Museum Of British Folklore stage announced for Caught By The River Thames

Organisers have announced the programme for the Museum Of British Folklore stage at Caught By The River's new festival, happening at London's Fulham Palace on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th August 2016, combining music, literature, beer and nature amongst any other stimulating and nourishing pursuits.

Founded in 2009 by artist and art director Simon Costin, the Museum of British Folklore (MoBF) is intended as the first centre dedicated to seasonal British traditions. The MoBF has curated exhibitions at galleries and museums including Whitechapel Gallery and Eastbourne’s Towner Art Gallery. At the Caught by the River Thames Festival the MoBF will present artifacts, events and talks celebrating the folklore of the Thames. Talks and events include live music from Sam Lee, and Sarah Angliss.

The Gentle Author in conversation with host of many of the talks Simon Costin, director of the MoBF speaking about Thames life and traditions, including the annual swan-marking ceremony carried out by the Vintners' and Dyers' companies.

Robert Crouch, Bargemaster to the Queen, will be sharing his experiences of a life on the Thames and talking about the origins of the Doggett's Coat and Badge boat race.

Philip Mernick, chairman of the East London History Society, will be talking about the forgeries of medieval lead objects created by 19th-century mudlarkers.

Homer Sykes a photographer of British life will share the background to his photographs of Thames traditions, including swan-upping, the Doggett’s Coat and Badge race and the Knolly Rose Ceremony.

The stage will over the festival weekend be home to the MoBF Thames Festival exhibition of objects, photographs and artwork connected with the folklore of the River Thames. The exhibition will include photographs of traditions such as swan-upping and mudlarking, with photos from Homer Sykes, Brian Shuel and The Gentle Author. There will also be peep boxes relating to London folklore, from the MoBF collection.

The exhibition will include objects associated with ritual and sacrifice, such as a Bellarmine witch bottle. Nursery rhymes such as The Thames Lions and London Bridge Is Falling Down will be represented.

The exhibition will also include contemporary illustrations and artwork inspired by Thames traditions, plus 'Folk Songs of the Upper Thames by A Williams' – a display of lyrics and information regarding folk-song collector Alfred Williams, who amassed over 1,000 songs from the Thames.

A selection of books and ephemera relating to the Thames will be available at the Museum of British Folklore Library.

Celebrating the capital’s urban rock‘n’roll heritage Caught by the River Thames will be part gig, part lit fest and part wildlife symposium with a countrywide beer festival and a global food market.

There are a host of activities including music acts and speakers - joining Low on Saturday will be Beth Orton, Mulatu Astatke, Kate Tempest in conversation with Miranda Sawyer, Ryley Walker, Amy Liptrot, Paul Kingsnorth, and The London Sound Survey.

Also on the line-up with Super Furry Animals on Sunday will be Sun Ra Arkestra, Chris Packham, Gwenno, Jonny Trunk, The London Sound Survey, Laura Cannell, and Darren Hayman presents 'Thankful Villages'.

On site will be Florence And Virginia Astley, Faber New Poets & Others curated by Will Burns, Helen Mort, Don Paterson, Martha Sprackland, The Museum Of British Folklore, The Idler Academy, Canal & River Trust, workshops featuring Pete Fowler, Matt Sewell & Letterpress with Nick Hand, Ten Mile Beer Festival, local food stalls, and bookshops.

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Tickets are priced at £99 for the weekend, and £55 for either day.

Fulham Palace is easy to access from anywhere in central London - Putney Bridge tube station is 10 minutes walk, Putney Overground 15 minutes walk (15 minutes to Waterloo).

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