Day tickets for the popular Shrewsbury Folk Festival have all but sold out, festival organisers have revealed.
The hit festival, which this year includes an appearance from The Be Good Tanyas and an exclusive performance from The Carolina Chocolate Drops, has already sold its allocation for Friday August 23rd, Saturday August 24th and Sunday August 25th with just a handful of tickets left for Monday August 26th. There are still adult and family weekend tickets, which take in all four days, available.
Organisers of the event at the West Mid Showground in Berwick Road have organised a number of exclusives just for Shrewsbury in a bid to offer visitors something different to this year's average festival.
There will be a joint performance from the festival’s two patrons Oysterband’s John Jones and Steve Knightley from Show of Hands.
Bright Phoebus sings Tom Waits, a tribute to the singer, will feature a house band of Bellowhead frontman Jon Boden, Martin Simpson, Sam Sweeney, Andy Cutting and Andy Seward along with Fay Hield, Roy Bailey, Neil McSweeney, Rowan Rheingans, Jess Arrowsmith, James Fagan, Nancy Kerr, Sharon Krauss and Rob Harbron.
Heidi Talbot will invite special guests including Eddi Reader, Boo Hewerdine, and Tim O’Brien to join her for her Sunday appearance with her band including James Mackintosh, Ewan Vernal, Andy Cutting, Michael McGoldrick, Ian Carr and John McCusker.
And Tim O’Brien will take to the main stage in his own right with a specially selected band of mainly Celtic musicians.
Festival Director Alan Surtees said: “A day ticket to Shrewsbury is definitely hot property this year. I think lots of people have seen the strength of the line up every day and thought they would sample a day.
“The way to get the best from your Shrewsbury experience is to come for the whole weekend, totally immerse yourself in the festival site, experience the music, dance and workshops on offer and all the great facilities. Our visitors always say that Shrewsbury Folk Festival just has that magical quality that makes you relax and have a fantastic weekend.”
Also performing at Shrewsbury this year will be the Afro Celt Sound System, Oysterband, Capercaillie, Nic Jones, Eddi Reader, Tim O’Brien, Fay Hield & the Hurricane Party, Martyn Joseph, Nancy Kerr & James Fagan, Jez Lowe, ColvinQuarmby, Melrose Quartet, Something Nasty in the Woodshed, Keith Donnelly, Jess & Richard Arrowsmith, The Wilsons and Elbow Jane.
Jim Moray will lead a band of performers, including a special guest, in the 2013 Folk Slam finale in Marquee 2.
Some of the leading lights in the young folk movement will be heading to Shrewsbury this year, including Sam Carter, Lady Maisery, BBC Folk Award winner Lucy Ward, Blue Rose Code, Luke Jackson, Ursula Holden Gill, Madeleine Vaughan, Moore Moss & Rutter, James Riley and Lori Watson and the Rule of Three.
Nidi d’Arac, a group from Southern Italy who blend rural tradition with rock, electronica and beats, are on the list of international performers. Randolph Matthews & Byron Johnston will bring their fusion of Spanish acoustic guitar and African soul to the festival.
American singer songwriter Mark Erelli, who featured in the festival’s Darwin Song Project in 2009, makes a welcome return to perform solo and with his bluegrass band Barnstar!. Another first for the UK will be an appearance by a unique Nashville based act Doyle & Debbie who offer a very special late night show.
The festival has five music venues, a dance tent, dozens of workshops, a children's festival, Refolkus - a dedicated youth programme for 12 to 25-year-olds, on-site camping, a craft fair and food village. The festival is located on the fringe of Shrewsbury, with its medieval town centre just a short walk away.
Published on 29 April 2013 by Ben Robinson
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