Woodford Folk Festival 2008
By Gerrard Anning
Jan 11, 2008, 14:23
Woodford Folk Festival – Sunday May 4 and Monday May 5 at the Woodford Community Centre, Chester Road, Woodford, Near Stockport. Come along and enjoy a weekend of traditional and contemporary folk music, dance and family entertainment in a relaxed and friendly environment.
The Festival starts Midday Sunday, starting with Morris Dancing, sing-arounds in the Woodford Centre and at the Davenport Arms. Other events include an open – mic session, children’s entertainment and music workshops. All are welcome to these free events. .
Throughout the Festival there will be a bar and snacks and light refreshments will also be available.
Sunday evening’s concert features Cherish the Ladies. This Very talented Irish-American band has a spectacular blend of instrumental talent, beautiful vocals, captivating arrangements and stunning step dancing. All of which are put forth in an immensely humorous and entertaining package. They are a definite must see. Our main guests will be supported by our very own local duo Judy and Dave, aka ‘Sad Pig’ and they are anything but miserable swine’s!!!!!! They are one of the best contemporary folk duos around. They can put an interpretation on a song like no other and make it their own that will stir the emotions and then there are those songs where they just get the audience singing. Their musical talent is combined with their unique sense of humour that will bring a smile to everyone in the audience. Those regulars at Porkies Folk Club will know exactly what I mean. For those who have not seen them before you are in for a treat. The evening finishes with a chance to meet and informal sing around in the bar area.
Monday, midday onwards, also has a number of free events such as sing arounds and dance displays at the Woodford Centre and Davenport and there will be more music workshops and children’s entertainment. A special feature for May Day will be dancing around the Maypole and everyone who wishes to will be invited to take part.
Monday evening the festival finale will be a Grand Ceilidh, hosted by the Kellyody and the caller will be Suzy Whitehead. Kellyoddy grew out of Poynton Jemmers North West Morris side where Dave Whitehead and Anton Bryant met as musicians some 25 years ago. Their better halves danced with Poynton Jemmers and are also in the band, Suzy Whitehead is the caller, and Anne Bryant adds percussion. Another local musician, Zeb Davies, has recently joined the band on rhythm guitar. Playing melodeons, electric and acoustic guitars, and percussion, they play English, Celtic and French tunes with a “bit of wellie” to make you dance, quoting their musical influences over the years as Blowzabella, Oyster Band and Gas Mark 5. Suzy’s calling is sympathetic to beginners and experts alike and a Kellyoddy ceilidh is played for maximum enjoyment, rather than precision dancing!
Tickets for the evening concert are £14 and £8 for the Ceilidh
For all you keen dancers and fun-lovers we are holding a pre-festival ceilidh at the Woodford Centre on February 23rd. The evening will be hosted by the very popular All Blacked Up. They are one the top ten Ceilidh bands in the country and their reviews give you a taste of what promises to be an extremely lively and entertaining evening……….
“All Blacked up …Bring Jazz and R&B to an infectious traditional English groove”…Barry Callaghan: Hardcore English.
“Exceedingly Tasty Music”….Green Man Review
Ticket price for the evening is £8.
For more details about the festival and our pre-festival ceilidh go to our web site www.woodfordfolkfestival.co.uk
Box office telephone number is 01625 872539
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