THE 12th Innerleithen Music Festival gets underway next weekend.

It’s the biggest festival of traditional music in the Borders and once more the organisers promise top acts from the world of Celtic music, as well as providing plenty of performance opportunities for local musicians.

Pam Fraser, chair of the organising committee, told the Peeblesshire News: “We’ve put a lot of work into this year’s festival to maintain the standards set in previous years.

“There’s our headline concerts at the Memorial Hall featuring artists with international reputations in the folk world, such as Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham, Boys of the Lough and The Shee. “But we’ve also got more than 30 of our most talented local acts in different genres appearing at the Vale Club in a weekend long ‘festival within a festival’.

“Some of our events are free, so there’s really no excuse for not coming along to enjoy the music!”.

Among the new events for this year are a session devoted to Border song and tunes hosted by Kirsty Law, and a rock session led by Don Cameron, Tickets for the main concerts are on sale in advance at Scotlight in Innerleithen, the Eastgate Theatre in Peebles by calling 01721 725777, and online at the festival web site: www.innerleithenmusicfestival.org. At the time of writing, they will also be available at the door. More information is available from the website or by calling 01721 729949.

The programme, which gets underway on Friday, August 15, is as follows: Live and Local Fringe - all three days (August 15-17) from 4pm to 1am. The Vale Club is the venue for local talent.

Friday, August 15: Memorial Hall concert with Scotland’s favourite musical duo Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham, plus outstanding local musicians Sophie Dyer and Seoras Ashby. 7.30pm - 10.30pm.

Festival Club at the Union Club 10pm to 1am. Saturday, August 16: Workshops – Fiddle, Singing, Border Song, Fun Percussion, Flute & Whistle and Mandolin. The festival website gives the times and venues.

“Historic Innerleithen” - walk with local experts, starting from the Memorial Hall, 10am - 12 noon.

St Ronan’s Silver Band will be performing outside the Vale Club. Coffee morning inside the club, 10am - 12noon.

Concert at Memorial Hall with Robyn Stapleton (BBC Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2014), Lori Watson & Fiona Black, and the students and tutors of the Merlin Music Academy Summer School, 12.45pm - 3.30pm.

Live and Local Fringe at the Vale Club, 1pm to 1am.

Busking Competition on Innerleithen High Street - register at Charity shop at 15 High Street between 1pm and 2pm to get your pitch. All ages welcome, 2pm to 4pm. Judging at 4pm.

Rock & Roll Classics and Ballad session hosted by Don Cameron, 4pm to 7pm.

Border Song and Tune Session led by Kirsty Law from Heriot, 5.30pm to 7pm.

Double header concert at Memorial Hall with legendary Celtic band Boys of the Lough and exciting young Borders based band The Shee, 7.15pm to 10.45pm.

Festival Club at the Union Club, 10pm to 1am. Singaround at Mason’s Club, hosted by Susie Kelly, 10.30pm to 1am.

Sunday, August 17: Workshops – Scots Song and Guitar. The festival website gives the times and venues.

Live and Local Fringe at the Vale Club, 1pm to 8pm.

Live and Local Main Stage concert at Memorial Hall, with ‘indie-folk’ band Matt Norris & The Moon, Borders blues duo Robbie Tatler & Sam Mundy and Lanarkshire based Rudeigin, 2pm to 4pm.

“The Ladykillers” – special event commissioned for the Festival – an entertaining afternoon exploring the role of women in a selection of Scottish ballads popularised by Walter Scott. Takes place at St Ronan’s Wells, 2pm to 4pm.

Traditional Singers Concert, a relaxing evening of traditional song with some great singers and musicians – Fiona Hunter & Mike Vass, Carole & Alan Prior, John Morran, Kirsty Law and Innerleithen’s own Fisher Lassies, 6.30pm to 9.15pm.