It's famous for attracting some of the biggest names in rock and pop but a folk band who hail from North Walsham will be playing at the UK's biggest and most famous summer music festival next month.

It's famous for attracting some of the biggest names in rock and pop but a folk band who hail from North Walsham will be playing at the UK's biggest and most famous summer music festival next month.

Cruel Folk, whose songs focus on the somewhat darker side of life, will be playing the Avalon Café Stage at Glastonbury on June 28.

Consisting of Paul Holden, a paramedic from North Walsham, and his nephew, Sean Holden, who was born in North Walsham but now lectures on computer science at Cambridge University, the folk duo will contribute an edgy set to the festivities in Somerset.

Sean said both he and his uncle were “pleasantly surprised” to be asked to play at Glastonbury.

He said: “We play what we call modern English folk.

“We try to take onboard the darker parts of the English folk tradition, for instance, there is a lot of stuff like going to bed with the wrong person and then waking up and getting hanged by her husband.”

With the sometimes disturbing lyrics written by Paul and then set to music by Sean, the duo use a diverse range of sting instruments to deliver their songs including guitars and mandocellos, mandolins, a bouzouki and a mandola.

But the pair's current musical exploits are a far cry from their rock roots. Both have played in several bands over the years including popular 80s Norwich band Underground Zero, where Paul played guitar and Sean was drummer.

Cruel Folk formed five years ago and Sean and Paul are finding themselves in increasingly in demand with almost a dozen festival bookings over the summer months.

The bands first album, Love, Loyalty and Other Lies will be released next month and they will be appearing on Radio Norfolk on Monday, June 16 at 2.30pm.

To find out more about the band or for tour dates visit www.myspace.com/cruelfolk or www.cruelfolk.com