This major folk arts festival, returning for its 45th year, features a professional programme of folk and roots music, ceilidhs, international dance teams, family entertainers, workshops and a Children's Festival which incorporates entertainment, music, puppetry, circus skills and craft workshops.
The dates for 2009 are confirmed as the Bank Holiday weekend of Thursday 27th to Monday 31st August.
2009 will see a bigger and upgraded Concert Stage, which will feature The Waterson Family, Edward II, The Spooky Men's Chorale, Karine Polwart Band and many more. The Festival Dance House (FDH) is home for many of the headline bands, and will feature The Imagined Village. For the line-up details as available please click here.
The Towersey 'Showground' will be a good deal bigger and house three new performance stages instead of the traditional seated Arena. The 3 stages spread across the Showground will feature dance displays, music, comedy, magic, puppetry, clowning and storytelling. Musical and comic walkabouts will wander the Showground with stiltwalkers, jugglers and street theatre throughout the weekend. Plus activities from Yoga to Bop Around, through hands on Workshop learning to Concerts, Ceilidhs, Club Sessions.
TICKETS
Tickets are priced as follows:
Adult £88 (Camping £17 extra)
Adult Concession £78 (Camping £17 extra)
Youth (12-17yrs) £58 (Camping £17 extra)
Child (5-11yrs) £44 (Camping FREE)
Day tickets are also available. To buy tickets, click here.
This year the theme of the Ceilidh is Florida with a fusion of swing, jazz, traditional folk, folk rock, and much else besides, Florida have become a distinctive signature sound on the UK scene.
There is a newly sited and improved Children's Centre, the famous Children's Festival and Shooting Roots for Youth, the busy schedule offers hands on learning, a chance to be involved, to loosen up, to meet new friends and even form a band. There's street threatre from Fraser Hooper, The Invisible Men, The Grand Theatre of Lemmings, The Flying Buttresses, and Jelly Roller. Both the Children's Festival and Youth programmes are staged in specially dedicated venues; both have been increased in size and facilities this year and both have a programme packed with opportunities, vision, and skills. Children's entertainers include Pete White's Suitcase Circus, and Poppets Puppets.
New this year is the Acoustic Stage for late night wind downs, new sounds and local acts. The programme runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Camping:
There's a home for hundreds of camping families with Site 1 which is a family,
quiet site, but indeed open to the wider family, i.e. children, youth, aunties, uncles, grandparents and anybody else who forms a family group. A 'Chill Out Zone' is on Site 2, a gathering point in the middle of the site for that 'coffee and book moment' the 'meet you there place', the visual arts, the get away from the hubbub space or just a spot to 'chill'. Campsites 2 and 3 are expected to have better provision for disabled people in 2009 and those who want to stay up late.
Camp sites are for season ticket holders only and will open at noon on Thursday. Please do not arrive in Towersey before then.
There is also a large FREE car park for day visitors, flat with access for the disabled although said to be a bit rough underfoot.
More information will be here when available.
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