YORK’S Little Festival of Live Music is looking for acoustic and folk performers interested in taking part in a mini-fest at the Black Swan Inn, Pasholme Green, York, on March 31.

"Having had a hugely successful 2017, we're kicking off our music season in style by bringing back our mini-fest, as our award-winning festival continues to offer a place for everyone to enjoy great live music," says festival director Ellen Cole. "We're particularly keen to hear from non-acoustic acts who are up for the challenge of performing acoustically.

"There’s nothing better than adding a musical challenge to an event, so I’m really hoping we’ll hear from acts who’ve never played a live gig acoustically before, but would relish the opportunity to show our audiences what they've got. The event will be filled with a mixture of different music, from relaxed tunes to foot-stomping numbers, and it's going to be a great day."

Many of the festival's acts in past years have gone on to undertake national tours with musicians they have met through the event or had their first experience on live radio, as well as having the chance to showcase their work to an appreciative audience."

York Press:

Holly Taymar, of The Bronze, playing at York's Little Festival of Live Music last autumn. Picture: Bob Mitchell

Among the talent previously involved with the festival are Gracie Falls, a country, folk and pop performer, who won the UK Unsigned Songwriter of the Year competition; East Yorkshire folk musician Edwina Hayes, who has played alongside Eric Clapton and had her version of Randy Newman’s Feels Like Home featured in the film My Sister's Keeper; and Heather Findlay, former lead singer of York band Mostly Autumn, who has since forged a successful solo career.

The festival also has played host to London's Joel Sarakula, Cleckheaton’s harmonic indie group Dear Friends, Newcastle country and folk group Gilded Thieves and more York acts such as The Bronze, Boss Caine, Lost Trends, Leather’o, Lost Trends, The Blueprints and Bull.

To apply to be part of this spring's mini-fest, send an email to yorkslivemusicfestival@gmail.com with information about your act and a high-res image more than 500kb in size, as well as links to your music. The deadline for applications is 5pm on January 27.

For more information on the festival, visit facebook.com/YorksLittleFestivalOfLiveMusic or follow the event's progress at twitter.com/live_music_fest.

Ellen and her festival team will be raising money for the Island Mentoring Scheme, a children’s charity that provides support for vulnerable children and young people living in York.