More than 120 people filled Burnham’s Ritz Social Club last night (Thursday) for the opening concert of the town’s annual FolkFest.
Four days of entertainment across Burnham got underway with a rousing performance by Three Sheets T’Wind, pictured.
“It was a great start to the festival with a fantastic atmosphere at what was a sell-out concert for us,” one of the festival organisers, Graham Cook, told Burnham-On-Sea.com.
The organisers are hoping for another big turnout tonight (Friday, August 30th) for the FolkFest Grand Opening Concert at The Princess Theatre.
The concert will feature the leading Polish gypsy family band Romany Diamonds (pictured below) who include one of gypsy music’s greatest violinists.
Support will come from the popular singer-songwriter Lara Conley and the Alchemist’s Wardrobe. Doors open at 7pm and tickets, costing £10, are available from The Princess website or on the door.
FolkFest Chairman Dom Wills said: “We really hope the town will support our opening concert as we think the Romany Diamonds are probably the best band we’ve ever booked.”
On Saturday, the action moves into the town centre with free live music from 1pm to 11pm at The Princess, the Victoria, the Somerset & Dorset, the Royal Clarence, the Waterfront and The Ritz.
Highlights include folk rock monsters Leatherat and up-and-coming duo Union Jill (right) at The Princess, an Australian evening at the Ritz with Aussie stars Zeptepi and The April Maze, Canadian folk hero Brad McEwen with his new band Cotillion at the Vic and the Princess, and Klezmer madness at the S&D with Bristol’s MOD.
At the Baptist Church from 12.30pm-5pm there will be a KidsZone featuring fun jungle themed crafts for children and two Punch & Judy shows.
Also in the Baptist Church will be free music lessons from festival performers, with Elliot Hall teaching songwriting, Phil King teaching guitar and Brad McEwen covering the History and Practice of the cittern. All lessons will be free and all abilities will be catered for.
Outside the church there will be flamenco, morris and clog dancing (pictured) from 11am-4pm.
There’ll also be a street market on the High Street, as well as street entertainment.
On Sunday, everything shifts to The Manor Gardens with KidsZone, a market, dancing and free live music from 12.30pm-6.15pm.
Performers will include local guitarist Steve Brown, Bristol-based a cappella singers Firefly, this year’s BBC Young Folk Awards winners Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar, ‘scrump-punks’ Skimmity Hitchers and the excellent young Welsh folk rock band Rusty Shackle.
Dom Wills added: “We think we’ve put a really good bill together this year, with something for most tastes. We hope the people of Burnham come out, have a laugh with their friends and really enjoy it.”
