We acknowledge the support and financial assistance of;

Cockersdale

Altemet (Holland)

Band of Two Big Band!

Hamish Birchall

Pete and Lucy Castle

Peter Collins

Bob and Kathy Drage

Bo Foaks

George Frampton

Grensestrøk (from Tenterden & Norway!)

Bob Kenward

Graeme Knight

Life and Times

Bing Lyle and Ben Paley

Penny and Stuart Mack

Mamaliga

The Millen Family (Bethersden area)

No Worries

Sean and Trooper

Emily Slade

John Smedley

Vic and Tina Smith

Tan Tethera

St Nicholas at Wade Hoodeners

Trelfor & Vicki Williams (Wales)

Women in Harmony

The Amazing Zolas

And more

Copperfield Clog,

East Kent Morris, Frog Island Morris,

Hartley Morris, Headcorn Morris,

The Instep Reasearch Team, Invicta Morris,

Kent Korkers, Maenads,

Magog, Motley Morris

The MacLennan Scottish Group

Pork Scratchings, Scrambled Legs,

St. Clement's Clog, Tanglefoot Appalachian,

Wild Hunt Bedlam Morris,

Woodchurch Morris

And still more to be confirmed

Tenterden, situated in the ancient Weald of Kent, about 12 miles west of Ashford, is an ideal venue for this friendly, family folk festival which is now in it's ninth year. Tenterden features one of the widest High Streets in the country and the majority of the buildings are of historic interest and many are listed buildings. There are numerous pub’s, restaurants, hotels and interesting little shops, a steam railway, vineyards and the picturesque Kentish countryside. Where better to enjoy a weekend of traditional English folk song and dance?

The Festival gets off to a flying start on Friday evening with a concert in the Eight Bells, a chance for floor singers and musicians to sing and play in the White Lion Saddlery and also a music session in the bar. There will be more music in the William Caxton. There will be numerous events on Saturday including an English barn dance at Homewood School, concerts and folk clubs, craft fair and street stalls, dance displays with Morris dancers, Appalachian dancers and Scottish dancers, a procession, street theatre and hoodeners, sing-a-rounds and music sessions in several pubs, story telling, workshops, etc. On Sunday there will the very popular acoustic folk club, music in the pubs, Morris dancers and the special "folk trains".

The emphasis remains very much on traditional English folk song and dance. We draw many of our guests from the south east of England, particularly Kent and Sussex, but also include an increasing number of visitors from farther afield as well as guests well known on the national and international folk scene. We also feature European and other "foreign" song and dance particularly where this has a connection with the local area through the material or the performers.

It is very hard and somewhat unfair to pick out a few guests or events from what we think is an excellent programme to highlight. However the Friday evening concert, which has returned to The Eight Bells, offers a chance to see the very popular Martyn Wyndham-Read playing with the No Man's Band and Bing Lyle and Ben Paley on the same bill. Surely an event not to miss. Cockersdale will be at the Festival on Saturday and Sunday making only their second or perhaps third appearances in Kent. You must catch their unaccompanied harmony singing over the weekend.

This year's festival has a European influence with a return visit by Altemet from Holland who made such an impression last year with both their Dutch and English music and an appearance by a relatively new duo Mamaliga who play a mixture of mainly Romanian and Klezmer music. There is also a chance to see Grensestrøk a group from Norway with a local connection as one member originated from Tenterden. We also have Trelfor and Vicki Williams from Wales and The MacLennan Scottish Group who will be showing us their Scottish dances.

Holders of our "Full Weekend" can obtain a generous 50% discount on the K&ES Railway on Saturday and Sunday. Also on Sunday K&ES Railway will again be running special "folk trains" with festival guests to entertain the passengers with a variety of folk songs and music.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

Tenterden Folk Festival is an annual event organised by Tenterden Folk Day Trust, charity number 1038663. The Trust has grown into a local Folk Development Agency. Our objects are to preserve and advance the public education and appreciation of traditional and contemporary folk music, song, dance and other related traditions, crafts and folk arts as part of the living heritage.

Throughout the weekend there will be dance displays going on in the High Street and around the town. There will be at least 25 dance sides including the various forms of Morris as well as clog, Appalachian, Scottish, Molly and other dancers. We are also pleased to have the St Nicholas at Wade Hoodeners making a special appearance at the festival and the return of festival regulars the Amazing Zolas with their clowning, balloons and parachute games. The popular street stalls will be selling their crafts and Kentish products in the High Street on both Saturday and Sunday.

With support from Ashford Borough Council and Kent County Council we provide workshops in schools. Under the tuition of professional performers, we aim to introduce students and children, to English folk song, music, dance, story telling, and the other folk arts.

Music and song in the bar on the second Tuesdays of every month lead by various well-known local performers.

The tenth Tenterden Folk Festival will take place from 4^th to 6^th October 2002.

We will provide, or advise on, the folk content in other community or Council events.

Last updated 25^th August 2001