Festival features cream of UK folk
08 May 2008
The highlight of the South Wales folk calendar gets underway this weekend with what promises to be one of the best music and dance festivals ever held in Newport.
The 19th Tredegar House Folk Festival from Friday (May 9) to Sunday (May 11) will feature a wide range of dance groups, bands and singers that perform regularly on the European folk music circuit.
The festival is the most important in the calendar for local dance groups, with a total of 19 putting on displays inside the historic house and its picturesque grounds.
Performers include Newport's own BBC Young Folk Award finalists One String Loose, Bridgend-based Mabon, duo Nancy Kerr and James Fagan, Northumbrian pipe band Pippers Wyrd, popular South Wales outfit Ian Day's Albino Frogs and Gwent collective Tan Bach, who recently appeared at the prestigious National Festival for Music for Youth.
Although the weather forecast for this year’s event is good, organisers are confident that rain will fail to stop play, courtesy of £2,500 sponsorship from local employer of the main marquee, the Corus Pavilion.
”Without Corus's support, we would not be able to have a marquee for our festival,” said dance organiser and chair Sue Oates. “This is very important for us – somewhere to hold our evening ceilidhs and concerts. Without it, in wet weather we would have to cancel the events. The weather plays an important part, but having the larger Corus Pavilion has made a huge difference.”
Corus Community Spokesman Keith Farron, said: “The Tredegar House Folk Festival is firmly established as a highlight in the cultural calendar of Newport and the wider South Wales area.
“Corus is keen to give something back to the communities in which its employees live, and we are delighted to be involved with such an exciting local and international event.”
Dance groups which have confirmed include: Gwerinwyr Gwent, Isca Morrismen, Cwmni Gwerin Pont-y-Pwl, Boojum (rapper), Chequered Flag (Appalachian), Cobblers Awl (Clog), the Brandywine Cloggers (Appalachian), Playford Assembly, Alive And Kicking (Appalachian), Flamenco, Clocs Canton, O'Donnell Irish Dancers, Newport International Dancers, India Dance Wales, Jawahir (Middle Eastern), Jawahir Juniors (Middle Eastern), Newport Salsa, Ty Sign School, St Mellons School and Tiger Feet (Appalachian).
The festival will have a real ale bar courtesy of CAMRA. For tickets and further information, contact: Sue Oates on 01633 246241, e-mail: susieoates@bushell100.fsnet.co.uk; website: www.tredegarhousefolk.ik.com
