Southwell Folk Festival - a brief glimpse

It will feature a truly international line-up of great British, Irish and Canadian music acts – including The Bills and Sojourners from Canada, England’s fiery Feast of Fiddles and wild Scottish supergroup the Treacherous Orchestra.

Moya Brennan, lead singer of Clannad will be performing, as will be Sally Barker from BBC1’s The Voice, Folksinger of the Year Bella Hardy and many others.

Thursday night, to mark the centenary of the start of the First World War, will feature A Day’s Work, a folk opera from the pen of Mick Ryan.

Using original songs, spoken verse, monologue and dialogue, A Day’s Work tells the story of a group of farm labourers who join up, or refuse to join up, and meet finally on the first day of The Somme.

It features an illustrious cast, including Mick Ryan, Paul Downes, Maggie Boyle, Pete Morton, Greg Russell, Matt Quinn and Heather Bradford.

Alongside guaranteed great music and dancing, the beer and cider festival, music workshops, a children’s festival, comedy and family activities, circus skills, sculptures and some brilliant street theatre acts, there will also be silent folk disco.

The festival’s eclectic mix of celebrated acts this year will include New York guitarist Woody Mann, The Kennedys (Nanci Griffiths’ backing band) with Edwina Hayes, Martyn Joseph, Vin Garbutt, Ross Ainslie & Jarlath Henderson, Jim Causley and the Ben Waters Boogie Band. Plus there’s Blackbeards’ Tea Party, Paul Pigat’s Rockabilly Trio and gypsy jazz from Maniere Des Bohemiens.

Plus Midlands acts including The Stormy Weather Boys, Floot Street and The Doohickey Wire Band.

Special value Teazer Tickets for locals are still available.

Or you can pay on the gate for entrance to the festival site.

The organisers would always welcome more volunteers and stewards to help with preparations.

For more details please visit www.southwellfolkfestival.org.uk.