TRANSYLVANIA comes to West Devon next week at the fifth Baring-Gould Festival.

Performing for the first time in the UK, The Timar Brothers and Ferenc and Zsuza Sara, hail from Transylvania, and play stunning dance music and songs from their own villages mixing voices with violin, flute and hit-gardon.

Following a last-minute visa hitch the four musicians' first visit to the UK was made possible this week thanks to a series of frantic phone calls.

The Baring-Gould Festival, organised by Okehampton-based community folk organisation the Wren Trust, begins next Friday, October 31 and runs until Sunday, November 2.

The event travels around the villages of Bratton Clovelly, Lewdown and Bridestowe using local venues and drawing inspiration from the collection of hundreds of folk songs from Devon and Cornwall by the Rev Sabine Baring-Gould.

One of the biggest names in English folk music, Martin Carthy, is one of the festival headliners.

He has an unrivalled reputation as a leading folk artist, who has played with bands such as Steeleye Span and has recently received an MBE for his services to music.

The festival's other headline act is Tim Laycock, a multi-talented concertina player and vocalist who will be returning as a firm favourite with festival goers.

Also on the bill is Nick Wyke, playing a set to launch his new CD 'The High Tors' featuring traditional fiddle tunes and more contemporary arrangements from Dartmoor.

It's also a last chance to experience the glorious four-part harmony singing of Regal Slip, which has been rounded through years of professional experience. They will be running two workshops to form a festival choir, which will perform during the final farewell festival concert.

The cream of Wren's musical talent will be picking up their bagpipes, mandolins and fiddles and a host of other instruments to play their own part in the festival,

As well as the music, there will be a local produce fair with craft demonstrations.

Saturday night will feature a three-and-a-half hour sit down festival feast with live entertainment from all of the artists.

For further enquiries or to book tickets, please contact Wren on 01837 53754.