The Gate to Southwell Folk Festival

6th to 8th June 2008

"Festivals come and go, but I think this one's here to stay."
(Vin Garbutt)

Below are general details of performers and prices.

For more information click on the following website link -

 http://www.southwellfolkfestival.org.uk/

The line-up includes top performers from the International folk scene (subject to change)

Bellowhead

Solas

Cara Dillon

Tanglefoot

Maire Ni Chathasaigh and Chris Newman

Jez Lowe and the Bad Pennies

Rachel Unthank and the Winterset

Bob Fox

422

Bill Caddick

Kerfuffle

All Blacked Up

Brooks Williams

Flossie Malavialle

Ruth Notman

Gareth Pearson

Quicksilver

Dr. Sunshine

Something Nasty in the Woodshed.

 

Plans are well advanced for Southwell's second folk festival, to coincide with the annual Gate to Southwell procession of Morris dancers to Southwell Minster from Nottingham city centre. The three day folk festival will be held on an 8.5 acre site next to the town’s workhouse on June 6th - 8th

History of the Gate to Southwell

The Gate to Southwell dates back to 1109, when the Archbishop of York wrote to every parish in Nottinghamshire asking for contributions for the building of Southwell Minster. The procession was their public way of handing over what became known as the Southwell Pence.

In its modern form, the Gate to Southwell began in 1981, when Morrismen revived the custom. The Southwell Pence are collected from the Lord Mayor of Nottingham and handed over at the Minster.

The event is accompanied by teams of traditional dancers, who then process through the town, singing and dancing at pubs along the way. It is intended to route the procession to the festival site, where the teams will perform before the evening concerts begin. More..

Other events

In addition to performers in the main marquee, there will be an open mike session marquee, a dance display area, children’s and youths’ events, singarounds, and opportunities to meet the artists.

There will be entertainments for children and the first day of the festival will include a children’s education day followed by performances and a ceilidh in the evening. Traditional music and dance teaching will take place in schools in the area in the run-up to the event, conducted by several of the leading performers.

A craft fair and food stalls and various other shops will be on site to make your visit even more enjoyable. Entry to this area and the second marquee will be free until 5pm each day. A list of stalls can be seen here. Admission to the second marquee after 5pm will be £5 per day per person.

There will also be workshops and sessions throughout the town, and it is hoped the Workhouse, a National Trust Property, can be used for some of these. For more details, click here

The festival will include a beer and cider festival, with about 40 beers, mostly from micro breweries, and will include several specially commissioned brews.

See you there!

A limited number of free tickets are available for people prepared to offer accommodation for artists and who are prepared to act as stewards. For further information and ticket prices, click the email link on the menu above. Click >here< for a Steward's Application form.

Copyright © GTSFF 2008.

Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information given, we cannot be responsible for any errors.