THE FROTHY stuff is obviously the main attraction at the Petersfield Beer and Cider Festival but there is a heady blend of entertainment on offer too.

As well as the liquid refreshments, with excellent ales on offer –from breweries including Upham, Staggeringly Good, Langham, Burning Sky, Hogsback, The Little Beer Corporation and others – the bands and artists taking to the stage provide a mouth-watering line-up.

Organisers have come up with a tantalising sample of the acts booked for the event at the Festival Hall over this weekend, February 26 and 27.

The emphasis, as ever, has been on providing a showcase for Petersfield and Hampshire-based musicians and singers, and this is a great platform for them with hundreds pouring into the festival each day.

Said co-organiser Ben Errey:?“We work very hard to bring top quality music to all our events, and the beer festival is no exception. Immense crowd pleasers like the Mantic Muddlers are backed up with fantastic up and coming talent. It’s going to be awesome.”

On Friday, during the evening session of 6-11pm, enjoy Devin Jade at 6.45pm, the Mark Nelson Trio at 8pm, and the The Mantic Muddler at 9pm and 10pm.

The 15-year-old singer songwriter Devin regularly performs in Hampshire gaining her a following of dedicated fans of her original music. Hailing from Petersfield, the Mantic Muddlers is a four-piece group combining folk, blues, rock and soul. They play a vast array of covers ranging from Howlin’ Wolf to Tom Waites.

During the afternoon session on Saturday, from noon to 5pm, Leimba, consisting of Brighton-based singer songwriters Gledhill and Day, who blend their acoustic guitar styles to create an energetic yet heartfelt sound, are on at 12.45pm. This is followed by Maisie Peters at 1.45pm and Adam Double at 2.45pn.

And folky acoustic outfit Revel Weird and Wild, on stage at 3.45pm, will keep punters happy with traditional Irish songs, jigs and reels.

In the evening session, from 6-11pm, Megan Linford will be bringing her unique songwriting style, influenced by folk icons such as Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and Laura Marling, to the stage, at 6.45pm.

The 18-year-old Hampshire artist is a regular on the south coast festival scene.

Sibling trio Emmay, from Liphook, will provide a soundtrack for the evening festival revellers, coming on at 8pm.

Aimee Mackenzie is on electro-acoustic guitar and lead vocals, Freya Mackenzie is on violin and backing vocals and Ross Mackenzie plays the Cajon.

Betty Blue will close the night, and the festival, with sets at 9pm and 10pn.

It is foot-tapping, or even stomping, fun from start to finish with the class acts accompanying all the supping. For those who get a little peckish, flavoursome curries will be available throughout each session, prepared by Petersfield’s Spice Lounge restaurant, and presented with all the trimmings. For non-curry fans there will also be locally-produced pork pies available.

Entry cost to each session will be £6 per person which will include a souvenir pint glass. Tickets available from www.petersfieldfest.com or from One Tree Books.