Fun for all at 37th Dartmoor Folk Festival

Family-friendly, yet traditional, the Dartmoor Folk Festival, which follows hot on the heels of the Sidmouth Folk Festival, will take place in the foothills of Dartmoor from Friday, August 8 to Sunday, August 10.

It includes a packed programme of events and activities suitable for all ages, including a hugely-successful dedicated children's festival.

The main event will include concerts, a ramble on Dartmoor, a ceilidh, folk service, craft displays, dances, a Dartmoor Fayre, music hall, pub sessions and music, song and dance workshops.

A rich crop of local and national artists will headline at the 37th annual festival, which will be held at South Zeal, near Okehampton.

Artists will include the New Rope String Band (Friday), Lady Maisery, Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar (winners of the BBC Young Folk Awards 2013 and 2014 Horizon Award), Vicki Swan and Jonny Dyer, The Old Fashioned, Geoff Lakeman, Chalktown with Phil Bassindale and Pete White's Suitcase Circus.

Other artists attending will include The Kelly Quarry Blasters (Sunday), Trevor Organ's Cracking Crockery, The Dartmoor Pixie Band (Friday and Sunday night), Tony Beard, FrAntic (Sunday night), Ramsley Minors, Entertainingly Different, Uncle Tacko, Chucklefoot and Dave Wills.

The various morris and dance teams taking part will include, on Saturday, Green Ginger Clog, Shuffle The Deck (Appalachian), Exeter Morris Men and Cogs and Wheels.  On the Sunday the teams will include Winkleigh Morris, Tinners Morris and South Zeal Steppers.
Hotly-contested competitions include the Dartmoor Broom Dance championships and Dartmoor Stepdance Championships.

Dartmoor Broom dancing involves dancing with a broom, or rather over a broom, and is for primary school-aged children.

The Dartmoor Step dance sees dancers step on a 15-inch square board showing the different steps to try and out step the previous dancer, until a final champion is decided upon.  There are adult and junior champions selected.

Classes to teach both broom dancing and step dancing are held during the festival and anyone is eligible to take part.

It was 37 years ago that the festival was founded by the late Bob Cann, who lived in the parish of South Zeal.  He had the dream of a folk event on his doorstep that would help to revive and preserve the traditions of Dartmoor.

Mr Cann was awarded the British Empire Medal for his services to folk music, which included founding the festival.

It was the traditional music, dance, song and crafts of the area that formed the basis for the first festival and they still remain for the association which runs the festival today.

The association includes many descendants of Mr Cann and his wife, Joyce, is president of the association.

Since it was founded it has grown so that it can invite some of the best folk artists around, whilst maintaining its reputation for being a relaxed, friendly and traditional festival.

The Dartmoor Fayre, on Saturday, August 9, will be opened at 2.20pm by long-time festival supporter and folk legend, Pete Coe.  Also present will be the Mayor of West Devon, Cllr Christine Marsh.

The festival is supported by West Devon Borough Council, Devon Folk, Devon County Council, Willand Folk Dance Club, VIP Marquees and other businesses and individuals.

It will also include a Devon Dialect concert, duck race, ferret racing, starter melodeon sessions, craft marquee, stalls and refreshments will be available.

Alan Quick, publicity officer, said: “An action-packed programme has been arranged and we are looking forward to a great festival.

“There will be three days of music, song, dance and crafts.

“Entertainment is arranged for the whole family to enjoy, whether to take part or simply sit and watch.

“Most events are very modestly priced and some are totally free, so there is something for everyone.

"The festival is deeply rooted in the heart of the Dartmoor community and is keeping customs and traditions alive."

For further details, or to enquire about booking tickets, telephone 01837 840102 or visit the website: www.dartmoorfolkfestival.org.uk .