Derby Folk Weekender – Fringe Programme Announcement
Fri 27 Sep 2019
With the Derby Folk Weekender just next week, excitement is building for this year’s festival which boasts internationally-renowned folk artists on its programme.
Alongside the main event, which runs from Friday 4 – Sunday 6 October the Weekender’s fringe has always been a popular amongst lovers of folk music and this year is set to be no different.
Friends of the festival, Furthest From the Sea will be curating and running the outdoor fringe stage on Derby’s Market Place, with free music throughout the Saturday and Sunday.
The fabulous team from Folk 3D will have put together a programme of dance to which will run in both St Peter’s Quarter and the Cathedral Quarter on Saturday from 10:30am – 3pm and Sunday 11am – 1.45pm. Dance groups include Ripley Morris, Ripley Green Garters, Stone Monkey / Celebration Clog, Winster Morris, Makeney Morris, Ryknild Rabble and Restless Soles.
On Saturday, the Guildhall Clubrooms will be the place to be when Lester Simpson is brings his wonderful singing workshop at 12:45pm. The workshop is free to holders of any concert ticket, however, capacity is limited so it’s best to get there early to get yourself a place.
In the same venue on Saturday afternoon, Village Folk – who run some excellent folk concerts at The Lawns Hotel, in Chellaston – are once again putting on some wonderful “Folk Club-Rooms” events. The Kimberleys will be performing at 4pm, and then Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith will be on stage at 7.15pm. Concert ticket holders will have free entry, and non-ticket holders will be able to pay on the door - subject to capacity, at what will be very popular events.
Derby Cathedral is hosting a Folk Festival Eucharist on Sunday 6 October at 10:45am where Derby Cathedral Choir will sing music by Ralph Vaughan Williams (whose music was heavily inspired by folk music) and Thomas Ravenscroft accompanied by instrumentalists in the west gallery tradition. This will be a service suitable for all ages with the Ark (the Cathedral’s junior church) and the hymns will all be based on folk melodies.
For some friendly competition, head to the Dog and Moon on Sunday at 1:45pm where Folk 3D will be running the John Birmingham Cup song competition which promises great fun. Entry forms will be available on the day from the venue, or can be found on the festival website.
The Derby Folk Weekender features fourteen folk artists and bands including crowd favourites such as Kitty Macfarlane, Moirai, The Urban Folk Quartet and The Willows.
Tickets for the Derby Folk Weekender concerts from £6 to £14 can be purchased online, at the Sales and Information Centre, Riverside Chambers, Full Street, DE1 3AF or by calling 01332 255 800.