One of the UK’s most successful female rock, blues and jazz singers leads the list of final artists just announced for this year’s Shrewsbury Folk Festival.

Elkie Brooks, whose Pearls album became the most successful chart album by a British female when it was released, will headline the closing day (Monday 26 August) of the August Bank Holiday festival.

American bluegrass hip hop band Gangstagrass will close out the festival’s Severn stage on Friday August 23rd with Scotland’s Peatbog Faeries doing the honours on Saturday 24 August.  The Celtic Social Club (France/UK), London Afrobeat Collective, Bella Hardy (trio), all female outfits HEISK, The Magpies, Lady Nade and Roswell along with Sidiki Jobarteh Trio and Mazula (South Africa) are also in the third and final wave of artists.

The festival’s extensive line-up will combine folk, Americana, blues and world music across four main stages from 23-26 August at the West Mid Showground.

It includes Ladysmith Black Mambazo (South Africa), Mary Black (Ireland), Eric Bibb (USA), Beth Nielsen Chapman (USA), Ward Thomas, Jacqui McShee’s Pentangle, Mànran,The Longest Johns, El Pony Pisador (Spain), Mary Gauthier (USA), Le Vent du Nord (Canada), Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening, The Wandering Hearts, Dream in Colors, The Pleasures (Australia), Suntou Susso Band, Ranagri, The Hello Darlins’ (Canada), Joshua Burnell Band, NATI, The Hunch, James Delarre & Saul Rose, Rosie Hood Band, Joli Blon, Winter Wilson, Anthony John Clarke, The 309s, The Lost Notes, Patakas and Al O’Kane.

And Danish band The Sentimentals, which is marking its 20th anniversary of making music together with two special gigs on Sunday 25 - Monday 26 August, has announced its special guests as Stephen Fearing (Blackie and The Rodeo Kings) from Canada, American singer songwriter Jonathan Byrd and Mary Gauthier.

The festival’s dance line-up features 12 bands offering ceilidhs, bals and other social dances with a rare ceilidh from acclaimed folk duo Spiers & Boden. Other performers will be Abrevyn, Bagas Fellyon, Banter, Cri du Canard, Club Débris, Crowdy Kit, EFDSS Ceilidh Band, James Delarre, Saul Rose & Dave Delarre, Monster Ceilidh Band, Tom Moore & Archie Churchill-Moss, Steamchicken and The Oakstone Trio.

The festival site is located a short walk from the town centre. The festival also has on-site camping and glamping, an extensive food village and festival shop, craft fair and real ale, wine and cocktail bars with the festival spilling out in Shrewsbury town centre over the weekend.

Day and weekend tickets are on sale at shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk, starting from just £43 with carer concessions and a three-month payment plan available until May 31.