Devon’s HOME Festival

The second HOME world and folk music festival at the Devon gem of Dartington Hall is gearing up to be a fantastic family affair – with a generous “four for the price of two” family ticket offer which

The second HOME world and folk music festival at the Devon gem of Dartington Hall is gearing up to be a fantastic family affair - with a generous "four for the price of two" family ticket offer which represents some of the best value UK festival tickets available anywhere this year.

Headlined by iconic American singer songwriter Suzanne Vega, the festival is offering a free Under 18 ticket for every two-day £48.50 adult ticket purchased, effectively meaning a family of four can attend the whole event on June 24 and 25 for the price of just the parents' tickets. The same Under 18 offer also applies to those attending on the Saturday only, when adult tickets for a remarkable 13 hours of entertainment are only £40.

The news has been welcomed by Glyn Phillips of the website Worldmusic.co.uk. Says Glyn: "This is a remarkable deal. Several festivals allow Under 5s free admission but to offer free tickets to under 18s is unusual. People often struggle to take their kids to concerts and festivals because of the price so full respect to HOME Festival for this decision!"

Car parking at the event will also be free this year, making it even more of a bargain outing.

HOME (June 24/25) is a celebration of global cultures through diverse acoustic music, workshops, crafts and family activities, and takes place in the stunning location of Dartington Hall, near Totnes - just 30 minutes from Exeter and Plymouth. Tickets, including student and OAP concessions, are available online at www.dartington.org/home/tickets or can be booked by calling 01803 847073 during normal office hours.

Suzanne Vega will spearhead the vibrant line up of global musicians descending on Dartington Hall. Known for her eclectic folk-inspired songs and hypnotic voice, she will headline the Saturday programme of the extended two-day acoustic music event - at one of the most beautiful festival sites in the country.

With its magnificent gardens, medieval hall and courtyard, rolling farmland and ancient deer park, Dartington Hall has been described as "a bit of English magic."

Widely regarded as one of the most brilliant songwriters of her generation Suzanne had two Top 10 hits, with the a capella Tom's Diner and the poignant Luka. See her singing Luka here www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2HDlqm5Muo&feature=related.

Following a sell-out inaugural year in 2010, as a one day event, HOME Festival returns with a bigger and better programme starting with a curtain raiser on the evening of Friday 24 and running from midday to 1am on the Saturday.

There will be three stages including the exquisite performance space of Dartington's Great Hall (left) - which forms part of the original 1388-built manor house.

The exceptional line-up of musicians will bring sounds as diverse as sitar, kora, Swedish nyckleharpa and West African riti (one-stringed fiddle) to the festival, weaving a multi textured tapestry of music, voice, language and roots to the South Devon site.

Says co-artistic advisor Thomas Brooman, former Artistic Director of the renowned WOMAD organisation: "People won't see these acoustic performances anywhere else - they will be unrepeatable sets. I'm particularly looking forward to seeing Mali's Tamikrest guitar band play in the Great Hall as if they were performing in the desert."(Tamikrest - pictured above left)

Other acts will include Alejandro Toledo & the Magic Tombolinos, an ensemble of travelling musicians from Argentina, Italy, Slovakia and Portugal; celebrated sitar player and composer Sheema Mukherjee and guitarist and Robert Plant collaborator Justin Adams with Gambian master musician Juldeh Camara, fusing West African trance rhythms with a blues sensibility. In an exciting new collaboration called Julaba Kunda, Juldeh Camara will also join forces with fiddler Griselda Sanderson to explore the relationship between the West African riti and its European cousins.

On the Friday night multi-talented Max Pashm will stage his DJ set while the award-winning black dance company Desert Crossings bring their dynamic, cross cultural show to Dartington.

On Saturday other acts range from Senegal's Seckou Keita, an exponent of the 21-stringed kora and the a capella Perunika Trio with their brooding Slavic repertoire while from Cornwall comes enigmatic singer songwriter Martha Tilston (left) with her haunting voice and brilliantly observed songs and Fernhill, described as "the band at the heart of the Welsh renaissance".

As well as outstanding international artists the festival will also feature food, films, workshops and family events. There will be a traditional fair and children's activities from face painting and banner making to a treasure hunt.

Full festival details and booking information are available online at www.dartington.org/home

There is a campsite just 10 minutes walk from the main stages - pitches are £7 per person and there is also limited space for camper vans. Pitches can be booked online or, for a campervan pitch, call 01803 847073. Alternatively overnight accommodation may be available in rooms in the Dartington Hall courtyard - call 01803 847100 for details.