The Leigh Folk Festival: 21st - 24th June '07

The Leigh Folk Festival is unique. The combination of its splendid seaside location, a potent blend of all kinds of folk, acoustic and roots music and dance, and the fact that it is free and open to all, adds up to an event like no other. The singular character of the weekend stems both from the rich diversity of musicians, dancers, street performers and other entertainment on offer, and the mix reflected in the 5,000 strong crowd – young and old, Saturday shoppers and seasoned festival-goers, day trippers and serious music fans, casual passers-by and traditional folkies. The pastoral atmosphere of Leigh Library Gardens lends the Saturday programme the feel of a mass family picnic; while the salty explosion of sounds and riot of colour focussed on Sunday’s centrepiece procession through the heaving cobbled streets of Old Leigh is an experience not to be forgotten. Scottish folkies will be intrigued to hear that Sandy Brechin & Ewan Wilkinson (pictured), will be performing at the festival.

In 2007, folk music has a popularity and profile higher than it has possessed for decades, with young musicians in great number turning to acoustic instruments and breathing new life into the old forms, while the traditional old guard go from strength to strength in the invigorated climate. The Leigh Folk Festival aims to bring together both these strands, highlighting acts from the vanguard of the ‘alt-folk’ movement such as James Yorkston and the Memory Band, as well as some mainstays of the UK’s regular folk club circuit like Pete Morton, Last Night’s Fun, and Anthony John Clarke. Add to this mix a host of talented new discoveries, old faithfuls like local heroes the Famous Potatoes, mavericks like Drohne, and showcases for performers from the area’s folk clubs, then it’s possible to get an idea of the scope and diversity of what’s on offer this year – and that’s just the music! This year an enormous variety of dance teams will be in evidence, including sides from the Cotswold, North West and Border Morris traditions, Irish step and set dancers, Scottish, as well as exponents of more exotic styles like flamenco, West African (Ayigafrik), Egyptian, North African (Habena), Appalachian and belly dancing (Tribe of Kismet). The public also have ample opportunity to join in the fun at one of the three ceilidhs taking place during the weekend. The Leigh Folk Festival is most emphatically a family-oriented occasion, and as usual there is a full programme of children’s events organised on both Saturday and Sunday, there are also mummers, street entertainers, and for those seeking more cutting-edge entertainment, the innovative and acclaimed Sundown group will present their eclectic mix of poetry, comedy, music and video.

The Leigh Folk Festival is a minor miracle! Now in its 16th year and still entirely reliant on the goodwill and hard work of the performers and organisers, as well as the generosity of the public and sponsors, it has stood the test of time and retains its characteristic DIY ethic. The national press (Guardian, Daily Telegraph) have recently featured it as a worthy alternative to the Glastonbury Festival with which it coincides, but without the £150 ticket price. What’s more, Leigh has even more mud, but only when the tide is out!

Visit: leighfolkfestival.co.uk

Orkney Folk Festival 2007

Royal Oak Folkathon raises £400 for Sick Kids

Shetland gears up for annual Folk Festival

Kate Bramley steps down as Radio BritFolk coordinator.

Knockengorroch World Ceilidh 2007

The Garden Sessions celebrates it's 1st Birthday

Contact the Garden Sessions Newsdesk at news@gardensessions.co.uk