The Wychwood Music Festival returns to Cheltenham Racecourse for its fourth year from Friday 30th May - 1 June 2008. The festival has been nominated for the Best Family Festival Award in the UK Festival Awards every year thanks to great facilities as well as excellent live music and activities for all ages.

The lineup includes over 100 bands including: The Divine Comedy, The Proclaimers, The Imagined Village (Featuring Billy Bragg, Eliza & Martin Carthy + more), Duffy, Orchestra Baobab, plus many more!

Ticket prices range from £20-100, with under 12s, camping and parking free.

Rock'n'Reel News Editor David Burke has just had his first book published.

Crisis in the Community: The African Caribbean Experience of Mental Health explores the reasons behind the disproportionate rates of mental health among the UK's African Caribbeans - despite this community making up only 1% of the population.

Burke himself says, "It's a book as much about the British problem with race as it is about mental health."

To purchase a copy go to www.chipmunkapublishing.com

Folkworks present the annual Hexham Gathering, Wednesday 21st - Sunday 25th May, celebrating the best and most exciting talent around on the traditional music scene.

The Hexham Gathering is perhaps the country's leading folk festival aimed at providing performance opportunities for a host of hugely talented young folk and traditional singers, dancers and instrumentalists.

This unique event pairs top folk and traditional performers such as Rachel Unthank & The Winterset and Alistair Anderson with some of the brightest rising stars from the new generation of folk musicians.

For tickets and/or festival information contact Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham, on 01434 652 477 or online at www.queenshall.co.uk.

The Green Note Festival - Camden's annual festival celebrating the passion, beauty and diversity of Latin American music - will run this year from 13th June to 5th July.

During this time, Green Note will play host to a wide range of styles from the traditional to the contemporary- with many different Latin American countries and genres represented: from indigenous folk music, utilising traditional instruments, classic styles such as Argentinean tango and Brazilian Samba, to upbeat Salsa and Cuban grooves, guaranteed to induce all manner of dancing, hand-clapping and heel-stamping!

The Black Horse Festival, dubbed the biggest little festival in Britain, runs from May 23rd to May 26th this year. It all takes place in a huge marquee at Telham on the A2100 between Battle and Hastings in East Sussex.

For full details click here.

The Georgian Theatre, Stockton on Tees, adds another feather to its cap with the booking of acclaimed guitar maestro and songwriter Martin Simpson for the launch of its Georgian Folk Season on Friday 2nd May at 7.30pm. Support comes from rising local stars Cath and Phil Tyler

Look out for further highlights of the Georgian Folk series over the coming months including Michael Chapman on Friday 13th June and Dick Gaughan on Saturday 20th September.

Hard Chair Stories, a new drama by Nick Burbridge, produced by Other Place Productions and directed by Aine King, will be at The Rose Theatre, London, 16/17th April, and at the 3&10 Theatre, Brighton Festival Fringe, (Preview 1st May) 6-9th May.

The Rose Theatre

Brighton Festival Fringe

Legendary Greenwich Village folkie Eric Andersen has announced a major UK tour in May 2008. For full details click here.