Fiddle Festival 2008

Held in the National Trust’s Stackpole Centre, Pembrokeshire, the Fiddle Festival takes place four days from Thursday, 28th August until Sunday, 31st August as a unique gathering of fiddle musicians in Wales.

The Fiddle Festival is a residential event and has over the past four years developed a community of fiddlers from various backgrounds, all with an interest in traditional Welsh tunes.

The festival opens on Thursday with a day of workshops especially geared towards young fiddlers (6-14 years), sponsored by the Welsh Amateur Music Federation (WAMF). The evening includes student registration followed by a lecture. Time after this is generally used for socialising and sessions.

Registration for non-resident workshop attendees opens at 9am on Friday with workshops starting at 9.30am. There are two workshops in the morning and one in the afternoon. Friday lunchtime is likely to include a recital, which is open to the public, in the theatre where you can eat and listen for a small charge.

The afternoon workshops are expected to finish at around 3.30pm to allow musicians time to walk around the lily ponds, or the cliffs, to go off to the beach or visit Pembroke's 900-year-old castle.

The Showcase Concert which follows supper, takes place in the theatre which is open to the public. After the concert, it is likely that another session will start up somewhere in the vicinity.

Saturday’s structure will be the same as Friday, with fiddle music at lunchtime, and the Welsh Celtic Fiddle Competition in the evening in the Stackpole Centre.

Sunday's workshop session begins at 10:30am. There will also be a chance to perform at the local St Twynnell's church service from 11am as festival participants have become an annual feature and always have an invite!

Sunday lunch happens at the St Govan’s Inn, Bosherston, and is followed by yet another session.

The Stackpole Centre provides accommodation, workshop and performance areas, with room for relaxation, and the use of leisure facilities, in a comfortable, clean and accessible environment. Meals are priced individually (breakfast - £5; lunch - £6.50; dinner - £9.50).

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