PREPARATIONS are under way for the return of a family-friendly music festival over the late May bank holiday weekend.

RhuddFest 2018 will take place on Saturday, May 26 and Sunday 27 against the stunning backdrop of Morfa Lodge Farm in Rhuddlan, promising a particularly impressive headine act.

Last year marked a decade since the formerly dreadlocked Surrey singer-songwriter, Newton Faulkner, released his debut album and, to his astonishment, became a household name.

A less restless musician might have marked this anniversary with introspection and a retread of the past, particularly double-platinum selling Hand Built By Robots.

However Faulkner has been spurred on to new heights recently reinventing his sound for the release of the astonishing sixth album, Hit The Ground Running.

By far the best and boldest year of his crazy career, the dreads may be gone but the guitar is better than ever and the voice is bigger than ever, with a breathtaking, rule-breaking, genre-hopping collection of songs that are truly gripping.

Peter Kenway, organiser and founder of Rhuddfest, said: “Life is so much more enriching when we give our time to helping and improving other’s lives, as well as our own –and what better way than to organise a family music festival that supports our local youth bands on the same stage as the likes of Newton Faulkner.”

Joining Faulkner on the Saturday will be warp-driven, double bass-wielding three-piece the Hedge Gods, some serious looping skills from Chester artist and RhuddFest vet' SamWise and the globe-trotting, high-energy, foot-stomping group, Busk til Dawn.

The following day brings the festival’s first Chill Out Sunday – a more relaxed shorter day showcasing up and coming youth musicians, followed by professional bands

The festival will also feature mascots, traditional games, face-painting, inflatables, circus skills and children’s crafts.

Weekend tickets with camping are £25, Saturday tickets £15 and Chill Out Sunday ticket £5, available from Rhuddfest.co.uk