The first ever Sark Folk Festival will be taking place in the tiny Channel Island of Sark - a weekend celebrating all types of folk music, song and dance from around the Channel Islands, Brittany, Normandy and the United Kingdom will be held on the small channel island of Sark, from 2nd-4th July 2010.
The Sark Folk Festival is proud to be able to host a diverse line-up of top UK and French acts which include rising star singer-songwriter, Leddra Chapman, described by Music Week Magazine as "filling a similar space to early Alanis Morissette and Joni Mitchell; folk-pop band, Six Day Riot, who recently supported Seth Lakeman in London, and Ruth Notman, finalist in the BBC Radio Young Folk Awards, singer-song-writer Mary Hampton whose songs have been described as ‘shimmering with sensuality in various shady cloaks of weirdness…fragility, desolation and humour’; Mordekkers, with their energetic, infectious groove. Vibrant Poitiers-based Celtic group, Les Dieses with their particular theatrical brand of rock-folk-jazz-cajun fusion, and the evocative, haunting melodies and the earthy rhythms of Brittany based Trio, Peron-Hopkins-McCarthy, offshoot of the well-known Breton band, Loar Gann will also delight festival goers.
The Channel Islands will be well-represented, with the ever popular Guernsey folk band Barley-Dogs, with their infectious blend of drinking songs and Celtic –Hill-Billy rythms; the close-harmony of well-known Sea-Shanty crew: Jenkins’ Ear; traditional ceilidh band Shindig, Ernie Rosquet from Jersey, the emotive and passionate singing of Blues-queen’ Colette Esteves amongst others. Last but not least, Morris dancers Helier Men from Jersey and Guernsey’s Belles and Broomsticks will add to the overall festive atmosphere. The island of Sark is going to echo with wild rhythms,energetic music and haunting melodies .
As well as live music on the main festival stages, there will also be a variety of other cultural events over the weekend, including workshops in Guernsey French, Morris dancing, open music sessions in local pubs and entertainment for children. Channel Island crafts will be on display and the food tent will offer a variety of local delicacies to sample, including Sark’s rightly famous seafood. On top of all this, if you tire of the music and culture, there is the rest of Sark to enjoy. The spectacular coastal scenery with numerous bays and headlands provides a stunning backdrop to this festival.
The island of Sark is one of the most fascinating and unique locations in the world, and is the smallest of the four main Channel Islands. There are no cars on Sark - only bicycles, horse-drawn carriages and the occasional tractor. It is located 80 miles off the south coast of England, and just 20 miles from France - a short ferry ride from Guernsey or Jersey. The island is only three miles long and a mile and a half wide, but is surrounded by 40 miles of some of the most picturesque coastlines anywhere in the world.
The festival site will provide a spectacular back-drop to the entertainment. Located at the top of cliffs on the rugged west coast of the island, festival-goers will be able to enjoy panoramic views over the nearby Channel Islands of Brecqhou, Herm and Guernsey. Sark Folk Festival Discussion Forum |
|
