The programme for this year's Tenterden Folk Festival, which runs from 3^rd to 5^th October, includes more guests and events throughout the day on the Sunday from 10 a.m to 11.00 p.m.

The list of Sunday events already includes the following;

• Craft fair and folk sales in the Assembly Rooms of the Town Hall from 10 a.m.
• More stalls in the High Street also from 10 a.m.
• Informal dance displays by the remaining Morris sides
• An acoustic folk club upstairs in the Eight Bells in the morning
• A show case of English songs in the Woolpack Hotel at lunch time
• Music session in the White Lion at lunchtime
• A sacred heart workshop in the Zion Baptist Church in the afternoon
• The Homewood Concert in the new Community Theatre at Homewood School from 5.00 p.m.
• The final sing-a-round in the bar of the Eight Bells in the evening
• There may well be other events the details of which have not yet been finalised.

The acoustic folk club will again be run by Kathy and Bob Drage and will feature festival guests including Johnny Collins, Graeme, Knights, Women in Harmony, Vicki and Trefor Williams and as many floor singers as can possibly be fitted into the time and space! This event is extremely popular and attracts a wide variety of floor sings, musicians, storytellers and other folk performers.

The Sacred Heart workshop is a new event to the festival and will be lead by Tony Singleton and members of the group, The Marsh Warblers. The workshop is based on songs from the book, The Sacred Harp. The songs are sung in four-part harmony and have been described as "White Spirituals". Sung for over two centuries in the States, they are gaining an increasing following in this country. With their driving rhythms and folk harmonies, they attracted the attention of the Young Tradition (Wondrous Love) and the Watersons (Idumea). Beginners and experienced singers are all welcome to come along and join in this workshop, but it would be helpful to have a moderate music reading ability or to be able to pick up a tune quickly by ear. All music will be provided and the workshop will be illustrated with recordings.

The Homewood Concert will be one of the highlights of the Festival. The traditional Romanian brass band, Fanfare Ciocărlia, will be headlining in this special concert. The band will be touring the UK at that time and were keen to include an appearance at an English folk festival. This unique concert will be held in the new Community Theatre at Homewood School and has been made possible by generous sponsorship from Homewood School to whom we are extremely grateful.

Hailing from the secluded village of Zece Prajini in mountainous eastern Romania, near the Moldovan border, Fanfare Ciocărlia embodies all the bravura and vertiginous speed of Roman Gypsy brass band music. The band has become an international sensation since the world music network first caught wind of their hyper horn hoe downs, typically clocking in at a feverish 150 beats per minute. Playing a mixture of styles from the Balkans, the band plays with demonic speed. Their high-spirited music comprises a lively blend of traditional dances from Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Macedonia and Turkey played on horns, trumpets, clarinets and timpani. As well as from their own traditional music, the group take up current melodies from movies between Bollywood and Hollywood as well as adapting international radio hits to Fanfare Ciocărlia's very own style.

Over the last four years Fanfare Ciocărlia have released three CDs, entered music charts and received excellent reviews for their CDs and live performances. The band has toured incessantly around the world, playing in major cities like Tokyo, London, Amsterdam, Moscow, Montreal and New York. They have performed in festivals such as WOMAD, the Montreal Jazz Festival, and at Cartagena's Mar de Música, just to name a few. And now they are to appear in Tenterden at this year's Tenterden Folk Festival!

Representing the English tradition at this concert will be Derby based folk singer and storyteller, Pete Castle who is celebrating 25 years as a full time professional folk musician this year. Pete originates from Ashford and played with local "pop" groups in the 1960's. Pete is ably suited to open this concert as besides being a well known and respected exponent of the English tradition he has also played with the Anglo-Romanian folk group Popeluc in both England and Romania so listen carefully for one or two surprises.

FULL WEEKEND TICKETS admit holders to all events on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. COST: Before 1st Sept. £15.00 (under 16's £8.00). After 1st Sept. £17.00 (under 16's £9.00).

INDIVIDUAL EVENT TICKETS will also be available in advance, and, space permitting, may be available on the door of the event. Enquire for details in September. tff@Folkspots.btinternet.co.uk or visit www.folkspots.btinternet.co.uk. If you intend coming to more than one event it is often best to buy the full weekend ticket as this can work out cheaper, will offer a 50% discount on the K&ES steam railway and numbers of single event tickets will be limited.

Make cheque payable to; "Tenterden Folk Day Trust" and send with two large s.a.e to; Tenterden Folk Festival, 15 Repton Manor Road, Ashford, Kent, TN23 3HA

The latest details of the Festival will be posted on our web page at www.folkspots.btinternet.co.uk

To receive our regular email updates send an email to tff@Folkspots.btinternet.co.uk with "add to festival news list" in the subject box.

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

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