The first ever of what will hopefully become a well-recognised and fantastic addition to the Folk festival calendar takes place in Bungay in Suffolk over the course of the weekend of the 6-8th September with many star names, free events, workshops + much more.
Pete and Vicky Sewell have put together and created a new festival that will involve the local community and is spread out across venues, churches, shops, galleries and a castle throughout the whole of this creative and friendly small Suffolk town.
A full and packed programme is in place for the first Bungay Folk Festival with Sam Kelly and Jamie Francis, Solana and The Shackleton Trio headlining various venues across the weekend. Well known French music band Xim will close the festival with a French Bal on the Sunday evening in Bungay Community Centre. Most of the other events will be free entry and workshops across the weekend will cost a mere £5 to take part in.
There will be a wide variety of different styles of music over the weekend from among others the Medieval and Tudor inspired Pearl in the Egg, Folk and bluegrass from Clark and Zuppardi, the progressive folk rock of Tin Giants, European folk and beyond from Wendsum, East Anglian folk songs from The Harbour Lights trio, the dark folk of The Punch House band, Irish music band Flann, and Percussive traditional Brazilian music from Forro Fogoso. All of these events will be free of charge.
Metal heads, folk rockery guaranteed; Tin Giants.
The festival is being supported by East Suffolk Council, BEBA (Bungay business and enterprise association), and Bungay Town Council.
They have 17 different workshops organised on Saturday 7th September in a variety of venues. These include Mandolin with Nic Zuppardi (from The Shackleton Trio), Song Writing with Sam Kelly, Banjo with Jamie Francis, Singing with Natasha Hood, DADGAD guitar with Darren Bidle (from Stumpy Oak Ceilidh Band), Singing with Paul Gill, Bodhran with Mog, storytelling and much more.
There will be small charge of £5 for the workshops and you will need a ticket.
On Sunday 8th September there will be a folk picnic at Castle Bailey including The Shackleton Trio, and a family ceilidh will run from 5-7pm in Bungay Community Centre followed by Xim who will play for a French Bal from 8-10pm. The family ceilidh will be free and tickets for the Bal will be just £5 each.
Big Sky Choir from Norwich will perform in St Mary’s Church on Saturday 7th September followed by Will Power who will take a classical slant on some well known folk tunes and songs. Tickets for this event will cost just £10
Most of the rest of the music across the town in St Mary’s church, The Fisher Theatre, The Folk Picnic and The Three Tuns Cellar will be free to access and no tickets required. They have Rumburgh Morris and Golden Star Morris performing over the weekend, A makers market and open mic at the Butter Cross will add a buzz to the day as well as sessions and musical interludes popping up all over the town.
Bungay -The small town with a big and creative heart.
Details and Tickets : bungayfolkfestival.co.uk
