THE 2016 Musicport festival will go on tour to the Yorkshire moors and coast in a two-day extension of this month's event to take Whitby festival acts to surrounding villages on October 24 and 25.

Most of these events will be free of charge with a bucket collection, and among the participants will be the award-winning Swedish folk band Kolonien; triple BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nominees Lynched, from Eire; the 16-piece Varldens Band, from Sweden; Robert Maseko and Congobeat, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Moussu T, from Marseilles, France, and folk/crossover musician Maz O’Connor.

In addition, Sol Cinema, the world's smallest solar-powered cinema, will go on tour to several of the villages in advance of the shows, beginning with an 11.30am to 12.30pm screening at Robin Hood's Bay on October 24. That day will continue with Lynched playing a pub session with Yorkshire folk star Eliza Carthy at the Grosvenor in her home village of Robin Hood's Bay from 12.30pm to 2pm.

Arstidir, from Iceland, and Home will play at the Old St Stephen's Church, in Robin Hood's Bay, from 2.30pm to 3.45pm. Kolonien and several members of the Varldens Band will perform at the Manor House, Ryedale Folk Museum, Hutton-le-Hole, where admission will be free from 2pm for the 2.30pm to 3.30pm performance.

Sol Cinema will move on to Glaisdale from 3pm to 4pm; Maz O'Connor and David Neil will play at Glaisdale Church from 4pm to 5.15pm, and the day will end with a double bill of Moussu T e Lei Jovents and Tuppenny Blue at The Forge, Aislaby, from 8.30pm to 10.30pm.

October 25 will open with Sol Cinema at Lythe from 11am to midday, followed by an acoustic set by Robert Maseko and Congobeat in Lythe Village Hall from midday to 1pm.

Sol Cinema will be in action in Staithes from 1pm to 2pm and Runswick Bay from 3pm to 4pm; Blanty & Friends will play at Captain Cook's Inn, Staithes, from 3pm to 4pm, and the festival extension will conclude with the Varldens Band playing Hinderwell Village Hall from 7pm to 9pm, for which admission is £5.

Musicport organiser Jim McLaughlin says: "It’s always been in my mind that the international performers we get should get the chance to see the beautiful countryside around Whitby and also that the villages should get to experience some of the festival.

"Being back in half-term this year seemed to be the perfect opportunity and we hope this will become a regular part of the festival from now on. It’s also really good to work with other venues and organisations to develop something that wouldn’t otherwise happen in these particular places”

Now in its 16th year, Musicport will run in Whitby from October 21 to 23, all under one roof at Whitby Pavilion, where the six stages will include a DJ stage, a children’s activity dome and an open mic stage.

For more information on the festival line-up, visit musicportfestival.com