One of England’s most arresting singer-songwriters – the multi award winning Chris Wood - has been confirmed for England’s newest folk festival next February.

Uncompromising and unpretentious, Wood is the “take no prisoners” songwriter and musician who coined the phrase “Folk music is the raspberry seed in the back teeth of the establishment!” He will join headliners at Somerset’s first ever Frome Folk Festival on Saturday, February 18. With his unique style of storytelling Wood, who plays fiddle, viola and guitar, is a five times winner at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. He won the Folk Singer of the Year title at the 2011 Folk Awards as well as Best Original Song for Hollow Point, his chilling song about the shooting of Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes, from his Handmade Life album. See Chris performing the song here.

Dubbed “the renaissance man of English folk” the narrative song genius has also been in the line-up for Simon Emmerson’s mighty “The Imagined Village” and took part in the 2009 Darwin Song Project – a multi-artist songwriting retreat celebrating the life of Charles Darwin. He is also known for his acclaimed duo partnership with accordionist Andy Cutting 

“Wood is an intimate story teller, applying such nuance and gravitas to every phrase you are imperceptibly lured into his world – he seamlessly knits the spirit of the tradition into his very contemporary parables. And it’s magnificent” – Colin Irwin, fRoots

A feast of Folk Award nominees for Frome

At Frome, Chris Wood joins a line-up that includes fellow headliners Steve Knightley from Show of Hands and the ever popular Spiers and Boden.

The festival is also fielding a host of 2012 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards nominees (revealed last night on Mike Harding’s flagship folk and roots show)

Spiers and Boden are nominated for Best Duo, whilst Boden is nominated for Folk Singer of the Year.

Other nominees coming to Frome are the dazzling Tim Edey and Brendan Power (Best Duo) with Edey also in the running for the top honour of Musician of the Year.

Another double nominee is Jackie Oates for Folk Singer of the Year and Best Album for her latest release, Saturnine, whilst one of the fastest-rising folk acts of 2011 - the North West trio Pilgrims’ Way - are nominated for the coveted Horizon Award (for most promising emerging act).Bella Hardy is also in the running for Best Original Song for her composition The Herring Gull.

The award winners will be announced at a ceremony in Manchester on February 8, just over a week before the Frome Folk Festival weekend. For the first time, members of the public will be able to buy tickets to attend the event.

Frome Folk Festival will run from 9am -11pm both days. Early Bird weekend tickets, price £58 (£48 concessions) are now on sale from www.Gigantic.com. A family weekend ticket for two adults and 2 children (aged under 15) is £190. No booking fees apply.

Indoor camping will be available at the town’s United Reformed Church, just a stone’s throw from the festival venues.