ALL roads will once again lead to Darvel, with top acts such as Squeeze's Glenn Tilbrook, Rachel Sermanni and Karen Matheson all starring in the town's music festival.

As it now enters its 12th year, organisers can look back on a list of around 200 groups and solo artists, from Muddy Waters jnr, Maggie Bell and Blues'n'Trouble to Aberfeldy, The Bluetones and legendary guitarist Larry Carlton, who have performed.

This year's event is being split into two, with an initial four-day extravaganza in early May being followed by another on the St Andrew's weekend in November.

The festival is widely seen as having put Darvel on Scotland's music map, with fans travelling not just from all over Scotland but also the rest of the UK, Europe and beyond to experience it.

Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze will headline the show at Darvel Town Hall on Thursday, May 2, on what is being billed as 'an evening of acoustic delights', with support slots from Rachel Sermanni and The Boy Who Trapped The Sun, from Lewis.

The finest traditional sounds of Scotland will be provided by Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain on May 3, their special guest is Karen Matheson of Capercaillie, one of Britain's most distinctive singers, and her all-star band which includes Donald Shaw, James Grant, Ewen Vernal and Cammy Young.

All manner of blues will reverberate around the 380-capacity town hall on May 4, with American soul-blues artist Larry McCray and his band headlining, supported by rock-blues act King King featuring Alan Nimmo and rhythm-and-blues band Giles Robson and the Dirty Aces.

Part one of this year's festival wraps up on May 5 with a feast of music served up by Mull Historical Society, Roddy Hart and The Lonesome Fire, and Liverpool-based musician, Robert Vincent.

Fast-forward to the second part, in November, and the St Andrews Weekend will feature JJ Gilmour and full band, The Hummingbirds, The River 68's and Suspire on November 29, and Skerryvore, Common Tongues, Hudson Taylor and Lori McTear on November 30.

Festival Director Sheila McKenna said: "We have a rich and varied line-up this year and we are very much looking forward to staging another great event.

"We would like to thank all our wonderful sponsors and patrons and would urge all music fans to come along and enjoy the Darvel Music Festival - you won't be disappointed."

Her husband Neil, the festival's producer, said: "We've got an interesting line-up in May, with a traditional night, a blues night and a couple of pop nights.

"I think, given our budget, we have attracted an excellent bill.

"As a community group we have various grants and sponsors, and this has enabled us to put what I have no doubt will be another good festival this year."

Neil added: "Karen Matheson is a fantastic singer. Everyone knows and loves Phil and Aly, and a lot of discriminating music-lovers can't rate Roddy Hart and Mull Historical Society highly enough.

"These four days in May will really have something for almost everyone."

The festival operates on the idea that, as part of the regeneration of this rural area, if you can secure bands to play the town hall, and they agree not to play within a 40-mile radius three weeks either side of that concert, people are attracted into the area, which in turn boosts the economy.

Neil: "The festival has had a great stature over the last 12 years, and it has managed to make Darvel an interesting musical destination in the heart of Ayrshire," says Neil.

Last year, fans arrived from Pennsylvania and Croatia just to see one of the acts, Scots group The Big Dish.

lTickets for all concerts go on sale today and can be purchased at Tickets Scotland, Glasgow, J.H Donald, Kilmarnock, Anna's Gift Store, Darvel and on-line at the Festival Shop via www.darvelmusicfestival.org Follow the festival on twitter@DarvelMusicFest