PURBECK Valley Folk Festival is relatively new to the folk fest scene, but judging by the quality of the acts it can attract and the evident enthusiasm and affection of its patrons, it is clearly set to be an essential fixture.

This year, the festival found a new home at Purbeck Valley Farm, situated between Corfe Castle and Swanage. Farm barns, transformed into two of the three main stages and main bar, formed a musical heart to the site. Climbing a gentle hill up from this musical epicentre to the rest of the festival and stages, provided stunning views out over the Dorset landscape; with the music seeming to seep out of it, it felt like a fitting metaphor for the nature of folk music.

Between the main stages, the festival provided a range of side stages and extra-auditory activities, including lots of children's entertainment, intimate music venues, poetry, traders and food vendors providing a variety of hot sustenance for the hungry festivaler.

Overall, although there were no doubt teething challenges behind the scenes, the new setting seemed to go down well and coped (thanks to the readily available straw bales and competency of the event organisers) when the inevitable inclement weather arrived.

Festivals are often judged by the big names they can attract. In this, PVFF holds its own, with artists like Squeeze co-founder Chris Difford, Richard Thompson (one of Rolling Stone's top 20 guitarists of all time), Stornoway and Justin Currie (of Del Amitri fame), gracing the weekend's programme. However, it is possibly the other acts say more about a festival and its values, and it is here that PVFF establishes its credentials. The programme was filled with local, national and international artists, many having already achieved awards and recognition for their work, meaning wherever you went you could hear accomplished music from people dedicated to their craft.

As with any really good festival, variety was the definitely the order of the day. It may surprise non-folk festival goers to hear the range of musical styles on offer, but if not all acts sounded like traditional folk, all clearly encompassed the folk ethos. It is hard to convey variety without falling into cliché, so perhaps it is better expressed by reporting that the two most played songs seemed to be 'Raggle Taggle Gypsy' and 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'.

Notwithstanding the mixed bag of music on offer, there was some evident structure to each day. Mornings started with yoga, and various musical and singing workshops. The music started in earnest in the afternoon with thoughtful, captivating solo or small group acts, like Willowen, Djambo and Wikkaman, to awaken your musical spirit. As the light started to disappear, the music intensified, thanks to artists like Martha Tilston and the Moulettes, showing the pure creativity and power still present in British music, and bands such as Pachango, Caravan of Thieves and Ushti Baba sending dancing demands from brain to feet, declaring the evening party underway.

The nights peaked with energetic performances which ensured everyone released what energy they had left, or could collectively muster, in a final burst of enthusiastic dancing. Quinns Quinney were wildly entertaining, Amariszi had an infectious energy and Coco and the Butterfields were an outstanding festival finale - including a final rendition of 'Fresh Prince', but sadly not 'Raggle Taggle Gypsy'.

For those who needed to climb down from their musical high, the sofas in the bar provided space to relax and catch some of the last open mic acts. Alternatively, the world's folk lore and mythology were brought to life with adult storytelling from the Travelling Talesman, showing that a good bed time story is enjoyed by adults as much as children.

If there was one highlight, it has to be Caravan of Thieves covering Queen's much-loved 'Bohemian Rhapsody', bringing what felt like the whole festival on board to aid them, with what turned out to be commendable ability.

Purbeck Valley Folk Festival demonstrates that not only is folk music still alive and relevant (outside any fashionable and fleeting appearance in mainstream charts) it is the place where real creativity and honesty in songwriting and music is both nurtured and welcomed.

PVFF has quickly built a name for itself and will no doubt continue to build on its success.

ALEX WASYLIW and RACHEL ABBOTT