Cheltenham Folk Festival 2009

15 February - The Cheltenham Folk Festival 2009 is coming to Gloucestershire for the 13th time, and folk fans from around the world are snapping-up tickets for what promises to be another highlight in the county’s musical calendar.

Cheltenham Folk Festival 2009 will be celebrating 13 years, getting under way over Valentine’s Weekend this year, with some of the biggest names in the folk music scene gathering in Cheltenham from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 February 2009.

In 1996 Cheltenham Folk Club organiser John Shorter came up with the idea for a mid-winter folk event to banish the winter the blues, wanting to produce an event that preserved the roots of folk tradition, showcased budding new talent and created a family atmosphere all at the same time. Thirteen years on and the Cheltenham Folk Festival has not only become an institution in Gloucestershire’s event calendar, but a folk extravaganza known around the world.

Making their first appearance at the festival this year will be Altan, Breabach, Jeff Davis and The Old Fashioned. Plus, there will be a number of festival favourites welcomed back including BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards nominees Martin Simpson and Faustus, as well as Brian Peters and local band Grand Union.

Daily highlights from this year’s festival, include:

Cheltenham Folk Festival events on Friday 13 February 2009

From 8pm, The Opening Concert at Cheltenham Town Hall will be headlined by Steve Ashley with Robert Kirby and Orchestra in the third outing for this live collaboration, as well as performances by Brian Peters, Sylvia Barnes and Sandy Stanage. Tickets cost £15.

From 11.55pm, the party continues into the wee hours with a performance by Faustus at Cheltenham Town Hall, at the Friday Night Late Night Extra. This event is for weekend ticket holders only.

Cheltenham Folk Festival events on Saturday 14 February 2009

The Cheltenham Folk Festival Unplugged event, featuring some of the festivals guests will take place at Cheltenham Music Library on Chester Walk from 11am, with free entry.

An Hour or So With will see Brian Peters, Damien Barber and Mike Wilson, Jeff Davis, Carol and Gwilym Davies and Richard Sermon, and The Claque all taking to the stage at Cheltenham Town Hall from 11.30am to 7pm. Tickets cost £5 per session.

The Festival Dance with Steamchicken and caller Pete Rees will take place at the Ladies’ College’s Princess Hall from 7.30pm. Tickets cost £8.

The Saturday Main Concert featuring Martin Simpson and Andy Cutting, Breabach, Damien Barber, and Mike Wilson will take place at Cheltenham Town Hall from 8pm. Tickets cost £15.

The Cheltenham Folk Club Saturday Night Concert featuring The Old Fashioned, Brian Peters and Jeff Warner, Sylvia Barnes and Sandy Stanage, The Claque, and Jo Freya is scheduled to take place at Cheltenham Town Hall from 8pm. Tickets cost £8.

Cheltenham Folk Festival events on Sunday 15 February 2009

Breakfast with Breabach is scheduled to kick off the final day of the festival at Cheltenham Town Hall’s Festival Café from 10.30am. Open to day and weekend ticket holders only.

Throughout the afternoon An Hour or So With at Cheltenham Town Hall will see Sylvia Barnes and Sandy Stanage, The Old Fashioned, and The Lauren McCormick Trio all taking to the stage from 1.30pm. Tickets cost £5 per session.

The Sunday Showcase will see Ashley Hutchings` Lark Rise Band taking to Cheltenham Town Hall from 3.45pm. Tickets cost £8.

Bringing Cheltenham Folk Festival 2009 to a close will be the Final Concert, featuring Altan, Hoover The Dog, and The Lauren McCormick Trio at Cheltenham Town Hall from 7.15pm. Tickets cost £15.

The 13th Folk Festival, starting on Friday 13 February 2009, is not the only numerical coincidence at this year’s event. Festival Manager Jo Heatley added: ‘There are 13 festival venues in the town centre this year and 13 Morris Dance Sides appearing. We realised there was a theme developing when our 13th stallholder confirmed for the market place, and local breweries including Battledown and Goffs will also have 13 real ales on offer too’.

While the number 13 may be unlucky for some, folk fans from across Gloucestershire will be counting their blessings at having such a rich and varied programme scheduled in Cheltenham once again this year.

Event: Cheltenham Folk Festival 2009
Venue: Cheltenham Town Hall and at venues across Cheltenham. See above for more information.
Dates: Friday 13 to Sunday 15 February 2009
Times: Vary per specific event, see above for more details
Tickets: Vary per specific event, see above for more details. Weekend tickets are also available, ranging in price from £35 to £66, as well as day tickets, ranging from £15 to £40. For tickets and more information call Cheltenham Town Hall box office on 0844 576 2210.

SoGlos.com
6 January 2009