ONE of the most popular and successful folk groups of all time, Steeleye Span, will be headlining at this summer’s Village Pump Folk Festival at White Horse Country Park in Westbury
Steeleye Span, whose top 10 hits include ‘All Around My Hat’ and ‘Gaudete,’ will headline the Sunday evening show. The band have had an association with the Village Pump for many years and the festival might never have started had it not been for a group of friends meeting Steeleye Span years ago at the Lacock Folk Festival and deciding to run one of their own.
John Alderslade, one of the originators, and still a leading figure in the Pump team said, “We booked them one year to play at Trowbridge Town Hall. They’ve been coming back every few years since. They are our mates and it will be great to have them back playing at this year’s festival.”
Steeleye Span were among the pioneers of folk-rock in the early 1970s who, through their use of electric instruments, brought traditional folk songs to audiences more used to rock’n’roll, scoring top 10 hits such as ‘All Around My Hat’ and the Christmas carol ‘Gaudete’ – possibly the only top 10 hit ever sung unaccompanied in Latin.
On the other hand they are enough of a rock band to have toured and played with Status Quo and many folk fans first discovered traditional English music through Steeleye. Although their line up has changed over the years, the three key players have remained the same – Maddy Prior on lead vocals, Rick Kemp on bass and Peter Knight on fiddle and mandolin.
More top artists
announced
Another band who have brought traditional music to a wider audience are the Tannahill Weavers from Scotland. Their repertoire reflects both the mystical quality of the Highlander’s Celtic music and the rollicking, sometimes even brawling qualities of the Lowlander’s Anglo-Scots tunes, blending the beauty of the traditional melodies with the power of modern rhythms. Running through it all is the penetrating sound of the Highland bagpipes.
Another band whose line-up has changed over the years, they continue to tour extensively throughout the world and have been a great hit with Village Pump audiences in the past.
Every year the folk world honours its star performers at the BBC Radio Two Folk Awards ceremony. Winners of the best duo award this year, Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman, are another act who will be making their way to Westbury in July and the pair were just pipped at the post for Best Original Song.
Legendary singer Nic Jones, whose career was tragically cut short by a terrible road accident, won the coveted title of Singer of the Year after an amazing comeback and many other performers are past or present winners or nominees of the folk world’s equivalent of the BAFTAs or Oscars, including Kate Rusby, Philip Henry and Hannah Martin, Megson, and, as Show of Hands, Festival patrons Steve Knightley and Phil Beer.
Apart from all the performers on the main stages, many local performers will play at the Club Tent, which is being sponsored this year by Guitarbitz of Frome, the local centre for all things guitar-related (www.guitarbitz.com). Open Mic stages, ceilidhs and a sessions tent will enable any festival-goer to play, sing or dance. Workshops will provide opportunities to learn from the professionals. A full children’s programme of performers and activities makes this a festival for all the family.
John said, “Our festival has always been about friends old and new meeting up for good music, good company and good times. We are very happy with our new home at the White Horse Country Park and to be involved with the people of Westbury and district and to have the White Horse News as a media partner. ”
• The Village Pump Folk Festival will be held at White Horse Country Park over the weekend of 26th – 28th July. Early bird-priced tickets, with a saving of £15 on a full-priced weekend ticket are available up to 31st March at www.villagepumpfolkfestival.co.uk where you can also find full details, including the complete list of performers.
