The Festival Directors view of Tenterden Folk Festival 2004.

 

Tenterden Folk Festival 2004 was the 12th Festival organised by Tenterden Folk Day Trust and was probably the best supported so far.  There were a record number of Morris sides present including some from further a field than usual, as well as Aldbrickham Clog & Step Dancers, MacLennan Scottish Group, Tanglefoot Appalachian and The Morena Slovak Dance Company.  Tickets sales were up substantially and street collections reached a new record for the weekend.  The fact that, for the first time, we were able to offer a slightly more organised camping field, may have contributed to this success so that is something we intend to try to build on in future years.  The weather was not too bad either. 

 

As usual, much of the success of the Festival over the actual weekend is due to the dedication and support of the small band of committee members, volunteer stewards and other helpers and supporters who work for several days before and after the Festival getting everything ready, as well over the weekend.   Particular mention must be made of some of these people.

 

Dave and Eileen Masterson joined the Committee last year and Dave, a little reluctantly it must be said, agreed to step in as dance co-ordinator for the weekend.  Eileen also agreed to be involved in the “ladies” concert.  Unfortunately one of the guest groups, Pecking Order, had to cancel at short notice due to illness leaving us one act down for the Friday night concert at Homewood School.  I rather surprised Dave and Eileen by asking them to stand in and I think that I was the only one of the three of us who was confident that they could do it.  Thank you very much Dave and Eileen for proving that I was right to ask you.

 

In the years that he has been involved Martin Lawrenson has made himself invaluable to the Festival with his wealth of local knowledge and contacts and his willingness to do any job that he is asked to do and many that he sees need doing but is not asked to do.  Martin has been involved in collecting, stewarding, moving barriers, helping set up equipment and much more.  This year he learned a new skill to put on his C.V. that of stage erector.  We could do with more like him.   

 

The success of the bar at the barn dance is down to Ian Wookey who also seemed to be everywhere and doing everything.  Bob and Kathy Drage and the small but distinguished group of very hard working stewards all deserve a special mention.  Also Anne Thomas for her work organising the VIP reception which is our chance to say thank you to Borough and Town Councillors, sponsors and other supporters of the Trust.  Gail Wright, as always did an excellent job in organising the craft fair which she starts planning many months ahead.  Thank you to everybody who gave so freely of their time and energy, including all the dancers, musicians and singers, stewards and to every body who attended the Festival.

 

Finally thanks also go to the police, the staff at the Town Hall and Tourist Information Centres, the staff and landlords at all the venues, the Councillors and officers  at Tenterden Town Council and Ashford Borough Council and of course the town and people of Tenterden. 

 

What were the highlights of this year’s Festival?   I do not think I am in a position to really say as, like the other committee members and stewards, I did not get to see the whole thing.  In my case just snippets of lots of things.  Perhaps you should be telling me what you thought.

 

On Friday evening the Homewood concert was reasonably well attended with local people as well as local folkies and early arrivals.  I was pleased to see more local people attending the concert and then to see those same people at other events over the weekend.  We hope to make more use of the Sinden Theatre in the future.  Also on Friday the events in the town centre public houses were busy.

 

Saturday is always the busiest day and this year was no exception.  The music and song sessions in the pubs got going early and some just seemed to keep going until closing time.  The dance displays and procession were very colourful with a wide variety of dance styles.  The new stage outside the Town Hall and the dance floor behind the Woolpack worked well as did the stage in the Eight Bells where the concerts were well attended and the guests lived up to expectations.  Shirley Collins talk “America across the water” held the attention of a crowed room.  One or two of the workshops were poorly attended but we knew they were rather specialist and of limited appeal.  The Barn Dance at the Leisure Centre did not seem to draw quite as many people as usual (why?) but was still very successful with around 100 people. 

 

Sunday is a quieter day but is building up slowly and the availability of camping should help.  The weather was very unkind and some people who had intended staying decided to go as it was too wet to dance and others were worried about getting caravans out of the camp site.  The pub sessions went well and I managed to catch a short set by Jali Sherrifo Konteh from The Gambia and he was very worth seeing and hearing.

 

 

Alan Castle

Trustee and Festival Director

 

 

Bob Kenward’s view of the Festival

“Thanks for the whole thing! All the sessions and concerts seemed to go really well.  The concert venue (The Sinden Theatre) was superb, and once Bo had got out his gear and taken the desk the sound was everything you could ask for - no fuss, just reliably good sound going out and on stage (thanks Bo). Excellent lights and seating too.  When the bar is built it'll be ideal.  The 'acts' were well received, and Eileen and Dave (Masterson) were pretty brave, I think.  They certainly performed well. Mick and Pete I enjoyed, not least because they sing the traditional repertoire so well.  Mick's song writing workshop was by far the best of these I've attended - he put up a couple of his own songs for criticism and gave very useful advice to Mark in 10 seconds flat, also a good handout.  Capella, too, were warm with the audience, not easy to do when you can't see them (due to the spot lights). Sara Grey was her usual self, very professional and engaging.  I pitched into the sing-a-rounds and by all accounts the other sessions were full, too. The Hastings bunch were requesting a music session on the Friday & Saturday night - maybe it's up to them to offer to run them?  Another success!”

 

 

 

Tenterden Folk Festival 2004 was supported, and/or partly funded by;

Ashford Borough Council, Tenterden Town Council,  The Co-operative Group, Courtfield Audio, Sinden Theatre, Talking Elephant Records, Tenterden Leisure Centre, Waitrose, Mr & Mrs Henry Edwards and an increasing number of businesses and organisations.  The Festival could not happen without the support and co-operation of the landlords of all the public houses.

 

 

 

Forthcoming events:

Sinden Theatre Folk Concerts

Tom Lewis in concert supported by Woodchurch Morris Men- Saturday 26th February 2005

All tickets £5-00 in advance.

 

 

Tenterden Folk Festival 2005

Friday 30th September to Sunday 2nd October

We have already started making plans.

 

 

The latest details of the Festival and the full guest list will be posted on our web site at www.folkspots.btinternet.co.uk

To receive our regular email updates send an email to folkspots.btinternet.com with "add to festival news list" in the subject box.

 

 

Join the mailing list by sending a s.a.e. to Tenterden Folk Festival (mailing list)

Alan Castle, Tenterden Folk Day Trust, 15 Repton Manor Road, Ashford, Kent, TN23 3HA

 

 

 

Return to top of page

Return to Festival 2004 index

  

Last updated 10th December 2004

Copyright © Tenterden Folk Festival 2004