NANTWICH Words and Music Festival organisers have announced the 2018 headlining acts, alongside launching ticket sales, earlier than ever before.

Headliners for the eleventh annual festival include contemporary indie rock band British Sea Power, Steve Hogarth of Marillion and Los Pacaminos featuring Paul Young.

The festival will run from October 8 to 14, attracting an original and diverse mix of musicians and poets from across the world to perform in a variety of venues in the town.

Internationally-acclaimed Nantwich resident and festival director, Thea Gilmore, returns to the festival for the eleventh time, being the only artist to have performed every year since the festival begin in 2008.

Festival friends can hear the beautiful voice of Irish singer and BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winner Cara Dillon, who will be performing in the Ballroom at The Crown Hotel.

Back by popular demand, Scottish singer Horse McDonald returns to the festival.

In her singing career, Horse has opened for legends including Tina Turner, BB King and Bryan Ferry.

Judie Tzuke joins the bill on the Sunday afternoon of the festival, an English songwriter most well-known for her hit ‘Stay With Me ‘Till Dawn’.

The intimate gig will be the perfect soothing Sunday afternoon experience and a chance to see a ‘national treasure’ up close.

CC Smuglers plan to raise the roof for the final night of the festival. The band were recently called the ‘best live band on the scene’ by Cerys Matthews and have shared a stage with Bruce Springsteen and Old Crow Medicine Show.

Poetry and fringe events will be announced in the coming weeks.

Festival director Nigel Stonier said: “The festival has evolved over the 11 years, we've grown from a weekend to an entire week and there have been changes - but the core values remain the same.

"We want to bring world class performers - from household names to newcomers - right to the heart of Nantwich. We want to celebrate original words and music in as many forms as possible.”

Tickets are now on sale at wordsandmusicfestival.com