UPDATE: The Festival will also be streamed on Folk Radio’s Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/folkradiouk
Also on Leigh Folk Festival’s Youtube Page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvWDuc2zruI-QDNT2754p9g
For nearly 30 years Leigh Folk Arts Association has been showcasing folk arts through its broad church approach to programming its events, and plans to continue its mission in 2020 in a new way.
Front Room Folk Festival will be a two-day digital fundraising broadcast and celebration of everything Leigh Folk Festival, including music, storytelling, spoken word, workshops, dance, poetry, video messages and interviews.
Funds raised during the broadcast will support the work of three charities; the Southend Emergency Fund, set up in response to Covid-19, is run by a consortium of local businesses and existing charities to support those desperately in need of financial aid in the borough of Southend; Help Musicians which has an emergency fund to support musicians nationwide with grants for those in financial hardship; and the Leigh Folk Arts Association to ensure its survival and continuation, and to further its work in the community in the future.
In addition to the broadcast, a limited range of merchandise will be on sale shortly, with all profits going towards the charities involved, including folk craft lino prints and a Front Room Folk Festival T-Shirt.
Paul Collier, Artistic Director, Leigh Folk Arts Association said:
“Since we cancelled this year’s Leigh Folk Festival, we’ve been working on ways that we can support both the local and wider arts communities. As a small organisation, we decided to create a digital manifestation and celebration of our annual festival that would have marked its 29th year in 2020. While replacing a physical event, recreating the smells, sights and atmosphere, isn’t completely possible, we are curating an incredible weekend of very special entertainment, and raising money for three charities in the process”
Artists already billed to take part include Scottish folk musician Alasdair Roberts, Southend’s own Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, Rosalie Cunningham, Gemma Khawaja, Thom Ashworth, Johnny Butler and Hayfitz both joining from Brooklyn, Former Owl Service member Dom Cooper from San Diego, Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer, Storytellers Hannah Brailsford and Dave Tong, with BBC Radio 1 and TV presenter Ollie Winiberg hosting interviews with Stick in the Wheel, Digby Fairweather and more.
In addition, local musicians SJ Denny, Dust in the Sunlight, the Hoy Shanty Crew, Toby Shaer and friends, Lunatraktors, Mabes, Brother Jonathan, Luke Jackson, Emily Frith, Lucy Kitt, Dave Woodcock, in earnest, Roisin O’Hagan and Jordan Hemingway join the line-up.
Claire Gevaux, Director of Programme, Help Musicians said:
“We are incredibly grateful to Leigh Folk Festival for choosing to fundraise for our charity at such a critical time for the music community. Leigh Folk Festival plays such an important part of the UK music calendar and we’re delighted to see the array of talented musicians taking part in this special Front Room Folk Festival. We know that musicians are having to adapt in these uncertain times so we’re really pleased to be part of a digital festival that will bring folk music to an online audience.”
To find out more or donate go to www.frontroomfolk.com. Front Room Folk Festival will be broadcast on Leigh Folk Festival’s new YouTube channel, Facebook and websites on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 May.