Cheltenham Folk Festival 2008

17 February - The Cheltenham Folk Festival 2008 is coming to Gloucestershire for the 12th time, and folk fans from around the world are snapping up tickets for what promises to be another highlight on the county’s musical calendar.

In 1996 Cheltenham Folk Club organiser John Shorter came up with the idea for a mid-winter folk event to banish the winter the blues, wanting to produce an event that preserved the roots of folk tradition, showcased budding new talent and created a family atmosphere all at the same time. Twelve years on and the Cheltenham Folk Festival has not only become an institution in Gloucestershire’s event calendar, but a folk extravaganza known around the world.

And this year some of the biggest names in the folk music scene will be gathering at Cheltenham Town Hall and across Cheltenham from Friday 15 to Sunday 17 February, with audiences flocking to catch the line-up which will include nominees for the prestigious BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2008 in the form of Show of Hands, John Tams and Barry Coope.

Jo Heatley, Cheltenham Folk Festival Manager said ‘We’re gearing up for the biggest festival yet, featuring concerts, dances, instrument, singing and dance workshops. This year the festival also spills out into the streets, bars and venues around town.’

Show of Hand’s headline performance at the opening concert on the Friday is expected to be a particular highlight, as Steve Knightley and Phil Beer – regulars at major festivals such as Glastonbury and WOMAD – prove to audiences why they are considered to be the finest acoustic roots duo in England. Jo Freya’s Lal Project – playing the much loved songs of the late Lal Waterson on the tenth anniversary of her death – will also be pulling in the crowds, as Jo is joined by a group of musicians.

Sisters Emily and Hazel Askew are a young fiddle and melodeon duo becoming well known on the club and festival circuit for the dynamic style, while Spiers and Boden will be putting a unique dance music twist on traditional folk which is set to be a sure crowd pleaser

The full schedule for this year’s festival is as follows:

Cheltenham Folk Festival events on Friday 15 February 2008

A concert featuring Megson, Last Orders and Show of Hands will kick off the festival, taking place at Cheltenham Town Hall from 8pm to 11.30pm. Tickets cost from £8 to £15.

The Singers Session will take place at The Bell Inn on Bath Road from 8pm until late, with free entry, while the Musicians Session will take place at Cheltenham Town Hall from 8pm, open to festival ticket holders only.

The Cheltenham Folk Club Opening Night Concert is scheduled to take place at Cheltenham Town Hall from 8pm to 11pm, including Emily & Hazel Askew, Issy & David Emeney with Kate Riaz, Martin & Shan Graebe and Mike & Ali Vass. Tickets cost £8.

Last but not least on the Friday, an Opening Dance with Malthouse Passage and caller Chris Beaumont will take place at Cheltenham College Junior School from 8pm to 11pm. Tickets cost from £3 to £7.

Cheltenham Folk Festival events on Saturday 16 February 2008

Instrument, Voice and Dance Workshops will take place throughout the day at Cheltenham YMCA on Vittoria Walk, from 11am to 6pm. Tickets cost £4 per workshop and are available on the door only.

An Unplugged Acoustic Sessions event featuring some of the festivals guests will take place at Cheltenham Music Library on Chester Walk from 11am to 3.30pm, with free entry.

Young Fun in The Kids Place will take place at Cheltenham Town Hall from 11am to 5pm, open to festival ticket holders only, while the Musicians Session will run from 12pm, also at Cheltenham Town Hall and open to festival ticket holders only.

A Saturday Lunchtime Concert featuring Benji Kirkpatrick, Issy & David Emeney with Kate Riaz, Last Orders and Mike & Ali Vass is scheduled to take place at Cheltenham Town Hall from 12pm to 2.45pm. Tickets cost from £4 to £8.

Dancing in the Streets will be taking place in Cheltenham Town Centre from 11.30am to 3.30pm, with free entry.

Throughout the afternoon An Hour or So With performances will see Mike & Ali Vass, John Kirkpatrick, Phil Beer, Benji Kirkpatrick, John Spiers and Jon Boden all taking to the stage at Cheltenham Town Hall from 11.30am to 7pm. Tickets cost £5 per session.

Jo Freya’s Lal Project will be taking centre stage at Cheltenham Town Hall from 4.15pm to 5.45pm. Tickets cost from £4 to £8.

The Festival Dance with Random and caller Dave Hunt will take place at the Ladies’ College’s Princess Hall from 7.30pm to 11pm. Tickets cost from £4 to £8.

A Saturday night concert featuring Brass Monkey, John Tams & Barry Coope and Phil Beer will take place at Cheltenham Town Hall from 8pm to 11.30pm. Tickets cost from £8 to £15.

The Cheltenham Folk Club concert featuring Benji Kirkpatrick, Emily and Hazel Askew, John Loomes & Paul Scourfield, Last Orders and Steve Turner is scheduled to take place at Cheltenham Town Hall from 8pm to 11.30pm. Tickets cost £8.

A Singers Session will take place at The Bell Inn on Bath Road from 8pm until late. Entry is free.

Bring Saturday’s events to a close, a Late Night Extra with Spiers & Boden will take place at Cheltenham Town Hall from midnight until 1am. Open to weekend ticket holders only.

Cheltenham Folk Festival events on Sunday 17 February 2008

Instrument, Voice and Dance Workshops will take place throughout the day at Cheltenham YMCA on Vittoria Walk, from 11am to 6pm. Tickets cost £4 per workshop and are available on the door only.

A Sunday Morning Chorus is scheduled to kick off the final day of the festival at Cheltenham Town Hall from 11am to 11.45am. Open to day and weekend ticket holders only.

Young Fun in The Kids Place will take place at Cheltenham Town Hall from 11am to 5pm, open to festival ticket holders only, while the Musicians Session will run from 12pm, also at Cheltenham Town Hall and open to festival ticket holders only.

The Noon Interview will take place at Cheltenham Town Hall from 12pm to 1pm, open to day and weekend ticket holders only.

A Musicians Session will take place at Cheltenham Town Hall from 12pm, open to festival ticket holders only.

The Sunday lunchtime concert will see Emily & Hazel Askew, Jon Loomes & Paul Scourfield, Malthouse Passage and Steve Turner all take to the Cheltenham Townhall stage from 12pm to 2.30pm. Tickets cost from £4 to £8.

Dancing in the Streets will be taking place in Cheltenham Town Centre from 12pm to 3pm, with free entry.

Throughout the afternoon An Hour or So With performances will see Kerr Fagan Harbron, Steve Turner, Jon Loomes & Paul Scourfield all performing at Cheltenham Town Hall from 1.30pm to 6.30pm. Tickets cost £5 per session.

Martyn Wyndham-Read’s No Man’s Band with Shirley Collins & Pip Barnes will be playing the Cheltenham Town Hall from 3.45pm to 5.15pm. Tickets cost from £4 to £8.

Bringing this year’s Cheltenham Folk Festival to a close, a final concert featuring Belshazzar’s Feast, Steve Turner and Kerr Fagan Harbron will take place at Cheltenham Town Hall from 7pm to 10pm. Tickets cost from £8 to £15.

In addition to an acclaimed line-up of folk music, the Cheltenham Folk Festival will also offer visitors the chance to browse The Market Place at Cheltenham Town Hall, featuring an array of stalls with everything from clothes, jewellery, arts and crafts to musical instruments. The Festival Café will also be serving up a selection of wholesome food, while the real ale bar with tipples from Goff's Brewery, Battledown Brewery and Festival Brewery will be wetting many a whistle.

Event: Cheltenham Folk Festival 2008
Venue: Cheltenham Town Hall and at venues across Cheltenham. See above for more information.
Date: Friday 15 to Sunday 17 February 2008
Times: Vary per specific event, see above for full details
Tickets: Vary per specific event, see above for full details. Weekend tickets are also available, ranging in price from £35 to £66, as well as day tickets, ranging from £15 to £40. For tickets and more information call Cheltenham Town Hall box office on (01242) 227979.

SoGlos.com
5 January 2008