Around the rest of the festival, you can expect: dances, ceilidhs, international performers, displays, morris dancers, workshops, sessions and the famous torchlight procession…and a diverse and entertaining jam-packed programme.
As we count down towards the start of the summer’s finest music festival Sidmouth FolkWeek (3rd – 10th August), it’s time for us to shout from the rooftops about the impressive concert line-up on offer each and every day.
All tickets are now on sale - Event, Day, Weekend, Season and All In One – and selling fast. Book now for your favourite acts or join us all week for the ultimate festival experience!
Friday
Show of Hands with Miranda Sykes • War Horse – The Concert • Kissmet
Saturday
Dervish • Black Umfolosi • Stygiens (Italy) • The Voice Squad • Frank Yamma
Sunday
Seth Lakeman • Chris Wood • Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker & John Doyle
Monday
Norma Waterson & Eliza Carthy with The Gift Band • Edward II
Jackie Oates • Finest Kind
Tuesday
Treacherous Orchestra • Spiers & Boden
Brass Monkey • Fay Hield & The Hurricane Party
Wednesday
Martin Simpson Trio with June Tabor, Jon Boden, Fay Hield & Dick Gaughan
Martin Carthy & Eliza Carthy • The Pauper’s Path To Hope
Thursday
June Tabor & Oysterband • Dick Gaughan
Jason Wilson Band with Dave Swarbrick
Friday
Donal Lunny, Padraig Rynne & Sylvain Barou
Whapweasel • Archie Fisher • Hekety
Our three times-daily concerts at the picturesquely-placed Ham Marquee – a comfortable seated venue - offer up some of the finest musicians in the land.
Take your pick from a mid-week coup with the diamond-fingered master guitarist Martin Simpson who will be appearing with an array of other folk icon friends including June Tabor, Dick Gaughan, Jon Boden and Fay Hield! Or revel in the songwriting potency of ‘renaissance man’ Chris Wood, who has been hand-picked to go out on the road with Joan Armatrading later in the year
The UK’s premier singing family are out in force with Norma Waterson making a welcome return to performing, with multi-talented daughter Eliza Carthy & The Gift Band, as well as a winning duo combination of national folk treasure Martin Carthy & Eliza. Martin also features in the rich wall of sound that is Brass Monkey.
International highlights abound with high-stepping dynamos Black Umfolosi from Zimbabwe bringing a song and dance spectacle to the stage, poignant songwriting from aboriginal singer Frank Yamma, Juno-award winning Nova Scotian banjo songster Old Man Luedecke and Canadian singing favourites The Finest Kind.
The Celtic world has some fine representation in the form of Ireland’s premier traditional band Dervish, fronted by the angel-voiced Cathy Jordan. A mighty trio with the legendary Donal Lunny, who has been at forefront of the Irish music renaissance, plus current mover and shaker Padraig Rynne & Breton flute master Sylvain Barou promises to electrify. Another powerhouse trio sees flute/whistle/Uillean piper master Michael McGoldrick coming together with fine Scottish fiddler John McCusker & Irish singer/guitarist John Doyle. Seminal Scottish folk singer and songwriter Dick Gaughan also takes to the stage.
June Tabor & Oysterband, basking in the glory of their multi-award winning Ragged Kingdom CD, bring us their uniquely stirring sound– pairing the pure beauty of June’s voice with the visceral energy of the Britfolk-rockers. High-energy tunesmithery and song comes from popular duo Spiers & Boden, founding members of Bellowhead. Local living legends Show Of Hands with their show-stopping show with bassist Miranda Sykes.
A pre-festival special sees a rare performance from children’s author Michael Morpurgo, reading from his famous War Horse story with music from John Tams & Barry Coope.
Evening roots parties at the Bulverton Marquee see high-energy acts filling the dancefloor for those who like a bit of groove.
On the bill: local-boy-done-good Seth Lakeman with his passionate foot-stomping sound, the massed ranks of Celtic supergroup Treacherous Orchestra, a heady Bhangra fusion from Kissmet, young Italian roots talents from Stygiens and the dynamic reggae roots of festival favourites Edward II and from Canada’s Jason Wilson Band.
Around the rest of the festival, you can expect: dances, ceilidhs, international performers, displays, morris dancers, workshops, sessions and the famous torchlight procession…and a diverse and entertaining programme jam-packed with feel-good atmosphere.
Book online NOW at www.sidmouthfolkweek.co.uk
All 2011 Ticket Prices held for 2012 + No Booking Fee = lower cost!
Published on 20 June 2012 by Ben Robinson
