25th July 2012

SIDMOUTH: Don’t miss your favourite acts at Sidmouth Folk Week - book your tickets now!

Whilst it’s business as usual for the festival build team as they get everything in place for the summer’s best music-filled holiday (the marquees are arriving, the bunting is out, the fun is about to begin!), they’re getting excited about seeing some of their musical heroes!

Celtic musical legends, you say? Oh yes, they’ve got them.

Three of the tradition’s current movers and shakers, Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker and John Doyle –join us at The Ham Marquee on Sunday, August 5th. Expect musical fireworks from these masters of flute, whistle and Uillean pipes, fiddle, guitar and song.

You know Donal Lunny? That’s the Donal Lunny who has been at the forefront of Irish music for decades, as a founding member of seminal bands like Planxty, The Bothy Band and Moving Hearts? Well, how about a Donal Lunny, Padraig Rynne & Sylvain Barou final night Ham concert, on Friday, August 10th.

Oh, and not forgetting Dervish - described as “the apex of Irish music, period!” at The Ham on Saturday, August 4th.

Thanks to the generous support of Creative Scotland, a wealth of talent and creativity from north of the border will be showcased throughout the week: from mighty traditions bearers Dick Gaughan and Archie Fisher, to fast-rising stars such as young singer and guitarist Ewan McLennan and multi-award winning fiddle-led Highlanders Rua Macmillan Trio.

Organisers are looking forward to the epically proportioned Treacherous Orchestra at The Bulverton on Tuesday, August 7th, who promise to blast your socks off with their mighty wall of sound. Eleven of them…on one stage!

For something completely different, Caledonia’s New Hardy Sons show comes to The Manor Pavilion on Wednesday, August 8th. Sokobauno Puppet Theatre and Glasgow-based guitarist, singer, interpreter of traditional ballads and writer/composer of new songs, Alasdair Roberts present an intriguing tale of death and resurrection with Scottish Mummers play Galoshins told through live music, puppetry and shadow theatre.

And that’s just scraping the surface of what’s on offer throughout the week. There is plenty to keep you busy including workshops, intimate venue concerts, informal sessions, dance displays, In The Tradition events, ceilidhs, social dance, family festival, Shooting Roots events and more!

If you can’t be there all week with an all-in-one or week season tickets, you can go for the weekend, a single day, or individual events – all choices are catered for with the flexible ticketing options.

There’s still time to buy event tickets for the highlights at the Ham Marquee and Bulverton each day. Be sure you don’t miss the Chris Barber Big Band in a pre-festival special on Thursday at 8pm; War Horse – The Concert (3pm), Show of Hands with Miranda Sykes (8pm) and Kissmet (8.15pm) on Friday; Black Umfolosi (3.15pm), Dervish (8pm), and Stygiens (8.15pm) on Saturday. Sunday offers Chris Wood (3.15pm), Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker & John Doyle (8pm), and Seth Lakeman (8.15pm); and Monday features Jackie Oates (3.15pm), Norma Waterson & Eliza Carthy with The Gift Band (8pm), Edward II (8.15pm); while Tuesday has Brass Monkey (3.15pm) Spiers & Boden (8pm) and Treacherous Orchestra (8.15pm).

Mick Ryan’s Folk Opera The Pauper’s Path To Hope (3.15pm) kick off Wednesday, and are followed by Martin Simpson Trio (8pm), and Must Come Down - Morris Offspring (8.15pm); and Thursday offers up Archie Fisher & Dick Gaughan (3.15pm), June Tabor & Oysterband (8pm), and Jason Wilson Band (8.15pm)

And finally on Friday you can enjoy the Crucible Trio (3.15pm), Donal Lunny, Padraig Rynne & Sylvain Barou (7.30pm), Whapweasel (8pm)

The full Sidmouth Folk Week programme is now available to download at www.sidmouthfolkweek.co.uk

To book ticket or for more details call the box office 01395 577952, or book online at www.sidmouthfolkweek.co.uk