The final tickets have gone on sale for this year’s Shrewsbury Folk Festival as organisers prepare to celebrate 20 years of hosting the event in the county.
The four-day festival of music and dance takes place at the West Mid Showground from August 26 to 29 and is expected to attract around 7,000 people.
Around 700 people went to the first festival in Bridgnorth in 1997. It moved to Shrewsbury in 2006 and settled at the showground in Berwick Road the following year.
The final tier of weekend tickets has now been released with organisers urging people not to miss out.
Director Alan Surtees, who founded and still runs the event with his wife Sandra, said: “The festival is always the most amazing party but this year it will be extra special as we mark our 20th one.
“We are proud of the world class reputation we have developed over the years. I think many local people still don’t realise that a professional festival is here on their doorstep and if they came along, they’d be really impressed.
“After all, why travel to festivals like Glastonbury when you’ve got an event that delivers the same quality – and less mud – on your doorstep?”
This year’s headliners include Nick Lowe, Paul Carrack and Andy Fairweather Low in a rare trio appearance, Grammy award winning American singer songwriter Rosanne Cash – the daughter of country singer Johnny Cash, folk rock band Levellers, Eliza Carthy and the Wayward Band, singer songwriter and BBC 6 Music DJ Tom Robinson, world music star Raghu Dixit and Show of Hands on the festival bill.
Other performers include Dervish & guests, Show of Hands, Treacherous Orchestra, John McCusker Band, Andy Irvine, John Jones with special guests, folk reggae group Edward II, Ross Ainslie and Jarlath Henderson, Karen Matheson, Shooglenifty, Sheelanagig, The Urban Folk Quartet, Rob Heron and the Tea Pad Orchestra, Mark Radcliffe’s Galleon Blast, and Lady Maisery.
A number of North American and Canadian acts will also be appearing including singer songwriter Richard Shindell, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, folk bluegrass band Barnstar! and Canadian trio Ten Strings and A Goatskin.
Alan added: “I believe this is one of our best line ups ever with something for everyone whether you’re into traditional or contemporary music or even just wanting to sample the overall atmosphere of a fabulous festival.
“Shrewsbury is about so much more than music though. We have people who come back year after year who would never classify themselves as folkies – it’s just a great place to be for four days over the Bank Holiday Weekend.”
The festival has four main music stages, a dance tent, more than 100 workshops, dedicated children and youth festivals, onsite camping, a craft fair, real ale, wine and cocktail bars, and a food village.
It also hosts fringe events in the town centre with dance teams and pub sessions and a parade from the Castle to The Square on August 27 from 1.30pm.
Published on 12 July 2016 by Ben Robinson
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