Helen Brown sets the scene for this year's appealing Deer Shed Festival

JOHN Grant, Billy Bragg and The Unthanks are the headliners at the 6th annual Deer Shed Festival, which takes place close to the river Swale at Baldersby Park, Topcliffe, over the weekend of July 24 to 26. Besides the main stage, there are two more stages, workshops, food and all the other facilities you’d expect from a summer music festival. Families are encouraged to get their camping gear out and spend the weekend in the park and with more than 50 acres, even if your caravan or tent is the size of a house, there’s plenty of room.

In January last year the event won a Gold Award from Festival Kidz and co-founder Oliver Jones is promising an equal level of entertainment, besides music including PG-rated comedy, authors, science, theatre and family friendly workshops this year.

“This is just for starters,” explains an enthusiastic Jones, “over the coming months the Deer Shed Team will be fine-tuning the musical offerings. This is the best part of the year, where you can begin to shout about what you’ve got planned and get other people as excited as you are.

“Last year’s line-up was a hard act to follow, but we think we’ve cracked it with John Grant who just blows your mind, alongside the incredible Billy Bragg, who is nothing short of a living legend. We manage to balance some big acts whilst maintaining our cosy, family feel – which is what we’re all about.”

Festival highlights are Rachel and Becky Unthank, the two talented sisters from Ryton, Tyne and Wear, and their band, The Unthanks, which includes Rachel's husband Adrian McNally, who is also the group's manager, musical arranger and producer; Niopha Keegan (violin, voice) and Chris Price (guitar, bass, ukulele, dulcitone, voice). The girls with the unmistakable voices and unique story-telling folk style are proud of their heritage. Their album Songs From The Shipyard moved many to tears in 2013.

Actor Morgan Freeman has joined The Unthanks’ list of notable admirers. “All I can say about The Unthanks is that they make my heart beat faster, or smile a lot or cry,” writes Freeman. “They mean it, and not in some dreary ‘authentic’ way. They sing and play what the hell they like, and if you’ve heard nicer harmonies this year, I call you a liar. I’m glad to be around at the same time as them.” Other colourful celebrity Unthank admirers include: Elvis Costello, Robert Wyatt, Colin Firth Dawn French and Al Murray.

The Unthanks and a ten-piece band will be performing tracks from their hotly anticipated studio album, Mount The Air, on festival's main stage on Sunday night.

Billy Bragg’s career has spanned more decades than he’d probably care to recall, but defying trends and fashions, dodging celebrity and avoiding its trappings, he has stuck steadfastly to what he believes in. From his first solo album, Talking with the Taxman about Poetry, in 1986, to his most recent, in 2013, Tooth & Nail, he’s chalked up 25 releases. He’s recently received a glut of lifetime achievement and outstanding contribution to music awards from the likes of BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. He’s headliner on Friday night.

Saturday’s main stage headliner is John Grant, who has been making music for many years. Since embarking on a solo career, five years ago, his music has really taken off. His two deeply biographical albums have received critical acclaim from all corners of the globe. He’s received a nomination for both a Q Award and Brit Award, had a knock out performance at last year’s Glastonbury and won Rough Trade album of year for Pale Green Ghosts. More recently, he’s translated songs from his two albums into orchestral performances, collaborating with BBC Philharmonic Symphonic and Royal Northern Sinfonia.

Special guests over the weekend include: The Wedding Present, The Felice Brothers, Dan Croll, Ibibio Sound Machine, Black Rivers, and Emmy The Great.

The theme for this year’s event is Up In The Air. Rockets, star gazing, aeroplanes, helicopters, broomsticks and birds are just some of the family friendly ideas to look out for.

  • Deer Shed Festival, July 24 to 25, Baldersby Park, Topcliffe, North Yorkshire. Tickets and more details deershedfestival.com