FESTIVAL fever comes to the New Forest as the sixth annual Festibelly takes place.

New and emerging musical talent mix with theatre, comedy and fine food at Friday and Saturday’s event which has established itself as one of the UK’s most charming, intimate and grassroots festivals.

Topping the bill on Friday are The Cuban Brothers whose legendary live performances combine music, riotous comedy and sensational dancing.

Reggae DJ icon David Rodigan is joined on the dub themed Saturday afternoon by Bristol collective Jus Now and ‘Belly favourites Reggae Roast.

The weekend will see performances by the hotly tipped Femme and Mighty Oaks and welcomes back raucous folk troubadours Skinny Lister, electronic-soul trio Dems and beatbox champion Reeps One.

Other names to watch out for include Amber Run, Mausi, Wild Smiles, Ginger & The Ghost, Laurel, The Death Of Pop and Lexy & The Kill.

The crème de la crème of untapped south coast talent, who featured over Festibelly’s series of “Local” shows during April and May, include The Plastic Dots, The Golden Age, Luke Ferre, Damn Beats and Princess Slayer.

Closing the festival main stage on Saturday night, Hudson Taylor follow in the steps of Festibelly’s previous breakthrough acts including Bastille, Willie Moon and Ghostpoet.

It promises to be one of the last chances to catch this band in an intimate festival setting.

The Massive In China stage returns to its spiritual home with our most tremendous line-up to date including Australian sextet The WooHooRevue, nine-piece, deep south blues from The Dirty Gentlemen, Musical Bingo and Swing Dancing.

Following the main stage both nights, DJs will take Le Disco through until early morning. The line-up includes Southampton’s Artful The Original Artful Dodger, producer of hits Re-Rewind (The Crowd Say Bo Selecta), Movin’ Too Fast, and Craig David’s Fill Me In.

Festibelly’s children’s area, The Owlery, will host all manner of workshops, games, and fun things for little ones to do including arts and crafts, dressing up, face painting, circus skills and dance classes.

On top of the festival’s two days and nights, Sunday morning will see the festival spring back to life for a final few hours before the journey home.

A welcome distraction from that sore head will come in the form of a Great British Brunch, a New Forest farmers’ market and the children’s fancy dress finale.

n Festibelly takes place on land off Undershore, near Lymington, from 11am on Friday to 11am on Sunday.

Tickets are available at festibelly.com.