Broadstairs annual folk week broke new barriers this year with more links with eastern European performers and an increased range of events aimed at younger people.

The idea worked a treat as the festival built upon 42 years of success coupled with an eye on the development of music and culture.

Despite a gloomy opening Saturday when the rain and wind washed out some outdoor performances, festival director Jo Tuffs reported a “lively and happy week that gave us one of our best ever events.”

She said: “On the first Saturday as the weather threatened us, I took heart by singing along with the excellent Trouser Trumpets who had been moved inside to a packed Royal Albion Hotel.

"By the time I had sung my way through their Wibbly Wobbly Save The Jellyfish song, things didn’t seem so bad - and the torchlight procession went ahead later that evening.”

Throughout the 540 events, the spirit of main Folk Week founder and pioneer Jack Hamilton was evident and it is fitting that money - £250 from the town council and more than £700 from collections - has been gathered for a yet-to-be-chosen memorial to him. Mr Hamilton died last November, aged 88.

Many visitors recalled his last visit to folk week on its 40th anniversary in 2005 when he took centre stage in the torchlight procession, followed by a giant effigy of himself.

Main venues included the concert marquee and in Pierremont Park and the bandstand in Victoria Gardens, with pubs, clubs, theatres, schools, museums and churches opening their doors to a huge range of performances and activities.

The event attracted visitors and performers from around the world, including America, New Zealand, Australia and all over Europe, as the cosmopolitan atmosphere continues to enchant and entice, which bodes well for the 2009 festival.

Ms Tuffs added: “A big Folk Week thanks goes to all the performers and supporters plus our sponsors, notably the main sponsor G Casino and its enthusiastic Thanet team led by Peter Donnelly.

"A special mention must go to the traders, mainly publicans, who managed the road closures for this year's festival, giving us one less operational headache."

She added that her personal favourite event was when the band Paprika Bakanicus stepped in to fill a slot at the Pavilion at the last minute when The Warsaw Village Band from Poland cancelled. She said: “It was a great show and captured all that is magic about the spirit of our festival.”