Bristol Folk Festival has scored a coup, securing the supergroup Afro Celt Sound System as its May Bank Holiday Monday headliner in what is likely to be the band’s only UK summer festival appearance this year.

Towering and tribal, Simon Emmerson’s stellar, twice-Grammy nominated Afro Celt Sound System fuses traditional Celtic tunes with driving African rhythms and hypnotic, cutting edge dance grooves. One of the most inspirational and innovative collectives ever, eight of the best musicians on the planet promise to bring the 2nd Bristol Folk Festival at Colston Hall to an unforgettable close on Monday, May 7. 

Says co-organiser Paul Preager of Bristol Music Trust: “With their excellent reputation as one of the world’s most exciting live acts, we’re thrilled to announce Afro Celts will star in our festival finale. Alongside two award-winning West Country names for our Saturday and Sunday headline acts- - Show of Hands and Cara Dillon - we believe we have an enviable line-up for the second Bristol Folk Festival.”

With energy, alchemy and a totally flamboyant stage presence, Afro Celts grew up around four core members –producer and guitarist Simon Emmerson, whistles and bodhran player James McNally, acclaimed singer Iarla O’Lionaird and producer/engineer Martin Russell –with their ranks later augmented by the likes of dynamic Dhol drummer Johnny Kalsi - redefining dance music and challenging the critics to categorise them.

Credited with breaking down categories of world music, rock music and black music, Afro Celts was only meant to be a temporary venture -but it was clear when the original members joined forces at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios that magic was afoot. 

The band has made innumerable legendary appearances at the likes of Glastonbury, WOMAD and Montreux Jazz Festival whilst its filmic music has provided soundtracks for Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York, Live Flesh and the Oscar-nominated Hotel Rwanda. Among many big names that have guested with them are Peter Gabriel, Sinead O’Connor, Davy Spillane and Robert Plant.

Recently returned to the scene after a five year break the 2012 line up at Bristol will be Simon Emmerson (guitars, cittern)James McNally (whistles, keyboards, bodhran); N'faly Kouyate (kora, vocals); James "Jimmy" Mahon (uilleann pipes, flute); Johnny Kalsi (dhol, tablas, percussion); Ian Markin (electronic and acoustic drums)Moussa Sissokho (djembe, talking drum)and Demba Barry (Senegalese dancing).

With a brilliant career-spanning double CD Capture out now, the Afro Celts are due to release a new album in the autumn. 

Bristol Folk Festival returned to the city last year after an incredible 32 years absence and this year is being co-organised by the new Bristol Music Trust and local music promoter, Jan Ayers.( BMT took over the running of Colston hall from Bristol City Council last year). 

The much anticipated 2nd festival will be buzzing in Bristol over the early May Bank Holiday (May 5-7)-a guaranteed “rain free” event as it returns to one of the city’s flagship venues, the revamped Colston Hall (left). 

More acts will be unveiled imminently. In addition to headliners Show of Hands and Cara Dillon, those already announced include Scotland’s Karine Polwart and Rua Macmillan Trio along with Cornwall’s effervescent 3 Daft Monkeys and BBC Radio 2 Folk award nominees Lady Maisery and Walsh and Pound.

Top value 3-day weekend tickets are now available price £80 (concessions £70) whilst family tickets are £250 (2 adults and two children aged 5-15).Under 5s go free. Tickets Gigantic

As well as up to 40 top acts, the festival will feature Morris dancers, mummers and maypoles, ceilidhs, workshops, singalong sessions, a market and “posh loos”!