The mention of sun, sand, sea and folk music will be many people’s idea of heaven and possibly some pondering as you try to remember a dry folk festival let alone a sunny one. Next summer will again see the festival organisers playing roulette with the unpredictable British weather. It is thanks to the British weather that Gerry Flynn and his colleagues at Enjoy Travel in Blackburn began to explore the possibility of running a traditional UK folk festival in a more sunnier clime and I don’t mean the UK. They’ve been running successful festivals for 25 years and their latest offering is not in the summer but in in March in the Costa del Sol.
Costa del Folk not only promises a chance to get away from it all but for anyone who loves British folk music this is a stellar line-up including Show of Hands, The Demon Barbers, The Mighty Doonans, Blackbeards Tea Party, Steamchicken, Sean Taylor and headlining the festival, the iconic Fairport Convention. Mike Harding will be acting as principal compere for the festival as well as performing. He said “You can ditch the wellies and the brollies because it will be wall to wall sunshine throughout the resort during that week!” Add to this a stunning location with a welcoming Hotel Bar and your comfortable bedroom with ensuite close to hand and you’re laughing! There will also be plenty of sessions so don;t forget to bring your instruments!
Festival Preview
Fairport Convention:
Hailed as the originators of British folk-rock music, it is fitting that Fairport Convention should be heading up this five-day Costa del Folk, because this is the first-ever UK folk festival to be held on the Spanish Costa del Sol. Established 45 years ago, the band has won a coveted BBC Lifetime Achievement Award and Radio 2 listeners voted Fairport’s ground breaking album Liege & Lief ‘The Most Influential Folk Album of All Time’.
Show of Hands
It is no surprise that they are widely acknowledged as the finest acoustic roots duo in the UK and are even better as a trio with Miranda Sykes. They played most of the big festivals this summer and drew big crowds to their performances. Everyone is looking forward to them joining Costa del Folk in Spain in 2014.
Mighty Doonans
Gerry Flynn said “I travelled up to Castle Carrock for the Music on the Mar Festival especially to see this band. What a high energy show! If you have not seen this band in action, then book your ticket for Spain now! They are awesome!”
The Demon Barbers
Mike Harding says “This is one of the best live bands I have ever seen and I am looking forward to meeting up with them again in Spain in March 2014”
Tom McConville Band
Known as the Newcastle Fiddler, Tom is recognised as one of the leading fiddle players of our time. A virtuoso musician and a fantastic singer as well. He is looking forward to bringing his band and his unique style and sound to the new event.
Joining all of the above will be :- Steamchicken, Sean Taylor, Blackbeard’s Tea Party, Niamh Parsons & Graham Dunne, Flossie Malavialle, Fake Thackray, the Hut People, Miranda Sykes and Rex Preston, Dave Burland, Rory Motion, the Hillbilly Troupe, Darragh Folk, The Sweeneys and the Knotty Pine String Band.
Sean Taylor – Stand Up
To accommodate all this talent, there will be a number of venues within the hotel and a couple in the grounds outside as well, all very close to each other for comfort.
To find out al full details visit: http://enjoytravel.co.uk