The unexpected backing dancers for Monty Python star Eric Idle at the London 2012 Olympics closing ceremony are to spearhead a mass Morris meet at the 2013 Frome Folk Festival.
The University of Bristol’s Rag Morris were selected to appear with Idle before 80,000 people and a 26 million TV audience at the spectacular Olympic stadium ceremony - dancing to Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.
Says spokesman Gavin Skinner: “We auditioned and were one of just two Morris sides selected. Some 24 members of Rag Morris performed on stage with Eric Idle along with an opera singer, roller skating nuns, roman soldiers, angels, bhangra dancers, Blackheath Morris Men, Scottish pipers and a cross-dressing welsh rugby choir – an amazing experience!” www.ragmorris.com
Rag Morris at Bristol Folk Festival
Rag Morris performed at both Bristol Folk Festival and the inaugural Frome Folk Festival this year. They will return to Frome Folk Festival over the weekend of February 16 and 17, 2013 as part of what promises to be a huge Morris programme in the picturesque Somerset market town with performances at the main venue of the Cheese and Grain and various outdoor locations.
Says Jan Ayers: “We’re delighted that the Morris side chosen for the Olympics will be heading to Frome next February – they will lead a programme of more than 100 Morris dancers from several counties, building on what proved to be a very colourful and popular part of this year’s festival!
The winter weekend event became the West Country’s newest folk festival in February and proved an instant hit bringing thousands of festival-goers, Morris dancers and the cream of the British folk music world flocking to the historic town, including a raft of BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards winners past and present.
2013 will be no exception. Saturday and Sunday headliners are still to be revealed but among the first artists to be announced is Lucy Ward (left), who won the Horizon (Best Emerging Act) at this year’s BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Also signed for the festival are singer-songwriting duo Johnny Coppin and Mike Silver, Belinda O’Hooley and Heidi Tidow, Peter Knight’s Gigspanner, Somerset-based singer songwriter Reg Meuross, Hartlepool’s The Young ‘Uns –and The Monster Ceilidh Band.
Situated at the eastern end of the Mendip Hills, Frome is close to the cities of Bath, Wells and Salisbury and boasts steep cobbled streets, old weavers’ cottages and historic Georgian buildings.
Published on 06 September 2012 by Wayne Feltham
