Western Morning News (Saturday)
Summer set to go with swing at folk festival
ORGANISERS of the Sidmouth Folk Festival have revealed the first details of a week-long event that will bring an exciting blend of music, dance and family entertainment back to the Devon seaside town this summer.
Billed as A Celebration of Sidmouth Folk Festival and taking place between July 30 and August 6, the aim is to offer everyone an authentic taste of the festival they know and love, while remaining vigilant around ongoing Covid-19 concerns and restrictions.
The line-up will include live headline performances by festival patrons Show of Hands, the Eliza Carthy Trio and Scottish folk band Talisk. Tickets for these evening shows will go on sale from May 24. More details of the full week’s bill will be announced soon.
The outdoor concerts take into account the majority preference for open air events, expressed in response to audience surveys conducted by the festival team. They will be staged in the heart of the town at Blackmore Gardens. This green and spacious central hub is considered the ideal spot to gather safely with friends and celebrate the return of the festival spirit that has been intrinsic to the fabric of Sidmouth since 1955.
It will also be the venue for a host of free daytime entertainment for the whole family, including dance music, street theatre and special events, alongside a range of food and drink. The Ham lawn also promises to be a hive of festive activity, with many of the usual catering and bar favourites and plenty of entertainment.
Following on from the success of last year’s online festival, there will also be a major web-based presence again in 2021, including live streaming from the town and plenty of workshops, with more details to be announced in late May.
Festival director John Braithwaite said: “We are looking forward to this special celebration, as we thank everyone who helped the festival survive last year’s cancellation and to secure its future. All this year’s festival activities will be run in line with existing Covid-19 guidance. All relevant precautions and health and safety measures will be taken to ensure people’s comfort, and to maximise their enjoyment.
“Heartfelt thanks again to all who supported the Crowdfunding campaign. Some rewards will be redeemable this year, some will need to be deferred to 2022 and that option remains for all pledges.
“Please do join us in our beautiful seaside home in the first week of August to celebrate the ongoing future of The Sidmouth Folk Festival.
“And we look forward to returning in 2022 in grand style!”
Visit www.sidmouthfolkfestival. co.uk for details of all 2021 ticket options.
All 2020 tickets will be rolled forward (unless otherwise requested) to the Sidmouth Folk Festival 2022, including the pre-festival shows which will be Steeleye Span on Thursday evening, July 28, 2022 and The Fisherman’s Friends on Friday afternoon, July 29, 2022.