TWO local artists have won places in the line-up on the music stage of Bicester’s first folk festival.

Bicester folk artists Robert Honour, known as Bert, who lives in Buckingham Crescent, and Chris Beck, from Bicester, have won the Battle of the Bell competition leading up to today’s folk event.

The artists came joint first in the singing competition, which has taken place over the past three weeks and culminated in the final on Thursday at The Bell pub in Sheep Street.

They will join top folk bands The Moulettes, Palmerston and Mad Dog McCrea in a jam-packed stage line-up, as well as winning studio recording time.

Mr Beck said: “I am delighted to have won the Battle of the Bell and just at a time when, as a singer-songwriter, I am looking to play more solo gigs and venues.

“I am equally delighted that I will be the first artist to play the main stage as part of Bicester Folk Festival. I have even written a new song especially for the festival crowd.”

Mr Honour added: “I feel honoured and really cannot wait to perform. It should be a lot of fun and a great afternoon and I cannot wait.”

Manager of The Bell, Aimee Sheehan, said: “Hosting the folk festival competition heats has been a huge pleasure for everyone at The Bell.

“The artists who applied were all of an excellent standard and it was an honour to have them on our stage.

“The folk festival competition has helped us raise awareness for live local music, which we are all passionate about.”

The event is being run by designer outlet Bicester Village in partnership with Bicester Town Council and will have a free family fun day running throughout the afternoon and a ticketed evening stage of music.

The family fun starts at noon in Garth Park and includes an arts and crafts market, games and will feature large teepees housing music and craft workshops.

Local youth group OYAP will be hosting the workshops, including wooden spoon and drumming performances.

Folk fans will be able to enjoy the musical entertainment of competition winners Robert Honour and Chris Beck on the main stage.

They will be followed by folk rock band The Moulettes – who will be playing following stints at Bestival, Glastonbury, End of the Road and Cropredy – as well as four-piece folk band Montmartre from Milton Keynes.

Palmerston will perform on a range of instruments including guitars, bass, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, squeezebox and keyboards and headliner Mad Dog Mcrea will finish the evening.