Good news – we’re planning another small folk festival at Frittenden again this coming year, to be held on the 4th April 2009.

This time, we’ve decided to focus on performers from the folk revival in the South-East of England, and we’re particularly pleased to say that some of the folk scene’s most respected singers of traditional songs have agreed to perform for us, as well as step dancers.

This is how the proposed event pans out!

From Kent we have:

– Andy Turner singing and presenting a workshop about the songs of Kent;

– Nigel Hobbins singing songs learned from his grandfather;

– Local singing and melodeon star John Morgan;

– Noted ballad singer Marian Button;

– Rosie Davis stepdancer and singer;

– Pete Collins, another well-known local singer of traditional songs, who will be both performing and  leading sessions;

– Roger Resch and Bob Kenward (The Wealden Ramblers) will perform a selection of songs about Kent,  life in the county and it’s history, many of which have been composed by Bob himself;

– Now exiled from Kent, David Campbell, has also agreed to travel down to sing for us;

– Marden’s own Julie Arnott will sing popular songs of the last century along with concertinist Gavin Atkin;

We also have Kerry Fletcher and Rosie organising and leading the step-dancing side of things, and long-established local dance band Florida will play for a dance at the village’s Memorial Hall with the help of caller Chris Pitt, who has also promised to perform some comic songs from his inimitable repertoire along with his old musical partner Gavin.

Looking slightly further afield, from Sussex we have rising singing, melodeon and fiddle star Matt Quinn, who will be down from his Newcastle University folk degree course – and he says he plans to bring both his dad and fiddle-playing friend Tom Moore. Also on the bill from from Sussex we have young cellist-singer Tom Redman.

From Essex we have a real treat – one of the best performers of traditional songs in England today, Annie Dearman, more than ably supported by her melodeon and concertina playing partner Steve Harrison.

Finally we have a special guest originally from Lincolnshire and now resident in Derbyshire – Jack Crawford. If you don’t know him, Jack’s a splendid singer, a member of the National Council of the English Folk Dance and Song Society and a trustee of the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library. He has just released a new CD also featuring Mary Humphreys and Anahata on the well known Wild Goose label. I’m sure he will bring a bundle down from Derbyshire for anyone who is interested in buying one!

The event will include music sessions, workshops, a concert and a dance. The sessions will again take place at the splendid Bell & Jorrocks pub – those who came last year and found it a bit crowded will be pleased to know that it now has two more rooms that we will be able to use.