Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th October
There are over 50 events spread over four full days in around 12 venues, featuring over 50 acts and 40 Morris sides and dance display teams at the 25th Tenterden Folk Festival.
For the first time we have programmed a full day of events on the Thursday including:
Two acoustic concerts in the Saddlery at the White Lion,
A lunchtime song and music session in the William Caxton,
“Afternoon Tea and cakes” at The Secret Pantry
Music on the Bandstand in Ashford
A fundraising concert in the Tenterden Town Hall
The Thursday morning concert in the Saddlery is a showcase of local talent and features Kentish folk singers Bob Kenward, Peter Collins, Roger Resch and Sue Watson plus a special guest. The afternoon concert features Greg from local band Green Diesel, John Bowden & Vic Shepherd from Yorkshire, Morrigan from London and special guests Georgia Lewis & Friends from Wiltshire whose debut album “The Bird Who Sings Freedom” was released on 28th July. The lunchtime session in the Caxton is open to all folk singers, musicians, storytellers, poets, step dancers, etc. to come along and take part or you can just sit and enjoy the music. Folk music will be showcased on the bandstand in Ashford High Street with music and songs from nationally known Jezreels Ceilidh Band and local multi-instrumentalist and singer Gavin Atkin. The day finishes with our annual fundraising concert in the Tenterden Town Hall headlined by award winning singer songwriter Steve Tilston, who will be just back from appearing at The Edingburgh Festival.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday will follow the usual pattern of events with a mix of concerts, barn dance, workshops, meet the guest spots, special events, dance displays from hundreds of Morris dancers, Appalachian dancers, Slovakian dancers, street entertainers, a procession, free music stage, dance stage, craft and artisan stalls, street stalls and much more. All the guests are listed on the website www.tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk and in the free programme which will be available shortly. Many of the guests seen over the last 25 years are back with us this year including Tim Laycock and Doug Hudson who featured in a special concert in 1992 that lead to the start of the Festival in 1993.
Other guests include Barrie & Ingrid Temple, Brian Peters, Derek Gifford, Dick Miles, Foxglove Trio, Graeme Knights, Greg Harper Trio, Jeff Warner (USA), JIB, Jim Bainbridge, Jim Mageean, Keith Kendrick & Sylvia Needham, Nick & Mally Dow, Paul and Liz Davenport, Pete Castle, Si Baron and Steve Turner.
To make our 25th anniversary extra special, as well as all our usual venues, extra events are programmed to take place in the Glebe Hall, St Mildred’s Church and Secret Pantry in the High Street. Several special events take place on Saturday and Sunday including performances from some special guests on the free stages on the Recreation Ground.
These will include:
4×4 Bhangra will perform folk dance from the Punjab in Northern India
Snail Tales Storytelling will perform “The First King of England – The story of King Knut”
Wheeze presented by Parrabbola.
Plus some surprises still to be announced
For full details of the festival pick up a copy of the free programme which will be widely available before the end of August and will also be on the website..
Tickets are available direct from Tenterden Folk Festival, on line or from local outlets including The Gateway Plus in Ashford and Advantec IT at the Fairings in Tenterden.
