Sidmouth Folk Festival is now warming up, and today you can catch plenty of events – Fisherman’s Friends (Pre-Festival Concert), Jez Lowe, Granny’s Attic, Sheelanagig, Cock & Bull Band, Emily Portman & Rob Harbron, The Pigeon Swing, Paul Downes, Peter & Barbara Snape, Annie Winter and more.
With such great weather, you can also head outdoors for Up Jumped The Crab: “A Story of Cromer Now and Then” – A charming puppet story showing a day at sea with the Cromer crab fishermen of North Norfolk. Set to the music of Bob Roberts, Tony Hall and Percy Brown with puppets by Gemma Khawaja.
We’ve already shared with you some of our recommendations for the week ahead, including Eddi Reader, Ryan Young & David Foley, Show of Hands, Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage, Spiers & Boden, Bryony Griffith & Alice Jones, Kate Rusby and Jack Rutter who we wrote about here.
Folk Radio UK is also presenting a number of artists through the Cellarful of Folkadelia concert series that continues to open the door to a new world of possibilities inspired by tradition. Read more here.
We’ve put together some new mixes, which you will hear in between performances at The Ham and Bulverton venues. Remember that The Ham has three daily concerts – lunchtime, afternoon and evening – with truly some outstanding shows and some great festive atmosphere, food, and drink at the Hub.
Afternoon shows keep up the pace and quality with the inimitable Martin Simpson, Anglo-European masters Blowzabella, fine Dublin singer Daoiri Farrell, the soulful social commentary of Chris Wood and a very special Tribute to the much-missed mighty oak of the English tradition, Norma Waterson led by Martin & Eliza Carthy (this special event is included in Week and Day Season Tickets available now at www.sidmouthfolkfestival.co.uk). You can find event tickets here.
Amongst the many special shows on this year’s programme at The Manor Pavilion are Jim Causley’s Cream of Devon show of the best of the county’s performers, Matthew Crampton’s rip-roaring Never Mind The Frolics and an impressive celebration of step dancing, Instep in Time. Click here for more details.
Roots-rocking big nights out at Bulverton are headed up by the rocksteady rhythms of Edward II, the Highland grooves of Peatbog Faeries, the powerful songwriting of Grace Petrie and more. Don’t forget the fun-filled Live Silent Ceilidh. Folk Radio UK also presents Joshua Burnell & Band and Gadarene on Sunday 31st July. Tickets and more details here.
Folk dancers have so much to enjoy, including The Magnificent Seven, a collection of some of the UK’s most exciting new generation of contra dance callers, as well as English Dance, Irish Set, Scottish Country and Danish Dance. More details here.
For ceilidh dancers, get the latest moves in the New Callers’ Showcase events and dance to The Cock & Bull Band, Melrose Ceilidh Band, Kirkophany and Lasair.
Or, if you’d prefer to just watch, marvel at the spectacular display dance events taking place throughout the week across the town.
If you really want to get stuck in, how about joining in the all-comers event for Hobby Horses and Beasts Of Disguise in the Sidmouth Horse Trials…all competing to win the Aardman Award presented by Peter Lord. Or take part in the One Man Band Contest, or, not for the faint-hearted, Ghost Walks with Sidmouth Mummers.
And that’s just the smallest flavour of the full week’s feast of amazing music at Sidmouth. There’s an action-packed week for families at the Children’s Festival, some outstanding storytelling events, fascinating talks, The John Gasson Jig Competition…and so much more. Download the programme here
See you there!
More info: https://sidmouthfolkfestival.co.uk/