So dear Folk Week fans – thank you for all your support in 2018 and we’re pleased to say we are looking forward to welcoming you in 2019.
What have we got planned so far? The roll-call of musicians is shaping up nicely and thank you to the friendly people of the Baptist Centre who will be hosting many of our afternoon and evening concerts next year. With newly installed air-conditioning and comfortable chairs – and a bar in the evenings, this venue will be a hub for festival-goers in the middle of the town. More concerts and workshops will take place in Crampton Tower Museum and the ever-popular programme of events will return to the Sailing Club.
Folk Week began as a festival of English folk dance – and the Pavilion on the Sands overlooking the lovely Viking Bay will be the venue for those of you with lots of energy to burn – and in 2019, the festival invites you to brush up your Appalachian clog dancing, join in with the family ceilidhs, perfect your Cajun waltz and dance with Zulu Tradition. Our concert featuring Jon Boden and the Remnant Kings will be a very special night in the Pavilion on the first Saturday. The legendary late nights keep you dancing till the small hours.
If you wish to dance from morning till night with other like-minded people, St. Peter’s Church Hall will once again be thronged with dancers executing American Squares and Contras, Playford or traditional English country dance – with a live band adding to a great atmosphere. The venue is a short-walk from the Folk Week campsite or you can hop on a Festival minibus.
Talking of the campsite, we’re so pleased to return to Dane Court School. It was our first year there in 2018, so with a few tweaks to the format, you can expect a properly laid-out field, with on-site showers and toilets, car park, acoustic music hub for early evenings and food tent. Our fantastic minibus drivers will take you to and from the town centre if the 20 minute walk is too much of a challenge for devoted festival-goers!
There are exciting changes ahead for the Craft & Music fair at Victoria Gardens but we can’t tell you much more yet. And of course, Folk Week would not be the same without madcap fun at the Bandstand with a programme of free entertainment all day, including the phenomenally popular Hobby Horse Club with Clarence the Dragon, Zoe and Peter from Inspirations Creative, the Giddy Yup band and those naughty Hooden Horses.
What with morris dancing in the streets, free music in the pubs and a whole range of workshops and children’s events, Folk Week 2019 is just waiting for you to come and enjoy it. See you there! And a very Happy Christmas and wonderful New Year from us all!