Broadstairs Folk Week returns for 2023
Noble Jacks frontman and festival headliner pens ode to the town
Headliner Will Page releases ‘Broadstairs’
Broadstairs Folk Week, returns from 11th - 18th August, with hundreds of musicians and dancers heading to to the town for a week of music and fun.
Folk Week concert headliner Will Page has even composed a special song entitled ‘Broadstairs’ for the festival (see link below).
Having performed at the festival in previous years with his band, Noble Jacks, Will’s new song describes the joy and excitement which surrounds the festival, and additionally acknowledges its importance for the genre and local area.
“Broadstairs Folk Week is such a fun festival and an important event for folk music in the South East as the genre represents the voices, stories, and traditions of generations past, so celebrating and preserving it helps maintain a connection to our cultural roots and provides a sense of identity and belonging for our people” says Will. “I’d like to see more young people and groups playing folk in the South East - they don’t know what they’re missing out on!”. Will goes on to say, “it is also important to note the role of the festival in attracting tourists and visitors who are interested in experiencing authentic cultural traditions and so boosts the local economy, promotes tourism, and creates opportunities for artists, musicians, and businesses”.
Other concert headline acts performing at the Queen’s Road Baptist Centre, include the Seth Lakeman Trio which has already sold out, Lady Maisery, the Ciderhouse Rebellion, Granny’s Attic, Home Service, the Urban Folk Quartet and many more.
“Workshops are already proving very popular this year,” says Jo Tuffs, Festival Artistic Director. “ The ukulele beginners and improvers are always busy, but people are also buying tickets to learn how to play the harmonica, mandolin, guitar, banjo, concertina, accordion, bodhran – which is great, because joining in is at the heart of the festival, and many of the tutors are playing at Folk Week too.”
For the energetic, there’s a full programme of dances and ceilidhs, including a Sixties Icons Fancy Dress ceilidh with Banter on Sunday 13 August. The venue is the Sarah Thorne Theatre throughout the week, and the first dance kicks off with Kent’s own Giddy Yup Ceilidh band – who are familiar faces from the Hobby Horse Club taking place daily at the Bandstand.
Singers aren’t forgotten – with a festival choir created in a week, singalongs at the Neptune and evening singarounds at the Sailing Club, as well as harmony workshops with Lady Maisery, sea shanties on the jetty and a special event at the Gadds brewery, called Drink Old England Dry!
All the generations can sing and dance together with Inspiration Creative at the bandstand or learn circus skills, hula hooping or toddler bops. Take the kids to the Flags, Banners and Stuff workshop and you can join in the Saturday 12th Parade too, from Pierremont Park at 5.30pm. Young musical maestros can form a Band in a Weekend with James Kerry and friends, who will also be playing in a concert as Source – and with the Hill Top Ceilidh band.
There are Poets’ Breakfasts, tai chi at the campsite, knitting, crochet and crafts at Balmoral Gardens, birdwatching walks, sketching around Broadstairs and of course – the pub gigs – over 130 this year and 60 bands.
Festival Patron, local and international musician Tim Edey is performing on Monday 14th August.
The festival campsite is within walking distance of the town and venues, although there is a free minibus service into town too. It’s a great way of having a holiday by the beach with all the entertainment thrown in!
All the details, including the pub gigs, are in the Souvenir Programme, with a Day-by-Day guide. It’s an important fund-raiser for Folk Week and buying it goes towards the free events around the town, available online at £6 plus £1.50 postage and packing. https://broadstairsfolkweek.org.uk/product/2022-souvenir-ends
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND MUSICAL LINE-UP VISIT: https://broadstairsfolkweek.org.uk/
