Warwick folk festival is full of flavours

The festival, which draws lovers of traditional music from around the world, started last night with a performance from Leamington-based Sambassadors of Groove and will continue across the weekend with a mix of Midlands talent and household names.

Taking place at Warwick School and in pubs and venues around the town, there will be 130 events for crowds to choose from, including concerts, ceilidhs and workshops in which visitors can pick up an instrument and join in.

Festival organiser Dick Dixon said: “Last year, people told us that Warwick Folk Festival was the best yet. This year we think it will be even better and the prospects of some good summer weather will be the icing on the cake!

“You won’t have to be a folk music buff to enjoy a superb weekend of first-class entertainment to suit all tastes and ages.”

Film maker and son collector Doc Rowe will be getting things underway with his show Blood, Booze, Bedlam today (Friday) at the Lecture Theatre from 4:30pm to 6pm, while Harbury brother and sister Danansooz will lead an open mic session at the Plaza Stage from 7pm to 9pm.

On the main stage, MC Keith Donnelly will introduce the Crucible Trio, Damien O’Kane, Jim Moray, Gordie MacKeenan and The Rhythm Boys from 7.30pm to 11.30pm.

Proceedings start early tomorrow (Saturday), with an hour with MC Ted Webb and Lady Maisery at the Living Trad Centre from 10:30pm to 11:30pm. There will be a songwriters’ concert featuring Kristy Gallacher, Rob Halligan, Keith Donnelly and Robb Johnson at the Bridge House Theatre from 1pm to 2.15pm.

Clive and Matt Ryder willplay an Irish session at the Zetland Arms garden in Church Street from 1pm to 3pm, while taking the stage in Market Place from 8pm to 10.30pm will be Sambassadors of Groove, Bob Phillips’ Dyland Rhythm Band and Seize the Day, while Jim McDonald, Finest Kind, Phillip Hentry and Hanna Martin and Eddi Reader play on the main stage from 8pm to 11.45pm.

Sunday will begin with a service at St Mary’s church from 10.30am to noon. Audiences will have a chance to meet the Crucible Trio at the Bridge House Theatre from 11am to noon, while Kristy Gallacher, Lucy Ward, Maggie Coleman and Lydia Noble will explore women’s song at the Song House from 11am to 12.30pm, and there will be a family ceilidh in Market Place from 11.30am to 12.30pm.

Sunday afternoon’s open-air show from 2pm to 5pm includes performances by Coventry ska band Cabstars and Warwick folk-rock duo Rosetta Fire.

And jazz band Steamchicken will perform at the Workshop Centre Upper, 4.15pm to 5pm, while ale will flow at a concert sponsored by Church End Brewery at the main stage from 7.30pm to 11.30pm featuring Keith Donnelly, Breaback, Faustus, McGoldrick and McCusker and Doyle.

See page ten of this week’s Courier for full listings.

Tickets for the main site programme of concerts and ceilidhs are still available from the box office in the Bridge House Theatre on 776438).