MUSIC lovers from Dumbarton and the Vale are tuning up for one of the area's most exciting concerts of the year.

Last week the organisers behind the 2013 Lomond Folk Festival revealed the first details of this year's hotly-anticipated event.

This year a host a weekend of workshops, displays, crafts and activities for all the family will be on display as well as the festival's famous and popular evening concerts in the marquee.

This year's line-up features Shooglenifty - famous the world over for inventing Techno Ceilidh - Acid Croft and Hypnofolkadelia.

Wolfstone, the ultimate in Traditional/Rock Fusion music plus the original line up of 70's celtic-rock heroes The JSD Band are also scheduled to play at the event along with The Daddy Naggins, Drever McGuire Young & The Raggle Taggle Gypsies with even more still to be confirmed.

In addition to the famous evening concerts there will also be the ever popular free open stage, which last year featured over 40 acts performing.

On Wednesday Margaret Higgins, one of the event's volunteer organisers, told the Reporter it had always proved a popular event in the area. She said: "It's a major event - people can start to look forward to it from the beginning of the year, it's quite important for the area.

"It's a really good atmosphere, and it's a community event, there's not much that goes on in Balloch. The festival brings the hustle and bustle you get with a music scene like Glasgow's to Loch Lomond. It definitely lends itself to a festival." Margeret added: "We've had good feedback already on the bands, the JSD Band are forming for the first time in years to play, so for fans of theirs it's a big deal.

"We try and bring big names to the area for a reasonable price so people don't have to travel to Glasgow to see live music.

"I think the artists want to play here too though and have it on their tour calendar, we have a good reputation." Tickets for the three day Lomond Folk Festival - which runs from July 26 to Sunday July 28 at Moss O'Balloch Park - are now on sale via ticketsoup.com or by calling 0844 395 4000.

Weekend tickets are available for the discounted price of �40 although individual tickets for each night can also be purchased.

Alternatively, anyone looking for tickets and merchandise can head along to Discography in Dumbarton and Loch Lomond Gift House in Balloch.

Details and application forms for those wishing to volunteer are available at lomondfolkfestival.com or by calling 07986428379.