A NEW three-day music and arts festival is set to welcome hundreds of visitors to the countryside near Newent later this month.

Days In The Sun will make its debut at New Bliss Farm in Rudford from Friday, September 18 to Sunday, September 20.

The independent festival is being held on farmland between Newent and Gloucester and will have a capacity of around 500 people for its inaugural year.

Organisers Caitlin Barrett and Paul Chief O’Neill have put folk and roots music at the centre of the event, alongside dance and other forms of live entertainment.

The festival's main stage will be housed beneath a large circus marquee, meaning performances can continue under cover regardless of the September weather.

Alongside the music, visitors can expect entertainment including Morris sides, Irish dancers, belly dancers and drumming groups.

The line-up includes acts such as Roving Crows and PerKelt, with a mixture of folk, Celtic and roots influences running through the weekend.

New Bliss Farm is at Rudford, just a few miles from Ross-on-Wye, making the event one of the latest additions to the growing programme of independent festivals and live music events held around the Forest and wider Gloucestershire countryside.

The organisers describe Days In The Sun as a folk and roots festival and say considerable work has gone into creating a safe and friendly event.

Camping will be available for those wanting to stay for the weekend, although visitors have to book a camping pass separately to gain access to the camping field.

Children under five can attend free of charge, although all youngsters must be accompanied by an adult with a ticket.

Days In The Sun takes place from September 18 to 20 at New Bliss Farm, Rudford, GL2 8DX.

The organisers are aiming to create an alternative to larger festivals, with the limited capacity keeping the event small for its first year.