And we’re off… The sun is shining as the clans gather for the summer holiday festival of 2015 and Sidmouth FolkWeek gets underway.

The beautiful pure-voiced Kate Rusby and her wonderful band kicked off the festival in style last night at The Ham to a full house, and this afternoon’s Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends pre-festival concert at 3.15pm has created a real buzz, now down to just a few on-door ticket sales, subject to availability.

If visitors can only make it down for the first weekend, there is plenty to keep them busy. Evening events at The Ham, our main concert venue, are selling very fast so it’s worth booking right now to save disappointment for some wonderful names, including: The Poozies (Fri) and Altan (Sat). Local heroes and Festival Patrons Show Of Hands on Sunday night are now off advance sales, but some on door sales will still be available on the night, subject to space. Roots parties at The Bulverton include the amazing new hip-hop/folk crossover show from Demon Barbers XL (Fri), Skye’s livewire Peatbog Faeries (Sat); and the great fun Silent School Disco (Sun).

For those who can only join us for an evening one the day next week, there is plenty to choose from. Amongst the amazing evening concerts at the Ham at 8pm are: Vin Garbutt (Mon); Mara! and and Blowzabella (Tues); Julie Fowlis (Thurs) and Faustus (Fri). Spooky Men’s Chorale on Wednesday are now off advance sales, but some on door sales will still be available on the night, subject to space. The roots parties continue apace at the Bulverton with a special fRoots Acoustic Night with Spiro, Telling The Bees and Amadou Diagne (Tues); Tantz and Coco & The Butterfields (Mon); Edward II (Thurs) and Topette (Fri).

These main headline shows represent just a snapshot of some of the events taking place throughout the 8-day festival. In total, the festival has 700+ events in venues throughout the town: from major concert venues to small, intimate pub sessions, ceilidhs, folk dance, storytelling, dance displays, processions, workshops…and beyond.

The streets, seafront and venues of Sidmouth are bursting with colour and festive atmosphere as music, dance and song and happy festival visitors fill the town. All are welcome to join us for a wonderful week of fun and musical adventures.

A taster of what’s on each day….

Friday 31

Pre-festival Special Concert: Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends 3.15pm

The Demon Barbers XL ~ The Poozies ~ Steve Tilston

Ewan McLennan Trio ~ Harp and a Monkey

Jeff Warner ~ Hekety ~ Ceilidhography ~ A New Vintage

Saturday 1

Altan ~ Peatbog Faeries ~ The Wilson Family ~ Pete Morton

Tim Eriksen ~ Keston Cobblers Club ~ Steamchicken ~ Ewan McLennan

Hekety ~ The Askew Sisters ~ Moirai ~ Barluath

Sunday 2

Show of Hands ~ Emily Smith ~ John Kirkpatrick

Britannia Coco-nut Dancers of Bacup

Silent School Disco and Ceilidh ~ The Wilson Famiy ~ Whapweasel

Tim Eriksen ~ Mawkin ~ Stick in the Wheel

The James Brothers ~ The Askew Sisters

Monday 3

Vin Garbutt ~ Blowzabella ~ Nancy Kerr & The Sweet Visitor Band

Lynched ~ The Devil’s Interval ~ Ange Hardy

Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra ~ Tantz

Coco and the Butterfields ~ Heg & The Wolf Chorus

James Delarre & Saul Rose ~ Whapweasel ~ Debs Newbold

Tuesday 4

Blowzabella ~ Andy Irvine ~ Mara! ~ Spiro

Emily Portman Trio ~ Tashi Lhunpo Tibetan Monks

Lynched ~ Twelfth Day ~ Amadou Diagne ~ PolkaWorks

Telling The Bees ~ Gavin Davenport Band ~ The Discussion Topic

Moore Moss Rutter ~ Maz O’Connor

Wednesday 5

The Spooky Men’s Chorale ~ Chris Smither ~ The Mara Band ~ Martin Carthy

Martha Tilston ~ John Kirkpatrick ~ Jimmy Crowley ~ Rachel Newton

PolkaWorks ~ Greg Russell & Ciaran Algar ~

Mischa Macpherson ~ Alma ~ Sandra Kerr

Thursday 6

Julie Fowlis ~ Edward II ~ Martin Carthy & John Kirkpatrick

Leveret ~ Alistair Anderson ~ Andy May Trio ~ PolkaWorks

Simon Care Trio ~ Jimmy Crowley ~ Greg Russell & Ciaran Algar

Friday 7

Faustus ~ Jackie Oates ~ Topette ~ Alistair Anderson

Jimmy Crowley ~ Jeff Warner ~ Andy May Trio

Gavin Davenport ~ Alma ~ Liam Robinson Band

Exmouth Shanty Men ~ Vertical Expression ~ Random

www.sidmouthfolkweek.co.uk