Annual folk weekend at Helmsley (From Gazette & Herald)

Annual folk weekend at Helmsley

11:33am Wednesday 7th September 2011 in News

A FESTVAL of folk is heading to Helmsley this month as the arts centre throws open its doors to folk and acoustic musicians from near and far.

Luminaries of the genre will headline at the annual folk weekend which starts on Saturday at 7.30pm and which will feature concerts, singarounds and sessions galore with the organsiers promising something for all tastes.

The weekend starts with the Songs from the North concert with singer and TV star John Tams, perhaps best-known for his performances in the BBC drama Sharpe alongside Sean Bean. He will be performing at the festival with Barry Coope.

Scarborough’s Anna Shannon also performs on fiddle and guitar, as well as Northumberland songwriter Simon Haworth and traditional Hull singer Steve Gardham.

The Transatlantic Traditions concert, on Saturday, October 1, is already proving popular, with both sides of the Atlantic represented by Debby McClatchy, an ‘old-time’ performer from the US, and the Belfast super-group Craobh Rua, with their mix of traditional and contemporary songs and patter.

The final headline concert takes place from 2.45pm on Sunday, October 2 in partnership with BBC Radio York, with the Sunday Songwriters drawing together award-winning north-east songwriter Jez Lowe and internationally-acclaimed Steve Tilston, as well as Ryedale’s finest David Swann who will be performing with Hissyfit, an East Riding close harmony duo fast gaining a reputation on the national scene.

Apart from the headliners, there will be daytime concerts from local and national artists such as the Ampleforth Celidh Band, Kate Bramley and Robin Garside as well as many other sessions in the arts centre café bar and the nearby Feathers Hotel.

The weekend is being organised in partnership with Badapple Theatre Company and Tyneside Breweries and for more information go to www.helmsleyfolkweekend.co.uk