Sidmouth FolkWeek is just weeks away – and a packed full programme has been announced.
The first of two pre-festival concerts takes place on Thursday, July 30, and stars darling of the British folk scene, Kate Rusby.
South West shanty-singing favourites Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s perform on Friday, July 31, at 3pm.
With 800 events taking pace over the week-long festival, there is a dazzling array of possibilities on offer for festival-goers.
The helps individuals to tailor their seaside holiday festival experience, enabling them to plan ahead and pick from major concerts, intimate sessions, folk dance, ceilidhs, Children’s Festival, youth events, storytelling, special shows, spectacular displays and processions and a 250-plus event workshop programme.
The workshop programme is unrivalled in its range and quality – offering both beginners and experts a wealth of one-off tasters, week-long series and masterclasses in a wide-range of music, dance and song, from Balkan dance with Mara! and Gary Dawson to Jo May’s Percussion or a singing workshop with The Spooky Men’s Chorale.
Headline acts throughout the week include: Irish stars Altan; Festival Patrons and outstanding acoustic trio Show Of Hands; Australian vocal powerhouse The Spooky Men’s Chorale; Gaelic singing sensation Julie Fowlis - of Pixar’s Brave fame and Skye-based party starters Peatbog Faeries and more.
As well as concert and roots party fun, expect diverse dance traditions taking to the streets – from the Tibetan Tashi Lhunpo Monks to Bacup’s Britannia Coco-nut Dancers!
Thanks to the support of Creative Scotland Spotlight Scotland events return to showcase the breadth and depth of talent from North of the border including the young talents of Feis Rois Ceilidh Trail, The Tweed Project, Barluath, Rachel Newton, Mischa Macpherson, Ewan McLennan Trio, Twelfth Day and more. They will have opportunities to share stages with big names Peatbog Faeries, The Poozies and Emily Smith in July.
The Festival runs from July 31 to August 7. Here is a small selection of who is on each day:
• July 30: Pre-festival Special Concert: Kate Rusby, 8pm
• July 31: Pre-festival Special Concert: Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends, 3.15pm, plus The Demon Barbers XL; The Poozies; Steve Tilston; Ewan McLennan Trio; Harp and a Monkey; Jeff Warner; Hekety; Ceilidhography and A New Vintage.
• August 1: Altan; Peatbog Faeries; The Wilson Family; Pete Morton; Tim Eriksen; Keston Cobblers Club; Steamchicken; Ewan McLennan; Hekety; The Askew Sisters; Moirai and Barluath.
• August 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 and The Askew Sisters.
• August 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 and Saul Rose; Whapweasel and Debs Newbold.
• August 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 and Maz O’Connor.
• August 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 and Sandra Kerr.
• August 6: Julie Fowlis; Edward II; Martin Carthy & John Kirkpatrick; Leveret; Alistair Anderson; Andy May Trio; PolkaWorks; Simon Care Trio; Jimmy Crowley and Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar.
• August 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 and Random.
For full festival details, venues and times visit: www.sidmouthfolkweek.co.uk
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