In 2016 the festival introduced a ‘Big Top’ style marquee for their popular Concert Stage and now in 2017 they plan to introduce another Big Top for their Main Stage as well.
Jim Pybus, one of the small team of volunteer directors, commented “Audiences loved the big top and the more intimate and festive feel it created so this year we will have two! Each year the festival transforms our wonderful site at Beverley Racecourse into a ‘Festival Village allowing our audiences and visitors to enjoy a complete festival experience the introduction of not one but two Big Tops will certainly help to enhance this experience”.
Plans for the weekend are now well underway and will again feature the best in modern and traditional folk music alongside Americana and lots of musical surprises. Young local performers will also be appearing giving them a platform and audiences to showcase their talents. But it is not only about music there will also be comedy literature and poetry alongside workshops and community groups will again be a feature adding yet another dimension to a packed weekend of fun for all ages.
The Festival always programmes some surprises and this year will be no exception as they get set to announce some exclusive events that have just been confirmed. More info on these to follow.
Jim also commented “The festival is a real part of the Beverley scene and supported by numerous local volunteers who work hard over the weekend to ensure everyone enjoys the event, it is part of the community and a showcase Beverley. Audiences travel from far and wide to be part of Beverley at its Best”.
With a line-up of award winning national and international talent already confirmed, festival organisers are urging audiences to buy their 2017 tickets now at a discounted price before the special Spring Saver deal priced at £110 ends at the end of March.
Beverley Folk Festival 2017 aims to have at least 100 artists performing at the Friday to Sunday event, totalling a collective 100-plus hours of entertainment across multiple stages. With this range available, they hope there will be something for everyone with a few surprises along the way.
More names will be announced in the coming weeks as we head ever closer to the festival – some of the artists already confirmed are: Martin & Eliza Carthy, Eddi Reader and her band, Jon Boden, Lau, Heidi Talbot, Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman, False lights, Andy Cutting, Jim Moray, The Hut People and a whole host of other folk favourites.
Beverley Folk Festival
Established in 1983, Beverley Folk Festival is a 3-day event that has been providing a platform for artists from this expansive genre for over 30 years. Bringing together a wide range of performers, ranging from international legends to new voices on the scene, the festival incorporates traditional and new folk music alongside blues, jazz, world, acoustic, roots and Americana. In addition, the event now also includes literature, poetry, comedy and film. The biggest festival of its kind in the East Riding of Yorkshire, it is enjoyed by revellers from the wider North Region and beyond and has developed a dedicated following that continues to expand.
Published on 20 March 2017 by Ben Robinson
