NOW in its 16th year, Innerleithen Music Festival is gearing up for another feast of entertainment later this summer.

Always a hit with locals and visitors alike, this year promises to be another super showcase of, not only musical talent, but with other dance and drama events and for the first time ever – an art exhibition.

Festival-goers can expect the usual great atmosphere and live music from local talent at the Live and Local event in the Vale Of Leithen Social Club throughout the weekend of August 17 to 19.

Headliners are soon to be announced, but firm favourites such as Unfinished Business, The IV Drips and Cameron Boak will all be there for your entertainment.

This event is Free all weekend and more details will be posted, including the full line up on the Live and Local facebook page.

The Friday evening kicks off with Act! Sing! Dance! with Stardust Musical Theatre and Fiona Henderson School of Dance.

This will be held in the Innerleithen Parish Church and promises to be a new and exciting addition to the programme. Tickets are £12 (under 16s - £6) and available on the door or from www.stagestubs.com

Also on Friday, the Memorial Hall venue is being revived this year, with De Niro’s Big Birthday Bash – a celebration of the life of Robert De Niro with live music from three great Borders bands - Mills, Morph the Cat, Becc and Forth and special guest, Dylan Paterson.

Innerleithen Parish Church is again the place to be on Saturday, when Nomad Beat will be showcasing their many talented groups and solo performers from 2pm to 4pm.

There will be something for everyone from Bluegrass to drumming and all musical genres in between.

From 7.30pm to 10pm, the wonderful InChorus and Traquair Community Choir will be joining forces for an uplifting selection of harmonies. A further two concerts are planned for the Sunday, with Turas, Home Groan and Gala Water Singers from 2pm to 4pm and Heart and Soul Swing Band from 6pm to 7pm.

Events at the Union Club include traditional singing from the Fisher Lassies and their friends, a harmony singing workshop, and an open rehearsal with the Tweed Valley Cheyne Gang.

Spokesperson for the Innerleithen Music Festival, Robin Dempsey, said – ‘This is just a taste of what is happening this year. We are really excited about the way that local groups and venues have planned such a great array of concerts, singing workshops and dance and drama events. It is great to see venues, like the Church and Memorial Hall being used in new and exciting ways and we are delighted that local pubs and clubs, such as the Union Club, hosting the Festival Club and singarounds, the St. Ronan’s Hotel, who put on a fantastic selection of music last year and the Vale of Leithen Social Club, with its continued support in hosting the Live and Local event for the whole weekend for the 7th year running, are all contributing to giving Innerleithen Music Festival a firm and well deserved place in the Scottish Music Festival calendar’

For more details on the full programme, visit www.innerletithenmusicfestival.com or find and follow Innerleithen Music Festival on Facebook.

Innerleithen Music Festival takes place from Friday, August 17 to Sunday, August 19.

For more information on the Press Release contact – imfpublicity@aol.com