from the Festival Director - Sidmouth Folk week

FolkWeek Fringe
Sidmouth’s ‘Festival Fringe’ is almost as
old as the Festival itself – and plays a
full part in supporting FolkWeek. The
‘Fringe’ is not organised by Sidmouth
FolkWeek – so we cannot be
responsible for what happens – but
many enjoy the various opportunities to
participate.
All fringe events are free – but take a
collection for the Festival. If you are
having a good time, please drop a
pound coin in now and then. Here is a
rough guide of what to expect, plus
places where spontaneous events could
happen:
Song sessions
Middle Bar Singers: Upstairs at the
Anchor to drink, laugh and sing.
Unaccompanied singarounds are
from 12.30-3pm and 8-11pm each
day, starting on Thursday 2nd
August. Tuesday evening is usually
a shanty fundraiser for Sidmouth
Lifeboat and on Thursday afternoon
the singers go in the sea (opposite
the Bedford) at 3pm.
Royal York and Faulkner Hotel –
Faulkner Bar: Kitty Vernon & Tim
Edwards run a morning singaround,
10.30am–12.30pm from Sunday.
Faulkner Bar: Come All Ye with Rosy
Daisley from 7.30pm each evening
from Friday.
Faulkner Bar: Gloom, Doom and
Despondency Competition –
Thursday 4th August at 4.30pm.
Esplanade Shelter: West Gallery music
sessions from Monday to Thursday,
1–2pm (Sunday 11-12pm). Opposite
Bedford Lawn Car Park.
page 48
Mixed sessions
Bedford Hotel Bar: A mixture of music
and song. From Friday all day, every
day.
New Tavern: Usually mixed sessions
lunchtime and evenings from Friday
evening.
Music sessions
Anchor: Usually music sessions in the
main bar (street level).
Sailing Club: Usually tune-around
evening sessions starting Saturday.
Radway: English music session
lunchtimes and evenings, starting
Friday.
Dance
Esplanade outside the Royal York and
Faulkner Hotel. Wild Thyme Border
Morris (with Sue White) is for all,
including complete beginners: 11amnoon
starting Monday. Jackets and
sticks provided.
Herbaceous Border (with Kurt Sauter)
for more experienced dancers,
preferably in kit: 6-7pm starting Sunday.
Musicians welcome
for each group.
Street
Performers
Please note that licensing arrangements
and street closures for Folk Week could
limit use of the Market Square in
particular and unprogrammed performers
could be moved on.
Looking for somewhere to
perform?
There are Open Mic sessions at the
undercover stage at the HUB,
and at Dukes – see the daily
schedules for times. For
spontaneous ‘fringe’ sessions,
try the following: Black Horse,
Swan Inn and the Volunteer –
afternoons and evenings.
Collections
Sidmouth FolkWeek Ltd (Registered
Charity 1111958) has obtained the
street licence from East Devon District
Council to collect in Sidmouth during
FolkWeek. Street collections from
performances are an important part of
FolkWeek’s income. If you are busking,
please register your name and collect an
official tin from Volunteer’s Reception in
Kennaway House. Tins can be collected
and returned between the hours of 9am
and 6pm, or up to 10pm by special
arrangement with the Collections office.
Please make sure that all tins are
returned by 6pm on Friday evening prior
to the Torchlight Procession. Please
collect buckets for the Torchlight
collection
The Bill Rutter Awards
Bill Rutter, Sidmouth Festival Director
from 1961-79, encouraged everyone to
participate and become part of the
Festival team. The Festival has a long
tradition of busking from all kinds of
musicians, dancers, singers and artists.
The Bill Rutter Awards (one for dancers
and one for musicians) will be presented
to the event, team or performer who
collects the highest amount for
FolkWeek during the week. The
presentations will take place at
Bulverton after midnight on Friday.
Volunteers
The Festival is most grateful to about
450 volunteers, who not only check
your tickets, but also help put up and
take down the Festival, look after the
Campsite, set out chairs, clean the
venues, run the car parks and help
with the Family Sidmouth events.
If you’re interested in helping us
next year, have a chat with Sue in
the volunteer’s office in Kennaway
House. Recruitment starts early in
the New Year – details can be found
on the website. In return for 4 to 5
hours a day of your time, you get a
Week Ticket, free camping,
subsidised festival bus travel, new
friends and that incomparable
feeling of helping to put on one of
the best festivals around.