SAM Kelly & The Lost Boys have been wowing audiences at festivals across the UK this summer - turning traditional songs on their head, swerving into rock territory and nudging the mainstream.

Now the high energy, hot property line-up are bringing the ‘Wow’ factor indoors at venues across England this month.

The band who also recently went down a storm at Portugal’s Costa del Folk and Denmark’s famous Tonder Festival, will be showcasing their highly acclaimed new album Pretty Peggy on a nine date tour, which takes in Forest Arts Centre in New Milton on Thursday.

At just 24, the singer songwriter has had no trouble setting the roots world alight. Just three years after releasing his first EP, Norfolk-born, Bristol-based Kelly scooped the coveted 2016 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Horizon title, which recognises the best emerging talent.

On the recent Pretty Peggy album release he is joined by his regular touring and festival band - banjo genius Jamie Francis; Ciaran Algar on fiddle/tenor guitar; Evan Carson on percussion, Graham Coe (cello), Toby Shaer (woodwind) and Archie Churchill-Moss on melodeon.

Kelly, who says he owes much of his musical inspiration to his late Irish grandfather, is known as a former Britain’s Got Talent finalist (“a massive whirlwind experience”) when he was just 19. It’s part of his colourful story but that story has moved on in leaps and bounds, making him one of the most exciting young performers on the circuit.

Playing guitars, bouzouki and mandolin he undoubtedly has instrumental prowess but it’s the effortless soft-edged, stand-out voice that has fast tracked him to the top tier of the scene whether in his trio with Francis and Carson, in Cornish band The Changing Room band or spearheading his own Lost Boys.

Tickets: 01425 619983 or hampshireculturaltrust.org.uk