THE line-up for the eighth annual Words and Music Festival in Nantwich has been unveiled – and includes star singer and actress Barbara Dickson.

The Scottish-born singer will be one of the big draws to the six-day festival from October 12 to 18.

Other acts lined up include The Magic Numbers, Mark Chadwick of The Levellers, The Christians, Thea Gilmore, Gruff Rhys from Super Fury Animals and Frazey Ford. Organisers say it is the most varied line-up to date.

Legendary singer Dickson will perform in the heart of Nantwich as St Mary’s Church host their first Words and Music Festival concert.

The 67-year-old singer was awarded an OBE in 2002 for her services to music and drama, after many successful years with four of her singles reaching the Top 20 in UK Singles Chart.

Her duet with Elaine Paige “I Know Him So Well”, was cited in the Guinness World Records as the best selling female duet of all time.

Co-Founder of the festival Nigel Stonier said: “This concert is very special to us.

“We have been talking to St Mary’s Church for a while, and we have been keen to do something together.

“It’s a wonderful building, right in the heart of Nantwich, everybody involved in the church and church community in Nantwich is lovely and very open and up for events.

“We just haven’t yet, until this year, managed to find the right event and artist we wanted to put on at the church.

“As soon as we knew Barbara wanted to play the festival, we spoke to the church, in conjunction with Nantwich Hearing Centre who are sponsoring the event.

“We’ve got the venue and means to bring Barbara to Nantwich. I think it will be a very special event for the town on the Wednesday evening.”

The Magic Numbers are back by popular demand having played Words and Music Festival 2013.

They reached number 12 in UK Singles Chart with “Love Me Like You Do” in 2005, and will play in The Crown Ballroom, on High Street.

Liverpool’s 80’s and 90’s soul and rock band The Christians and Mark Chadwick from The Levellers will be headlining Tuesday and Sunday during the festival.

And making a traditional Saturday evening performance is Nantwich resident and co-founder of the event, Thea Gilmore.

Festival organisers will be announcing further acts performing in various venues including cafes, local schools, St Mary’s Church and pubs in Nantwich.

Details of a poetry competition will be revealed shortly.

The Nantwich Words and Music Festival’s success has helped lure more famous names who have played or performed over the years.

The festival is proud to promote original material, and celebrates quality and individuality.

Previous Words And Music Festivals have attracted the likes of Tim Burgess, The Lightning Seeds, Mike Scott, John Cooper Clarke, Simon Armitage, John Bramwell, Mark Radcliffe, 'Whispering' Bob Harris, Fyfe Dangerfield (Guillemots) and Eliza Carthy, to name but a few.

Tickets are now on sale via our website at www.wordsandmusicfestival.com or in person via Grapevine, The Crown, Nantwich Hearing Centre and Bloom in Nantwich.