Tenterden Folk Festival 2011

Tenterden, situated in the ancient Weald of Kent, about 12 miles west of Ashford, is a friendly, family folk festival which has expanded to four days from Thursday 29th September to Sunday 2nd October 2011. 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.

Line-up

Thursday evening concert at the Assembly Rooms (Town Hall) will feature Ashley Hutchings and Blair Dunlop, Baron Brady, Steve O’Kane and Fiona McBain.

The band English Rebellion will be playing for the barn dance in the Tenterden Club on Friday evening. The dances will be called by Bo Foaks.

The festival is a great supporter of all things Kentish and a special event this year will be The Chaucer Show with Pete Castle and Geoff Chaucer Jnr (aka Pete Morton).

Other festival guests already booked include Adrian O', Askew Sisters, Band of Two (Sponsored by The Woolpack) (t.b.c.), JigJaw (Janet Russell, Frances Watt, Rosie Davis & Kerry Fletcher), Jim Bainbridge, Joe Stead, John and Karen Sweeney’s Contra dance workshops, Karen & Colin Cater, Keith Kendrick & Sylvia Needham, Kimbers Men, Liam Robinson, Mainbrace, Mary Humphreys and Anahata, Mary and Nick Barber, Mike O'Leary Jons, Pete Castle, Pete Morton, Roy Harris, Steve O.Kane and Fiona McBain, Terry Anthony (visual artist), Vic Ellis - one man band.

Marquee showcase guests include Almond Greennway, Andy Smythe Band, Chris Sarjeant, David Shevlew, Frankie the Gambler, Luke Jackson, Pigs Ear, Rude Albert, The Bedlam Boys, The Jones Boys and other festival guests.

And the regular guests including Bo Foaks, Bob and Kathy Drage, Bob Kenward, Chris Roche, John Barden, Malcolm Ward, Marsh Warblers, Peter Collins, Roger Resch, Spare Parts Concertina Band, Travelling Folk , Vic and Tina Smith. Plus others still to be confirmed. Not all guests are there for the whole weekend so check out the programme nearer the time.

Other events will include hundreds of Morris and other folk dancers, the popular Music Fayre in the Junior School Hall, street stalls in the High Street and crafts and stalls in a marquee on the Recreation Ground.

Dance sides and display teams confirmed include Alton Morris, Bacchus Morris, Bishop Gundulfs Morris, Bows n Belles, Chingford Morris Men, Cinque Ports Morris, Dead Horse Morris, East Kent Morris Men, Frog Island Morris, Gong Scourers, Hands Around, Hannahs Cats, Hertfordshire Holly, Hunters Moon Morris, Kits Koty Morris, Loose Women, MacLennan Scotish Group, Mad Jacks Morris, Maenads, Maldon Dark Horse Morris, Marlings Morris, Minden Rose, Minster Mayhems, Morena Slovak Dancers, Motley Morris, Old Palace Clog, Old Star Morris, Oojah Kappivvy, Priory Morris, Rampant Rooster Morris, Ravensbourne Morris Men, Royal Liberty Morris, St Clement Clogs, Stockport Morris, Tanglefoot Appalachian Dancers, The Mutineers, USO Dance Team, Wantsum Morris, Wicked Belly Morris, Woodchurch Morris, Woodvale International Folk Dance Group, and Wychling Hoodeners.

Concerts

Expect 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.

Morris sides

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.

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.

Dance sides and display teams confirmed include Alton Morris, Bacchus Morris, Bishop Gundulfs Morris, Bows n Belles, Chingford Morris Men, Cinque Ports Morris, Dead Horse Morris, Frog Island Morris, Gong Scourers, Hands Around, Hannahs Cats, Hertfordshire Holly, Hunters Moon Morris, Kits Koty Morris, Loose Women, MacLennan Scotish Group, Mad Jacks Morris, Maenads, Maldon Dark Horse Morris, Marlings Morris, Minden Rose, Minster Mayhems, Morena Slovak Dancers, Motley Morris, Old Palace Clog, Old Star Morris, Oojah Kappivvy, Priory Morris, Rampant Rooster Morris, Ravensbourne Morris Men, Royal Liberty Morris, St Clement Clogs, Stockport Morris, Tanglefoot Appalachian Dancers, The Mutineers, Wantsum Morris, Wicked Belly Morris, Woodchurch Morris, Woodvale International Folk Dance Group, Wychling Hoodeners.

Tickets

An early bird full weekend ticket admits holder to all events on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but does dot include Thursday evening at The Sinden Theatre or camping is priced at £32 (under 16's £16) After 1st Sept. £39 (under 16's £20).

To buy tickets, click here.

Free events

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.

Procession

Tenterden Folk Festival will also include a procession of Morris and other folk dancers, street entertainers, giants, and mascots on Saturday. 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.

Children's entertainment

Events should include a traditional Punch and Judy Show, as well as walkabouts, talkabouts and street theatre shows.

Sing-a-rounds & music sessions

Lunchtime or evening sing-a-rounds or music sessions take place in the Woolpack, White Lion, Vine, 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.

Workshops

The festival also offers a wide range of workshops.

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.

Latest Updates