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Warwick Folk Festival
Online Press Kit
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Press Release Archive
Date: 20 July 2011 - for immediate release
Please click here for the latest post-Festival press release with a big selection of downloadable photographs.
Taste and try before you buy tickets for this year's Warwick Folk Festival
Packed programme of music, song and dance comes to town - the very best of tradition in the heart of England.
One of the highlights on the national folk calendar, the Warwick Folk Festival brings top international names to Warwick on Thursday to Sunday July 28-31.
For the first time in its 32-year history, visitors have a chance to take in the atmosphere of the event before committing themselves to full-price event tickets. 'Taster tickets' are available for only £4 (free for under-10s) which provide access to all but the main venues on the Festival site in the grounds of Warwick School, Myton Road.
Between 10am and 6pm, 'taster ticket' holders can get a flavour of the occasion from a big choice of music sessions, small concerts, dance displays, workshops, over 40 craft stalls and the Festival Bar.
Tickets for the big name concerts are available throughout the weekend from the Festival Box Office in the Bridge House Theatre on the school site. Thus year's attractions include England's leading acoustic roots act Show Of Hands on Friday night, the internationally acclaimed celtic-latin band Salsa Celtica on Saturday night and top instrumental duo Spiers and Boden for the Sunday night closing concert.
Running alongside the main site programme, organisers have also set up a packed programme of free events throughout the town centre. The Warwick Fringe includes spectacular dance displays, lively music and song sessions in pubs and restaurants and an open air stage in Market Place for Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon concert by Festival guests.
Says Festival Director, Dick Dixon, 'The Festival presents great family entertainment for all tastes and we think that the taster tickets will provide a great opportunity for people to find out just how much the event has to offer.
Tickets can be booked on the Festival's website - www.warwickfolkfestival.co.uk - or from the Festival Box Office on 01926 776438.
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Notes for Editors
Photos available to download - just click on links :
Show of Hands featuring (L-R) Phil Beer, Steve Knightley, Miranda Sykes (1.35Mb).
Salsa Celtica (393Kb).
John Spiers and Jon Boden (745Kb).
The Spooky Men's Chorale (637Kb).
ahab (2.07Mb). Please note: ahab's name is spelt in lower case
Date: 30 April 2011
Warwick Folk Festival presents an all-star line-up for a summer weekend of top entertainment
Packed programme of music, song and dance comes to town in July - the very best of tradition in the heart of England.
England's finest acoustic roots act Show Of Hands and top instrumental duo Spiers and Boden are among the big names already lined up for this summer's Warwick Folk Festival.
One of the most popular folk gatherings in the national calendar, the all-star 4-day event takes place Thursday to Sunday July 28-31.
2010 saw more accolades for Show Of Hand's Phil Beer and Steve Knightley. Named Best Duo at the BBC Folk Awards, their repertoire now includes Steve's powerful political commentary Arrogance, Ignorance and Greed which picked up the Best Original Song Award.
Meanwhile, the award-winning John Spiers and Jon Boden have continued to make English traditional music fun, funky and spontaneous, not only as a duo but as key members of the acclaimed folk orchestra Bellowhead.
Celebrity status hasn't gone to their heads however and they're just as comfortable playing sessions during a lock-in at the local pub as they are rocking the main stage of major festivals.
The Festival also sees the long-awaited return to Warwick of the world famous line-up from the Isle of Skye, Peatbog Faeries and the equally famous manly choir from the Australian Blue Mountains, the Spooky Men's Chorale.
And from Edinburgh, Salsa Celtica perform the amazing blend of Scottish and Irish traditional music with Latin American salsa that has won them huge international acclaim.
Popular Anglo-Australian duo Nancy Kerr and James Fagan returns to Warwick as does English concertina and Northumbrian pipes virtuoso Alistair Anderson, Newcastle's top fiddle-player Tom McConville and powerful vocal trio Coope, Boyes and Simpson.
Belshazzar's Feast will be there, combining the talents of Bellowhead's Paul Sartin and Hoover The Dog's Paul Hutchinson.
Following their storming success at last year's Fairport's Cropredy Convention, rising-star alt-country band ahab makes its debut Warwick appearance as does the talented young Derbyshire singer Lucy Ward who is making a huge impact on the folk festival circuit with her lively and often humorous take on traditional songs.
Says Festival Director, Dick Dixon, 'The Festival presents great family entertainment and you don't have to be an specialist fan to enjoy the wide range of music, dance and spectacle that it brings to Warwick each year.
'It's always a popular event and we're confident that 2011 will be our best year yet.'
Ticket prices and booking form are available on the Festival's impressive, new-look website - www.warwickfolkfestival.co.uk
Date: 14 June 2010 - for immediate release
Folk-rock legends Hedgehog Pie return to Warwick Folk Festival after nearly 30 years
Electric folk legends Hedgehog Pie are to make a reunion appearance at Warwick Folk Festival this summer.
The line-up of Mick Doonan, Jed Grimes and Dave Burland will be joined by Phil Murray on bass and percussionist Bryan Ledgard. This is the band's first appearance at this long-established Festival since 1981.
Formed in 1971, they rapidly established themselves as a major force in the British folk-rock scene, alongside such bands as Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span by contributing to the growing interest in folk music by a new generation of fans throughout the decade.
Based in the North East of England, the band went through numerous line-up changes and featured many prominent figures in the folk scene. They built up a big regional national following and their 1978 album, Just Act Normal topped the Melody Maker folk chart.
After a gap of almost thirty years, the band is making one of its first reunion public appearances at the 2010 Warwick Folk Festival, during the weekend of 23-25 July.
Says Festival organiser, Dick Dixon, 'This is a big coup for the Warwick Folk Festival. Many fans remember Hedgehog Pie with great affection and there will be a lot of nostalgic interest in their appearance. And with their full folk-rock line-up, they sound as good as ever!'
Details and festival tickets are available from the Festival Box Office, 01926 776438 or visit the Festival website on www.warwickfolkfestival.co.uk/.
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Notes for Editors
Photos available to download - just click on links :
Hedgehog Pie featuring (L-R) Dave Burland, Mick Doonan, Jed Grimes (590Kb)
Hi-res image of crowds at the 2008 Warwick Folk Festival open air concert in Market Place to see WFF guests Nizlopi (9.6Mb. Photo by Chele Willow)
Crowds at the 2008 Warwick Folk Festival open air concert in Market Place to see WFF guests Nizlopi (561 kb. Photo by Chele Willow)
Date: 14 May 2010
Warwick Folk Festival offers entertainment for all tastes and ages on 23rd - 25th July 2010
Hundreds of musicians and dancers, including some of the top names in British and international folk music, will heading for Warwick on the weekend of July 23-25 to take part in one of the most highly regarded events on the folk calendar.
Now in its 31st year, the annual Warwick Folk Festival has established itself as a leading folk event on the national and international scene, attracting fans from all over Britain and as far afield as the USA and Australia.
This year's headline acts include the award-winning Demon Barber Roadshow, highly acclaimed songwriting and vocal duo, John Tams and Barry Coope, two of Scotland's most powerful new-wave folk bands Lau and Breabach, and leading European exponents of Celtic music from Galicia, Mutenrohi.
The Festival team has also secured two award-winning acts from Canada for a warm-up concert in the Bridge House Theatre, Myton Road on Thursday July 22nd at 8pm. Talented young songwriter Joel Plaskett and new-wave bluegrass line-up The Grass Mountain Hobos will be getting you into the festival mood.
With a fantastic programme packed with music, dance and activities at the festival's main site on the grounds of Warwick School, there are also free concerts lined up in the town's Market Place, a spectacular and colourful dance procession through the town and a street party in Smith Street.
Says Festival organiser, Dick Dixon, 'Warwick Folk Festival has built up a worldwide reputation over the years and you don't have to be a folk music buff to enjoy a memorable weekend of first-class entertainment to suit all tastes and ages.
'Over the years, the event has become very much part of the life and character of Warwick. We are fortunate to have a very good relationship with the town and excellent support from many local sponsors.'
For details of Festival events, ticket prices and further information about the guest artists, visit the Festival's website on www.warwickfolkfestival.co.uk. Tickets can be booked online, or by calling the Festival Box Office on 01926 776438.
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Date: 28 May 2010
A choir from scratch in just six sessions - ready to sing at Warwick Folk Festival
Can't sing? Don't be so sure! Choir master Chris Rowbury invites you to his six week singing safari to collect songs from all around the world and build a choir from scratch to perform at this year's Warwick Folk Festival.
Since its inception in 2006, the singing safari has grown year on year and attracts a huge audience to the performance which this year will be in Market Place, Warwick on Sunday 25th July.
Anyone from 16 to 80 who loves to sing is welcome - whether you just sing in the bath or are already in a choir.
All are invited along for fun rehearsals each Monday from 7.30pm to 9.30pm at St. Nicholas Church, Warwick CV34 4JD starting Monday 14th June (there is ample free parking behind the church in the St. Nicholas public car park).
There are no auditions, no need to read music and nobody will be asked to sing solo. You'll be learning songs from Africa, Eastern Europe, America, the South Seas and beyond - all in glorious, unaccompanied harmony.
There will be a small charge of £25 for the whole series of workshops, final rehearsal and performance. Participants are asked to bring payment to the first rehearsal.
Well known for his informal singing workshops, Chris has proved time and again that everyone can enjoy singing together whatever their background or experience.
He says, 'People who take part in the Warwick Folk Festival singing safari find themselves part of a supportive group. You can have fun and a bit of a laugh, find your natural voice, discover new songs from other cultures, feel the joy of creating rich and vibrant harmonies, sing your heart out and make some new mates.'
If you want to find out more, visit: http://chrisrowbury.com or phone Chris on 024 7665 9180
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Notes for Editors
For interviews please contact:
Chris Rowbury: 024 7665 9180
Dave Allton - Assistant Director: 07973 537289
or email
dave.allton@warwickfolkfestival.co.uk
Photo available to download - just click on link :
Singing Safari in action conducted by Chris Rowbury, Warwick Folk festival 2009 (1.52Mb)
Date: 14 May 2010
Exclusive Warwick Folk Festival screening of Derek Jacobi Morris-dancing movie
This summer offers a unique folk festival opportunity to watch the acclaimed all-star movie, Morris: A Life With Bells On.
Directed by Lucy Akhurst and starring Sir Derek Jacobi, Naomie Harris, Greg Wise and Ian Hart, the film will be screened as part the popular Warwick Folk Festival in one of the event's main venues, the Bridge House Theatre on Myton Road, Warwick.
The first showing takes place just before the Festival itself, on Wednesday 21st July at 8pm. The film will be shown again during the Festival weekend of 23-25 July, although this will be for Festival ticket-holders only. The weekend also offers the first chance to buy the film on DVD a week before its official release.
Described by Ken Russell as 'a near flawless first film', Morris: A Life With Bells On is a heart-warming 'mockumentary' comedy following the ups and downs of Millsham Morris as they pioneer an innovative and daring new form of the tradition - Extreme Morris. Such meddling in ancient rites is frowned on by The Morris Circle, Morris Dancing's governing body and the dancers are forced to take drastic action to survive - with the help of the 'documentary' film-makers themselves!
The Morris movie provides a rare glimpse inside the arcane and admittedly slightly eccentric world of this distinctively English tradition. Funny and engaging, the film has become a massive underground hit, with people queuing to see it in village halls and independent cinemas around the country.
The screening is one of hundreds of events planned for the Festival's packed programme in the grounds of Warwick School and in the streets and pubs of the town centre. This year's headline acts include the award-winning Demon Barber Roadshow, highly praised songwriting and vocal duo, John Tams and Barry Coope, and powerful Celtic musicians from Galicia, Mutenrohi. Other attractions include the 'Piping Convention' a series of concerts and workshops demonstrating numerous versions of pipes and bagpipes, outdoor concerts in the town's Market Place and, not surprisingly, several colourful and spectacular teams of Morris dancers from across the country.
Says Festival spokesman, Dave Allton, 'Warwick Folk Festival has built up an international reputation over the last 30 years of bringing together the wide range of music and dance that could be described as "folk" and presenting them in a superb family atmosphere and a beautiful historic setting. We're confident that this year's Festival will be the best one yet.'
Other events planned for the week leading up to the Festival include a Showcase Concert at the Bridge House Theatre, featuring two winners of this year's Canadian East Coast Music Awards. Singer-songwriter from Nova Scotia, Joel Plaskett and lively swing, bluegrass and blues band The Grass Mountain Hobos perform on Thursday 22nd July. Tickets for the concert are £15 but are available at less than half price if purchased before June 1st as part of the 'Weekend-plus' ticket. Details of all prices and discounts are available on the Festival website, www.warwickfolkfestival.co.uk.
Tickets for the Wednesday screening of Morris: A Life With Bells On are £5 and can be booked from the Bridge House Theatre box office on 01926 776438. Or book online on www.bridgehousetheatre.co.uk.
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Date: 1 May 2010
Piping hot music at Warwick Folk Festival
The pipes are calling at this year's Warwick Folk Festival.
Smallpipes, Highland pipes, Northumbrian pipes, Uilleann pipes, French bagpipes, even the Czech Bohemian Bock will be among the wide range of instruments to be demonstrated at the Pipes Convention which forms part of the popular festival on the weekend of July 23-25.
Now in its 31st year, the Warwick Folk Festival has put the spotlight on a range of traditional instruments over the years, presenting concerts, workshops and special demonstrations by skilled masters.
With talented new line-ups giving greater exposure to a wide range of pipes, this year's Festival offers a great opportunity to feature this most powerful and emotive folk instrument.
Festival guests who specialise in the pipes include the talented young Scottish line-up Breabach, international Gaelic band Daimh, Birmingham-based Irish pipe Aiden O'Brien and Viennese master of various European pipes, Albin Paulus.
The packed three-day programme will include friendly and informal workshops by Festival guests with tips and demonstrations on how to play the pipes and a chance to 'have a go' on student instruments.
The Warwick Folk Festival takes place in various venues across the historic town of Warwick although main events are based in the grounds of Warwick School, which also provides first-class facilities for camping. Tickets can be booked online on www.warwickfolkfestival.co.uk or by calling 01926 776438.
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Notes for Editors
Photos available to download - just click on links :
Albin Paulus (1.01Mb)
Breabach (2.94Mb)
Date: 15 March 2010
Warwick Folk Festival and Action 21 working together for a greener Warwick
Warwick Folk Festival and Leamington sustainability organisation Action 21 are working together to provide a full recycling service at this year's Festival on July 23-25.
Formed in 1996 as an Agenda 21 group in response to the international Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Action 21 promotes sustainable living in Warwickshire. Warwick Folk Festival is pleased to be part of the growing list of organisations who now work with Action 21 to create a better quality of life through greener living.
Now in its 31st year, Warwick Folk Festival attracts fans and musicians from across the world to enjoy three days of music, dance and entertainment for all ages. The main Festival events take place in the grounds of Warwick School on Myton Road, Warwick, which is also the location for the craft stalls, food stalls and campsite accommodating thousands of Festival visitors and artists.
For this year's event, Action 21 will be providing their expertise in the recycling of waste on the site, maximising its use to promote sustainability. Throughout the Festival weekend, Action 21's team of volunteers will collect and recycle litter and provide information to visitors about their local projects and initiatives.
Says Warwick Folk Festival spokesman, Dave Allton, 'This is an exciting development for us and something that we've wanted to do for a long time. Our partnership with Action 21 will ensure that the Festival has a positive impact not only on the economy and community life of our host town but also on its environment.'
For more details about the work of Action 21, visit their website on www.action21.co.uk. The Warwick Folk festival website is on www.warwickfolkfestival.co.uk.
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Date: 26 November 2009
Another award for Warwick Folk Festival
- Festival praised by national association for its work with the community.
- Vital role of folk music in economic development
Warwick Folk Festival has been recognised for its achievements in working with local communities to promote folk music.
The national award for community engagement was presented to Dick Dixon, Festival Director, at the annual conference of the Association of Festival Organisers held last weekend in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire. The Festival was praised for its work in the town of Warwick where it has established a vital role for folk entertainment in the economic development of the town.
This comes as the Festival team starts preparations for its 31st event in July 2010 and finalises a 5 year plan aimed at continuing the successes of the previous 30 folk festivals.
Dick Dixon said: "The Award is great. It's good to have that recognition from the folk industry and it reminds us that local traders and the town of Warwick are among our best friends.
"It's always important to have the right artists in place, but we're also recognising the opportunity we have to make some difference for the future. Even after 30 years, there's more that we can do and more that we can learn."
Top of the agenda for the year ahead will be more involvement for young people, as performers, organisers and festival goers, and the start of a campaign to reduce the Festival's carbon footprint. Festival organisers are keen to listen to any ideas about energy-saving measures and to hear from local schools who would like to know more about the Festival.
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Notes for Editors
Photos available to download - just click on links :
Dick Dixon - Festival Director (165 kb)
Crowds at the 2008 Warwick Folk Festival open air concert in Market Place to see WFF guests Nizlopi (561 kb. Photo by Chele Willow)
Date: 5 May 2009
Music and dancing in the streets for Warwick Folk Festival's 30th anniversary in July
- Dance displays to include performance by two 4-metre high giants
- Festival Director honoured as Freeman on the Town of Warwick
Spectacular Celtic music in the Market Place, a celebration of dancing from across the globe and a performance by two Catalan giants - these are some of the events included in a packed and lively programme planned for this year's 30th anniversary Warwick Folk Festival on the weekend of July 24-26.
Tickets are already selling quickly for this milestone occasion which is expected once again to attract some 20,000 visitors to the historic town of Warwick including hundreds of musicians, dancers and entertainers.
Among the top names in British and international folk music appearing this year are acclaimed singer and songwriter Kate Rusby, the phenomenal Australian choir Spooky Men's Chorale, fiddle ace and this year's winner of the BBC Folk Musician Of The Year award Tom McConville, and songwriting legend Eric Bogle, based in Australia and now making his final British tour.
Festival organisers have now announced that the popular and dynamic Celtic band from Wales, Mabon are headlining the free, open air concert in Warwick's Market Place on the Saturday night.
The streets will also tremble to the dancing steps of the Sheffield City Giants, making a return visit to the town. The two giants, named War and Peace were constructed by Catalan craftsman Jordi Grau. Each is four metres high, weighs around 45 kilograms and is carried by a single porter.
They are just part of the colourful programme of dancing lined up for the weekend and this year's Festival will feature a World Dance Convention with workshops, demonstrations and performances of traditional dances from all over the world.
Festival Director, Dick Dixon has been involved since the first gathering in 1979 and has now been admitted as Honorary Freeman of the Town in recognition of his work as organiser and fundraiser for the event. This is the first time that the Town has honored anyone in this way since the Council was formed in 1974.
The Mayor of Warwick, Councillor Anne Mellor made the award during a recent Civic Evening. At the ceremony, she said, 'Dick Dixon will be remembered for his gift to Warwick, the Folk Festival which has now grown into a national event attracting visitors and artists from all over the world.'
Says Dick 'The award is a wonderful honour but the Festival's success is down to the work of a large team of dedicated people and the fantastic support that we've received from the people of Warwick itself over the years.'
The main Festival events take place in the grounds of Warwick School on Myton Road with concerts in the main marquee and the state-of-the-art Bridge House Theatre. But the weekend will also see a packed programme of events in the pubs and precincts of Warwick's historic town centre, from back-room music sessions to free admission open air concerts.
Tickets are available online on www.warwickfolkfestival.co.uk or from the Bridge House Theatre box office on 01926 776438.
The Festival will be supporting WaterAid this year by allowing them to promote awareness of World Water Issues on the campsite. The international charity works in 17 countries providing water, sanitation and hygiene education to some of the world's poorest people.
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Notes for Editors
For further details, interviews and more photographs, please contact:
Dick Dixon - Festival Director: 07831 890905 or email dick.dixon@warwickfolkfestival.co.uk
Pete Willow - Press and PR: 07887 552896 or email press@warwickfolkfestival.co.uk
Click here for transcript of Cllr Mellor, Mayor of Warwick's speech at the award of Honorary Freeman status to Dick Dixon.
Date: 21 January 2009
30-year celebration for Warwick Folk Festival
- Top international acts at milestone occasion for one of the UK's most highly regarded music events
- Folk innovator Jim Moray is new Festival Patron
Warwick Folk Festival celebrates 30 years of first-class folk entertainment this summer.
Hundreds of musicians and dancers, including some of the top names in British and international folk music, are heading for the historic setting of Warwick to take part in one of the most highly regarded events on the folk calendar.
The impressive line-up of guests appearing on the weekend of July 24-26 includes folk diva Kate Rusby, songwriting legend Eric Bogle, phenomenal Australian choir Spooky Men's Chorale, and innovative singer and multi-instrumentalist Jim Moray.
Indeed, 27-year old Moray has accepted the appointment as new Patron of Warwick Folk Festival, taking over from the veteran Warwick-born folksinger June Tabor. A graduate of the Birmingham Conservatoire, his powerful award-winning debut album Sweet England was released in 2003, introducing striking electronic arrangements to English traditional music. His latest album, Low Culture is the Mojo Folk Album of 2008 and is nominated for this year's BBC Folk Awards.
Barnsley singer-songwriter Kate Rusby is another powerful young ambassador for folk music. She has won four BBC folk awards and reached number six in the UK charts with her duet single with Ronan Keating, All Over Again.
Born in Scotland and living in Australia, Eric Bogle wrote the classic folk anthems, The Band Played Waltzin' Matilda and The Green Fields of France, one version of which was a number one hit for The Fureys, keeping them in the Irish charts for 28 weeks.
The 15-piece Spooky Men's Chorale return after delighting Warwick two years ago with their quirky, testosterone-fuelled arrangements of original songs and classics by the likes of Abba and the Rolling Stones.
Warwick Folk Festival started out in 1979 as a single concert and folk dancing session and has grown into a packed programme of events to suit all tastes and ages including music and dance workshops, 'meet-the-artist' sessions, singarounds, music sessions and a wide range of children�s entertainments.
Festival Director, Dick Dixon has been involved since its very beginning when he set up a bar for the festival ceilidh!
He says '30 years is a fantastic achievement for everyone involved and it's a genuine pleasure to see people come back year after year to enjoy our wide-ranging programme of music and dance.
'Warwick attracts audiences and artists of all ages and many of our regulars are people who have grown up with the Festival and now bring their own families. Some of our best supporters - and indeed our new Patron Jim Moray - weren't even born when the Festival started!'
The main Festival events take place in the grounds of Warwick School on Myton Road with concerts in the main marquee and the state-of-the-art Bridge House Theatre. But the weekend will also see a packed programme of events in the pubs and precincts of Warwick's historic town centre, from back-room music sessions to free admission open air concerts.
News of ticket prices and booking arrangements will be announced shortly. Meanwhile, enquiries and requests for information updates can be made on 024 7667 8738 or by visiting www.warwickfolkfestival.co.uk
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Date: 28 July 2008
Hot music and hot weather brings out the crowds for Warwick Folk Festival
The hottest weekend of the year so far brought out the crowds for the Warwick Folk Festival (Fri 25 - Sun 27 July).
Leamington's chart-topping duo Nizlopi were the headline act for a free Sunday concert to an audience that packed the town's Market Place in 26 degrees of sunshine.
The event was just one highlight of a packed programme of music and dance events throughout the town which included concert appearances by Mercury Award nominees Rachel Unthank and The Winterset, folk-rock veterans Oysterband and, following their previous week's appearance at the BBC Proms, award-winning 11-piece folk band Bellowhead.
The Festival finished in party atmosphere in the main stage marquee in the grounds of Warwick School on Sunday night with madcap comedy act The Mrs Ackroyd Band.
Now in its 29th year, the Warwick Folk Festival has built up a reputation as one of the best in the country for its quality of entertainment. What started out as a single concert and folk dancing session back in 1979 has grown into a full weekend of events including music and dance workshops, 'meet-the-artist' sessions, singarounds, music sessions and a wide range of children's entertainments.
Festival Director, Dick Dixon is delighted with the continuing success and popularity of the event. 'We had a fabulous weekend of first-class entertainment by top international artists as well as local acts,' he says. 'A lot of the success is down to the great support we get from the town of Warwick itself and our many partners.
'Next year is our 30th anniversary and plans are already well underway for another spectacular weekend.'
Meanwhile, enquiries and requests for information updates can be made by visiting www.warwickfolkfestival.co.uk
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Date: 12 March 2008
Leading folk acts announced for the 2008 Warwick Folk Festival
The picturesque town of Warwick enjoys the spectacle of first-class folk music and dance when the town's popular Folk Festival takes place on the last weekend of July.
Now in its 29th year, the Warwick Folk Festival features powerhouse band of young virtuoso musicians Bellowhead, veteran folk-rockers Oysterband, Fairport Convention's Dave Pegg with ace guitarist P.J.Wright and award-winning celtic musicians from Scotland, Breabach.
Internationally acclaimed singer and guitarist Bob Fox, and the hilarious Mrs Ackroyd Band are also lined up, as are celebrated and innovative bands Jez Lowe and the Bad Pennies and Rachel Unthank and The Winterset.
Warwick also draws in its extensive pool of local talent with popular and regular acts Keith Donnelly, Kelly Elliott and the bizarrely funny Great Bonzo and Doris among the attractions.
The Festival has built up a reputation as one of the best in the country for its quality of entertainment, attracting fans from all over Britain and as far afield as the USA and Australia. What started out as a single concert and folk dancing session back in 1979 has grown into a packed programme of events including music and dance workshops, 'meet-the-artist' sessions, singarounds, music sessions and a wide range of children's entertainments.
Festival Director, Dick Dixon is keen that Warwick Folk Festival appeals to the widest range of tastes and interests. 'We try to present as many styles as possible,' he says, 'from traditional music and song to contemporary folk rock; and from dance music to world music.
'Warwick also attracts audiences and artists of all ages and many of our regulars are people who have grown up with the Festival and now bring their own families.'
The main Festival events take place in the grounds of Warwick School on Myton Road with concerts in the main marquee and the state-of-the-art Bridge House Theatre. But the weekend also sees a packed programme of events in the pubs and precincts of Warwick's historic town centre, from back-room music sessions to free admission open air concerts.
News of ticket prices and booking arrangements will be announced shortly. Meanwhile, enquiries and requests for information updates can be made on 024 7667 8738 or by visiting www.warwickfolkfestival.co.uk
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