MORE top names are set to be added to the line-up of a major new music and food festival in Suffolk.

Jonathan Barnes

MORE top names are set to be added to the line-up of a major new music and food festival in Suffolk.

Harvest at Jimmy's is a two-day extravaganza to be held at Jimmy's Farm at Wherstead, near Ipswich, on September 12-13.

About 3,000 people are expected each day at the farm - made famous by the BBC TV series - to enjoy performances and demonstrations from top names from the worlds of music and food.

The music line-up includes Badly Drawn Boy, Athlete, Seth Lakeman and Jose Gonzalez while a “food stage” will see demonstrations from chefs including James Martin, James Wong and Gennaro Contaldo.

Jamie Oliver's Fifteen restaurant will also be taking over a barn at the farm and there will be a host of activities, stalls and entertainment, including children's events.

More acts are set to be announced in the coming weeks.

Jimmy Doherty, whose efforts to set up a farming business was the story behind the TV show, said he was delighted to host the festival.

“I've always wanted to do a music festival. We go to lots of food festivals every year and we wanted to somehow combine the two,” he said.

“Then we got approached by Big Wheel Productions who had been thinking about using the farm as a festival site.

“There were lots of conversations in the pub over a couple of pints and we worked it out. We're very excited about it.”

Jimmy, who is currently filming a new series for BBC on the science behind food production, said the quality of the acts that Harvest had attracted was “unbelievable”.

“I love the bands that are playing. It's great to think that bands you hear on the radio are coming to our farm.

“It should be a great community event - a chance to sit under a tree and relax while enjoying some great music and great food.

“It's a real chance Suffolk for to sing about itself and show what it has got to offer.”

Day tickets cost �25 for adults, �15 for youths and under-12s are free. There are also weekend tickets available.

For more information and to book tickets go to www.bigwheeltickets.com