Welcome to the Wessex Folk Festival pages The website for this Dorset based festival celebrating music, song and dance rooted in the traditions of the area.

Concerts / Hope Square Stage / Dance / Workshops / Pub Sessions
Concerts To find out more click on the images.

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Unfortunately Norma Waterson is not very well and will be unable to appear at the festival. However, Martin Carthy and Chris Parkinson will be joined by Mike Waterson (tbc) for the concert in Hope Church on Saturday 6 June. This should be a cracking concert and a rare opportunity to see Mike Waterson in this area. We wish Norma a very speedy recovery.
Friday 5 June		Saturday 6 June

The Martin Simpson Trio Martin Simpson, Andy Cutting & Andy Seward Support: Heavens Compere: Roger Quigley		Martin Carthy, Mike Waterson & Chris Parkinson Support: Two Peas Compere: Geoff Payne

The Martin Simpson Trio Opening the festival on Friday night in Hope Church	Martin Simpson is one of the finest acoustic finger-style and slide guitar players in the world. Winner of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Best Album in 2002 for 'The Bramble Briar' and in 2008 for 'Prodigal Son', Best Original Song in 2008 for 'Never Any Good', and also winning Musician of The Year in 2002 and 2004., he is a superb interpreter of traditional music and song from Europe and from the American South. Growing up in Lincolnshire he was inspired by the likes of Martin Carthy, Davey Graham and Richard Thompson during the folk revival of the 60s. There is no doubt that after 35 years as a professional musician Martin is, right now, better than ever. Widely acknowledged as one of the finest acoustic and slide guitar players in the world, his interpretations of traditional songs are masterpieces of storytelling. His solo shows are intense, eclectic, spellbinding and deeply moving . Combine that with the talents of Andy Cutting and Andy Seward and you have an evening to remember! "Distinctive coiled-spring beauty and power. A revelation...Exquisitely at one with the All-English repertoire...A master." Mojo Andy Cutting is a rarity. A musician's musician: a soulful and technically outstanding melodeon practitioner with an ear for a fine tune. Winner of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award 2008 Musician of the Year, Andy has been a consistent musical force since he came swiftly to prominence with the innovative Blowzabella. As well as a thorough grounding in the English tradition, Andy's influences extend way beyond these isles, particularly to the music of Central France and to the storming Quebecois tradition. Andy's commitment to, and sense of pride in traditional music, as well as his sensitivity and understanding of the form, has made him one of the folk scene's most wanted. Andy Seward has played bass with artists such as John Tams, Kate Rusby and Eddi Reader. He is also a highly respected recording engineer and producer and amongst his hundreds of recording credits are albums for Kris Drever, Eddi Reader, Kate Rusby, Johnny Dickinson, Roddy Woomble and Martin Simpson. He was music producer for the recent series of BBC Radio Ballads which earned him a Sony Radio Academy Gold Award, and has recorded various film and television soundtracks including most recently the BBC sitcom Jam & Jerusalem and Billy Connelly’s Musical Tour of New Zealand.
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Martin Carthy, MikeWaterson & Chris Parkinson Concert headliners on Saturday night in Hope Church.	Mike Waterson (tbc) and Martin Carthy have been leading figures in the folk revival since the early 1960s. Carthy's remarkable and influential career has been celebrated with an MBE and various BBC Radio 2 music awards including Folk singer of the Year 2005. He is one of the most admired and best loved figures in the movement and was the subject of a BBC documentary. Mike is wonderful songwriter and performer who's humour and passion shine through. This is a rare opportunity to see him in this part of the country. Chris Parkinson has played music since the age of five, starting with the harmonica, and moving on to piano, guitar, concertina, tin whistle, melodeon, piano accordion and keyboards, and even a little time playing the fiddle. He plays traditional folk music of UK, Europe and beyond, and is also no mean hand at blues, rock & roll, and even a bit of jazz
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Heavens	A versatile four piece acapella female singing group, led by Kathie Princeand originally formed in Warmwell, Dorset in 2002. The Heavens sing an eclectic range of traditional music in close harmony including Folk and Roots music, African, Eastern European, Chilean, Latin, Scottish, Gospel, Medieval French and Slovenian. The Heavens have sung for a number of audiences in many venues: folk clubs, pubs and festivals. They have recently arranged some of the songs for voices and a range of instruments, therefore changing the texture of their sound.
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Two Peas	Two Peas are Pat Green and Pauline Clenshaw singing gutsy songs with humour and heart. Catch them at the Saturday night concert and at sessions over the weekend.
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Page last updated 5 June, 2009