A NEW music festival will take place during the popular Highclere Country Fair this year.

Highclere country Fair, which takes place at Highclere Castle – the iconic home of ITV’s hit programme Downton Abbey – will return on Sunday, May 24 and Monday, May 25.

And this year, it will have a festival feel and visitors to the event will be able to enjoy a host of live music following the introduction of the Folk Roots Festival.

On Sunday, live music will start at 11am with a set from folk trio The George Breakfast Band and it will be followed by performances from rock-country band Fred’s House and Daniel Smith Blues Band until 5pm.

Music on Monday will be kicked off by folk and blues five-piece Celtic folk rock band The Rosellys at 11am and will finish at 5pm following a set from Love Street.

In addition to the live music at the two-day event, a host of other activities including a bouncy cast le, archery, an antiques fair, animal displays and a clay shooting are at the festival.

For more information on the festival and the other activities on offer at the event, visit countrymanfairs.co.uk.