Celebration Of Traditional Music, Dance And Crafts

August 1, 2008, 9:47 am

SIDMOUTH FolkWeek, one of the most popular and oldest music festivals in the country, started last night and as usual offers an amazing array of talent to choose from.

Tonight Devon’s very own acoustic roots duo, Show Of Hands, will perform in the Ham Marquee, the main concert venue, at 8pm, while Boka Halat will deliver English tunes infused with African rhythms at the Festival Clubhouse in the Bulverton Marquee.

Tomorrow night’s line-up at the Ham features songwriter John Tams, perhaps better known as Rifleman Daniel Hagman from the Sharpe TV series, or you can hear the sublime piano music of Finland’s Timo Alakotila, accompanied on the piano accordion by Karen Tweed at the Manor Pavilion.

Virtuoso Irish fiddle player Martin Hayes and guitarist Dennis Cahil take to the Ham stage on Sunday night, while the Clubhouse showcases Dalla for a Cornish ‘Noze Looan’ — an evening of easy-to-learn dances (simply watch everyone else!).

On Monday afternoon, young innovative Scottish band Breabach blends double bagpipes, flute, fiddle and stepdancing in the Ham Marquee. There will be dancing to Quinteto Mambo Jambo’s mix of Afro-Cuban salsa and samba music at the Clubhouse.

And so the week goes on, with other guests including world-famous Northumbrian piper Kathryn Tickell; Irish music from Last Night’s Fun and a five-hour mega-dance to the bagpipes, saxophones, accordion, brass and hurdy-gurdy of Blowzabella, culminating with a torchlight procession and fireworks on Friday, August 8.

There has been a week-long folk festival in one form or another at Sidmouth for over half a century, celebrating traditional music, dance and craft from the British Isles and further afield.

Taking over most of the seaside town, Sidmouth FolkWeek occupies nearly every hall in the resort, and the streets and seafront are very much part of the festivities, with impromptu performances between the listed events from buskers, entertainers and dancers.

As well as the performers, there are opportunities to participate in lots of activities, including music workshops on all manner of singing and instruments for all levels of ability, storytelling workshops and talks on such subjects as Thomas Hardy and the Dorset Christmas Mummers, Ralph Vaughan Williams and English Folk Song.

Eddie Upton, FolkWeek’s artistic director, said: “I am delighted with the range of artists and events we’ve put together. I know it’s an often misused phrase, but there really is something for everyone.”

A free programme with full details is available to download from the festival’s website. Click on www.sidmouthfolkweek.co.uk.
For more information and booking, call the box office at Sidmouth Tourist Information Centre on 01395 578627.

This article was taken from: This Is Exeter