If you go to http://www.extasybooks.com/eb. php3?ebookid=18853 you can have a look at my latest wor...
If you go to http://www.extasybooks.com/eb. php3?ebookid=18853 you can have a look at my latest work.
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Almost every weekend between April and October there is a folk festival going on somewhere in the Uk. They aren't always that easy to find out about - most do have websites these days though. Here's some usuful information about folk festials.
Normally, folk festivals run from Friday night to Sunday night, weekend tickes include camping, there is almost always access to bed and breadkfast.(There are several week long festivals, Sidmouth and Whitby that I know of.) The campsites tend to be civillised. Most festivals have activities for children. While some festivals will include professional performers, sessions, sing arounds, celidhs, dance displays, mummers and crafts, many specialise - it's worth checking as theres not point going to shanty festival if all you actually want to do is dance! The average festival will cost about £35 for a weekend, most offer some sort of concession and day tickets if you don't want to go for the whole thing. Some festivals will run along side beer festivals.
Things to take - all the usual camping gear, a torch or lantern, a waterproof coat, a loo roll. There is always food and if you are rushing from event to event, you might want to buy. Self catering works well though. Take plenty of moeny for craft stals and cds. Expect not tog et much sleep - if you stay up till three in a session you can be sure of some small child playing tennis outside your tent at 8 in the morning.
If you are prepaired to do a bit of work over the weekend in exchange for a free ticket, get in touch with your festival about six months in advance and ask - all festivals need stewards and you might be able to get in. It isn't too hard and stewarding you get to meet all sorts of interesting people.
The best thing about folk festivals (apart from the excellent music) is the atmosphere - it's all very friendly and welcoming. You can let your children run around and you can leave your tent without having to worry about it. Most of the performers will be around over the weekend, enjoying the rest of the festival, which means you can get to talk to them - it's nice having accesible artists, something you don't get at larger more mainstream events.
Here's a few names of festivals if you want to look them out - Whitby (runs for a week.) Bromyard (Weekend at the end of septmeber, Midlands.), Upton on Severn,(may bank holiday.) Padstow May day (Big event, well worth seeing.). Sidmouth (runs for a week, huge festival, international artists.), Cheltenham,(February, indoor camping.) Cambridge,(There's also he Straberry fair, which is a different event.) Ely,(early summer I think.) Bridgenorth,(August, Midlands. Quite ecclectic and very good.) Pontadawi,(Wales, not sure of the spelling. Almost always rains.) Liverpool shanty festival,(early summer.) Warwick, (large midlands festival, very good,) Bedworth (Novemeber!), Chipping Norton (Mostly dance.), Bromsgrove (small midlands festival July.), Alcester,(Small Midlands festival, June, my local and it's great!) and that's just the ones I can remember. The odds are good that there is a festival somewhere near you - they really are great if you are in to folk music - and rather addictive.
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Jul 18th, 2001
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