insideKENT Magazine Issue 31 - October 2014 | Page 22

ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT

Tenterden Folk Festival 2014
In its 22nd year, the ever-popular Tenterden Folk Festival (TFF) will once again descend
on the East Kent town from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th October.
Pledging to offer something for all
the family to enjoy, TFF was formed
as a registered charity in 1993 and
aims to promote not only traditional
and contemporary English folk
song, music and dance, but also
crafts and traditions – hence the
number of free events over the long
weekend.
Tenterden is the ideal venue for the
hundreds of Morris dancers, folk
dance display teams, Hooden
horses and more, which line the
streets to take part in the huge
annual procession. To
accommodate, the High Street is
closed off from 3pm on Saturday.

their own region, but not in Kent.
The most prominent of this year’s
local bands are Gentleman of Few,
a young bluegrass band from South
East Kent, and Green Diesel, a folk
rock band from Faversham. Free
showcases will not only take place
on the marquee stage, but also in
the pubs and St Mildred’s Church,
whereby The Yardarm Folk
Orchestra and The Sussex Folk
Orchestra will play on Sunday.
Representing the women is Rosie
May, a singer hailing from Somerset,
who performs traditional folk and
medieval melodies.

Steeleye Span and The Albion
Band, together with Ken Nicol.
Retired sub-mariner, Tom Lewis,
and Tenterden’s own, Mark
Gibson, will support. One of the
most inspiring singer-songwriters
on the folk scene, Jez Lowe, will
return to the town also. You can
find more details and a full
programme of events at
www.tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk.
As well as formal concerts, in 2014 the festival welcomes back a handful
of quirky workshops. This year, Pete Castle will run Links with Lit, during
which attendees will hear stories and songs that have influenced literature,
been influenced by literature, or remind you of works of literature. Back by
popular demand, Gavin and Julie Atkin’s folk music workshop will return
for a second year. This 'class' is open to both new players and those with
some experience, plus it will lead to a public performance at one of the
sessions.

Meanwhile, local bars including The
Vine Inn, White Lion, William Caxton
and Woolpack will be jam-packed
with singers and musicians from
early Friday morning to late Sunday
night for the festival's free song and
music sessions.
Throughout Saturday and Sunday,
Tenterden Recreation Ground will
be the focus of the free outdoor
events. Festivalgoers can enjoy a
large marquee packed with an array
of stalls selling anything from crafts,
musical instruments and CDs, to
speciality foods, real ale,
refreshments and more. Attached
to the marquee will be a free
showcase and dance display stage
too.
Priding itself on supporting
emerging talent, the festival plays
host to acts that are well known in

One of the special events to look out for is Barrack Room Ballads and
other songs of military life, which will represent a themed concert to
commemorate WW1. The event will feature several festival guests including
Dave Webber and Anni Fentiman.
Overseas' guests also taking part in TFF this year are Les Corsaires de la
Vesdre, a sea songs and shanties group from Belgium; festival friends,
Morena Slovak Dancers; and Jon Sanders, the bard of the Bouzouki and
Duke of the Uke.

For more information and to buy tickets, visit
www.tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk. For further information on the
craft fair and stalls, go to www.tenterdencraftfair.org.uk.
In addition to local talent, the festival
organisers also book names that
are well known on the national and
international folk scene. The
Thursday evening pre-festival
concert in Tenterden Town Hall
features folk icon, Ashley Hutchings,
founder of Fairport Convention,

TFF is an independent charity entirely run by volunteers, but
supported by Tenterden Town Council, Ashford Borough Council,
Kent County Council, Shepherd Neame, Hobgoblin Music, Talking
Elephant Records, Philberts, Old Dairy Brewery, Tenterden & District
Chamber of Commerce, plus the venues and people of Tenterden.

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