Tenterden Folk Festival 2009

Tenterden, situated in the ancient Weald of Kent, about 12 miles west of Ashford, is a friendly, family folk festival. Tenterden features one of the widest High Streets in the country, lined with historic and listed buildings, numerous pubs and restaurants and green verges. Events which will take place around the town centre, in the pubs, the Tenterden Club, the Assembly Rooms, the Kent and East Sussex Railway and other suitable halls.

The acts announced so far include Band of Two, Bob and Gill Berry, Pete Castle, Colin and Karen Cater, Graeme Knights, Craig, Morgan, Robson, Paul and Liz Davenport, Phil Drane, Geckoes with caller Will Hall (Friday evening Barn Dance), Derek Gifford, Mo Keast (Cornwall), Geoff Higginbottom, Keith Kendrick, The Millen Family, Sylvia Needham, One Sheet Short, Brian Peters, Vic and Tina Smith, Nibs Van der Spuy (South Africa), Viki Swan and Johnny Dyer, Tinkers Bag, Ticklish Allsorts Show, Andy Turner, Jeff Warner (USA), and Trefor and Viki Williams (Wales). Plus festival regulars including John Barden, Marian Button, Peter Collins, Bob and Kathy Drage, Les Elvin, Bo Foaks, Bob Kenward, Marsh Warblers, Dave Mason, Adrian O', Roger Resch, Chris Roche, Simon Hopper Band (t.b.c.), Andy Smythe, Spare Parts Concertina Band, and The Travelling Folk.

Johnny Collins was booked to appear with his close friend and frequent singing partner, Graeme Knights, who has offered to present a short tribute to Johnny who died in July. This has provisionally been named as "Remembering Johnny" and will take place immediately before the "Shanty and sea song session" which Johnny and Graeme were programmed to take part in on Saturday afternoon.

One of the highlights of this year's Festival is likely to be the special show including 'Oysters Girls and Hovelling Boys – Folk songs and music from Kent' with Marian Button, Pete Castle, Bob Kenward and Roger Resch, Dave Mason, The Millen Family and Andy Turner. And the Woolpack marquee stage which will have various showcase spots including; Les Elvin, Simon Hopper Band, Andy Smythe and more to be announced.

The festival also plays host to a wide selection of Morris sides representing most of the different Morris styles, plus traditional singing workshops, folk trains (musicians and other performers on the steam train) and English Barn Dance.

Expect a Friday evening concert at the Tenterden Club, regular music showcase spots in the garden of the Woolpack on both Saturday and Sunday, a Saturday evening concert at the Sinden Theatre, and possibly a concert on Sunday afternoon in the Tenterden Club.

Tenterden Folk Festival will also include a procession of Morris and other folk dancers, street entertainers, giants, and mascots on Saturday 3rd October. The procession is a walking procession and leaves Recreation Ground Road at 3pm to process to the Coach Park in Station Road and does not include motor vehicles. Following the procession there will be a display by some of the 40 plus Morris sides and other folk dance display teams attending the festival.

TICKETS:
Full weekend tickets for Tenterden Folk Festival which admit the holder to all events on Friday, Saturday and Sunday are priced at £30 (under 16's £15). Camping is not included. To download a booking form in PDF format, click here.


All the events in the White Lion, the Woolpack, the Woolpack Marquee and the Vine are usually free as are all the dance displays around the town and the procession. Entry to the craft fair in the Town Hall and the Music Fayre in a new venue the Main Hall of Tenterden Junior School are also free and there will be more stalls in the High Street as usual.

Using the school offers a chance to expand the number and variety of music stalls including a luthier from Eastbourne who will be displaying his individually hand made guitars and other stringed instruments. Most of the regular stall holders will also be there including Hobgoblin, Talking Elephant, Thrift Music and Hedingham Fair. The organisers are also planning to have displays of Morris dance in the school car park to cope with the increasing number of teams attending the festival.

For the children Ticklish Allsorts will be on hand on both Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday their shows will take place in St Mildred's Church Hall in Church Road while on Sunday their show will be held at the showcase marquee in the grounds of the Junior School in Recreation Road. Events should include a traditional Punch and Judy Show, an appearance by Mr Tickles, as well as walkabouts, talkabouts and street theatre shows.

Lunchtime or evening sing-a-rounds or music sessions take place in the Woolpack, White Lion, Vine, William Caxton or Tenterden Club. Festival goers can join in the tunes being played by musicians who will be there from Friday evening to late Sunday night. These events are very much participatory but attendees can also come along and listen.

There will also be the hundreds of Morris dancers attending the Festival with 50 sides expected at its peak on Saturday. These will include men's sides, women's sides and some mixed sides and take in all the various styles of Morris including Cotswold, Border, Molly, clog and garland, as well as Appalachian, Scottish and Slovakian dancers. One of the many highlights will be the procession on Sunday which will include most of the dancers present. Many of the dancers will be staying on for Sunday as well.

This year's workshops will, amongst others, include a harmony workshop with Craig, Morgan, Robson, a workshop with Jeff Warner, a melodeon workshop with Brian Peters and "More birds in folk song" with Derek Gifford.

Tickets will be available by post direct from the festival and will shortly be available from the Tourist Information Centre in Ashford (01233 629165) and the Library in Tenterden High Street.

Throughout the weekend there will also be a craft fair in the Town Hall, street stalls in the High Street and music sales in the Woolpack Barn.

CAMPING:
The camp site at The Woodlands Park now caters for tents, caravans and motor caravans. It is situated on the A262 just 3 miles from Tenterden Town Centre. As the site is not within easy walking distance of the town centre the organisers usually provide a shuttle bus service.

More information will be here when available.

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