THE second Exefest – Exeter Canalside Folk Festival, taking place on Saturday April 12, is featuring an entire concert dedicated to showcasing folk and folk-influenced musicians from the Exeter area.

Musicians were invited to apply, which many did, and these were then narrowed down to the final six featured in the concert.

There are varying flavours and styles amongst the artists, the idea was to give people a sample of what is out there right on their doorstep.

Festival founder and director Laura English-Rose said “We spoke to people after the festival last year and one of the things that kept coming up was that people wanted to see more artists from their hometown, more local talent”.

Lazibyrd, winners of the 2013 South West Music Awards for Best Folk Act are a duo from Martock playing energetic, original folk.

Sam Fearon is the youngest of the artists at just 20 years old, a singer-songwriter from Totnes. South West Music Awards 2013 finalists for Best Folk Act Devonbird combine stomping jigs and reels with haunting ballads and songs, whilst David Harbottle & Freya Jonas are a duo based in the wilderness of Totnes, sharing stories old and new and breathing new life into traditional English folk songs.

Devon-born Steve Elston is an exceptionally creative guitarist and an entertaining, insightful storyteller whom fans of last year’s Exefest headliner Sam Carter will love, and finally Sound of the Sirens are an Exeter-based duo who were recently awarded Best Acoustic Act in the 2013 South West Music Awards.

The Showcase Exeter concert will take place in the afternoon, followed by a dance display and then the evening concert featuring headliner and 2014 BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nominees for Best Group, Melrose Quartet; Luke Jackson, nominated for both the Young Folk Award and the Horizon Award in the 2013 Folk Awards; brand new The Dovetail Trio; and Sheffield/Devon duo The Black Hares.

Exefest will be held at the Double Locks pub on the Exeter Ship Canal on Saturday 12th April 2014. Doors open at noon. Full Price Advance Tickets - £18. On the door price - £20. Showcase Only tickets - £5.

For more information and to buy tickets visit www.exefest.com.