What is going on in the pubs

Tenterden Folk Festival 2005

Friday 30^th September to Sunday 2^nd October 2005

Programme and tickets:

The programme for Tenterden Folk Festival is now available on our website at www.tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk and tickets are already selling well. The printed version of the programme will be available in early September. The full weekend ticket is now (from 1^st September) £20.00 or £10.00 for under 16s. Individual event tickets are also available as listed in the programme.

What is going on in the pubs:

All the town centre public houses are involved in this year’s Festival providing interest from The Woolpack Hotel at one end of the High Street to The William Caxton at the other and taking in The Eight Bells, The White Lion and The Vine Inn.

The Eight Bells;

Many of the main Festival events take place in upstairs function room of The Eight Bells starting with the “Opening concert” on Friday evening featuring Capella, Pete Coe, Jerry Epstein, Chris Smyth and Bill Whaley and Dave Fletcher, and going through to the “Acoustic Folk Club” on Sunday morning. On Saturday Shirley Collins, our honorary patron, will be presenting the premier of her new illustrated talk provisionally entitled “I’m a Romany Rai” which tells of the songs, music and traditions of Romany gypsies in Kent and Sussex. There is also the very popular “Saturday evening concert” which this year includes sets from Ashley Hutchings' Rainbow Chasers, Pete Castle, Pete Coe and Jerry Epstein. The main bar of the Bells will also be buzzing with music and song throughout the weekend as it is a popular venue for sing-a-rounds.

The Woolpack Hotel;

The Woolpack Hotel is at the centre of events being next door to the Town Hall and adjacent to the lay by which is used for many of our dance displays. The Woolpack will be running a beer festival with 10 local real ales to try and a very popular hog roast at lunchtime on Saturday. For the first time we will also be using the Woolpack barn as a venue for folk sales by some of our sponsors including Talking Elephant Records and Hobgoblin Music. This is in addition to the usual craft fair in the Town Hall and the street stalls in the High Street on Saturday and Sunday. The Woolpack also has a convenient beer garden near to the barn to take a rest, try the hog roast and watch the dance displays. The barn will also be the venue for dance workshops where you can try your hand (or is it feet) at Morris, Scottish and Appalachian dancing. There will also be music from the occasional duo in the bar over the weekend.

The White Lion Hotel;

Friday evenings are always busy in the White Lion and with the addition of folk music in the bar it will certainly be throbbing again this year. On Saturday various events take place in The Saddlery at the side of the hotel including the lunchtime “Saddlery Concert” which offers a chance to see and hear short sets from Eileen Masterson, Marion Button, Peter Collins, Lynne Heraud & Pat Turner and Trefor and Vicki Williams. The bar of the Lion also hosts John Smedley's music session on Saturday. John may no longer be with us but the music session he made popular goes on with John Barden in the chair. There is also “An hour or so with Pete Coe” in the Saddlery on Sunday.

The William Caxton;

The William Caxton at the very bottom of the High Street is not forgotten and will be a part of the weekend’s events. On Friday evening Peter Collins will be there to welcome you with a few songs and it is always a popular venue with Morris sides as they arrive for the weekend. On Saturday dance sides will perform outside and there will be occasional duos singing inside. Also on Saturday Keith Kendrick introduces Jerry Epstein for a conversation and a few songs in the bar.

The Vine Inn;

The Vine Inn will be open for business as normal over the festival weekend and is a popular venue for the dancers who gather in the lay by outside. No events have been programmed in the Vine this year due to their recent changes but I am sure that you will still get a friendly welcome there from the new management.

Next year and entertainments licences;

As you may well know the new licensing rules come fully into force in November 2005 and we do not yet know the full effect this will have on Tenterden Folk Festival 2006. We know that at least most of the public houses and main venues have applied for new licences under the new rules so that our main events are secure. There are still some areas and venues we are unsure about but rest assured Tenterden Folk Festival 2006 will take place from Friday 6^th October to Sunday 8^th October 2006.

The latest details of Tenterden Folk Festival 2005, the full guest list, details of our new camp site and a ticket booking form are on our web site at www.tenterdenfolkfestival.org.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

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Last updated 28^th August 2005