A FAMILY-FRIENDLY music festival, which has helped raise more than £60,000 to help youngsters go to school in India, is celebrating its 10th birthday next weekend.

Linkylea, headlined by acts such as Young Fathers, Bombskare and Hector Bizerk, will see more than 1,000 people again pack the grounds of Colstoun Estate, south of Haddington, next Friday and Saturday (September 5 and 6).

The festival features the Sarita Stage, the Amma Dome and Granny Radge tent and this year is adopting a Bollywood theme.

Director Bonny Squair was looking forward to another busy year and hopefully raising more money for the Linkylea Trust.

The charity has raised thousands of pounds, with the bulk of the money going towards the building and maintaining of Snehalaya (‘Home with Love’) orphanage.

It is situated in one of the poorest parts of India, and has more than 50 children and young adults, many of whom have learning and physical disabilities.

The majority have been abandoned at railway stations or found wandering the streets of the Indian city of Gwalior.

“It’s our 10-year anniversary and since the last festival we’ve had five people who are involved with the festival go out to the projects,” said Bonny.

“They have gone out to work at the school and orphanage and with the money from last year we have built a school in Bangladesh.” The money has also been used to ensure children can go to school, where they are guaranteed a meal, as well as to pay for the necessary school resources.

And the organisers are aiming to ensure it is another year to remember.

Headlining are Scottish Album of the Year award winners Young Fathers, local musicians Bombskare, and Hector Bizerk, featuring the recently crowned world’s best female drummer.

A busy Bonny told the Courier: “I’m getting 500 emails a day and stuff on Facebook as well.

“It’s going good, the ticket sales are going really well and we are really excited.” The festival previously started out at Linkylea, near Gifford, organised by Bonny and her sister Flora.

Bonny praised the efforts of volunteers throughout the years who had helped the festival not only to be a success but to continue to grow.

This year, it is sponsored by Feast, Pyrus, Adventures in Light and McEwans Red, with support once again from East Lothian Council.

Last year saw Linkylea move to its new home at Colstoun and Bonny said: “It has changed so much.

“The first year we had Bombskare in a field and the idea was a fundraiser in the back garden and to have a barbecue.

“We ended up getting a lorry and pulled the sides down and Bombskare played on that. It has come quite far each year.” Tickets are £35 for ‘early birds’ and £45 for regular weekend tickets. Saturday day tickets are £20 and children under-12 go free.