues Harmonica Championship, and the All-Britain Fleadh Cheoil, singer and musician Mat Walklate, and guitarists Dave Peters and Tori Wooff.

On Saturday Bolton's Greek/Albanian classical guitarist Jon Gjylaci, who has previously performed with the Corfu Symphony Orchestra, Manchester String Orchestra and the Northern String Quartet, will be taking part in a Classical Evening.

Also taking part will be Percussionist Mike Walker and cello duo Cupid’s Bow.

The evening's are ticketed events as are the Sunday concerts which will feature Rivington & Adlington Brass Band, The Kadenza Women’s Choir, The Bennetts Singers and The Bromley Cross Community Choir.

Free events will also be taking place throughout the weekend featuring performances by the Westhoughton Branch of he George Formby Society, pupils from Opus1 Music Studios and the Bolton School Jazz Band.

The afternoon and evening events will be held at the Horwich Resource Centre in Beaumont Road.

ticketed events cost £5 and are available from the centre.

to find out more visit www.facebook.com/HorwichMusicFestival.