INSTANTLY recognisable with his trademark beard and bobble hat, it’s been announced that award-winning musician Badly Drawn Boy will headline the Sunday night of this year’s Purbeck Valley Folk Festival.

The family-friendly festival takes place on 24-27 August at Purbeck Valley Farm.

Badly Drawn Boy, aka singer-songwriter Damon Gough shot to fame in 2000 with his Mercury Music Award winning debut, The Hour Of Bewilderbeast.

His heartfelt lyrics also caught the attention of author Nick Hornby who commissioned Damon to write the soundtrack to the movie adaptation of his book, About a Boy, which starred Hugh Grant.

The 2002 film gave Badly Drawn Boy worldwide exposure and his songs continue to grace movie soundtracks.

His second album from the same year, Have You Fed The Fish?, contained Badly Drawn Boy's top ten single You Were Right, which received heavy radio airplay.

The intervening years saw a handful of well-received studio albums and soundtracks, with 2015 seeing a special UK tour to celebrate the 15th anniversary of The Hour of Bewilderbeast and the album played in its entirety.

A shining light for British indie and folk music, festival organiser Catherine Burke is "over the moon" that Badly Drawn Boy is making his Purbeck Valley Folk Festival debut: “It’s a real coup for us to get Damon on the bill. We always thought he’d be perfect for the Sunday solo slot. He brings his raw lyrical power to Purbeck Valley, coupled with his Mancunian humour and charm. It also doubles the amount of Mercury Music Award Winners performing this year, as Ben Ottewell from Gomez won in 1998. It should be something special.”

With more major acts to be revealed over the coming months. Artists confirmed so far include singer-songwriter Ben Ottewell from Mercury Music Award winners Gomez, energetic Cornish band 3 Daft Monkeys and Dorset favourites The Ben Waters Band.

For more information please visit www.purbeckvalleyfolkfestival.co.uk