Record crowds a boost for folk festival

Top local and national artists will headline at the 39th Dartmoor Folk Festival, which will be held at South Zeal, near Okehampton, on August 5, 6 and 7 in 2016, it was announced at the annual meeting of the association which runs the annual three-day festival.

Jason Rice, chairman of the Dartmoor Folk Festival Association, spoke of the success of the 2015 festival, which included a packed programme of concerts, a ramble on Dartmoor, a ceilidh, folk service, craft displays, dances, a children's festival, a Dartmoor Fayre, music hall, pub sessions and music, song and dance workshops.

Competitions included the Dartmoor Broom Dance and Stepdance Championships.

He spoke of the resurgence in the popularity of folk music, song, dance and crafts, which resulted in record crowds attending the event.

He thanked local businesses, organisations and individuals for sponsorship, donations, grants and advertising in the festival programme. 

Mr Rice said the festival maintained the high standard that regular festival-goers had come to expect and offered them a wide variety of high quality entertainment. 

He said the festival ran smoothly and added: "Once again, we were fortunate to receive a huge amount of extra help from family, friends and volunteer stewards, which helped us to reduce the workload placed on the committee. This, by no means takes any credit away from the hard work that I know all association members put in at the festival weekend and throughout the year."

He continued: "Attendance was high at all the events and the atmosphere throughout the weekend was excellent.

"The Step Dance and Broom Dance competitions attracted large numbers of competitors and spectators and the heats were of a very high standard making it a tough task for the judges to decide upon the eventual champions.

“As one of the festival founder’s main aims was to keep these dance traditions alive and thriving, I think we can say that this is being achieved."

He said that he was pleased that so many youngsters were involved in helping at the festival which, he added, was a "good sign" that it will continue for many years to come.

He recorded the gratitude of the association to the villagers of South Zeal for once again allowing the festival to take over their village for three days in August.

Thanks were also expressed to those who provided their time, those who loaned equipment or helped in any other way.

Officers were elected at the annual meeting and one new member was voted on to the association.

The treasurer, Rebecca Glover, said the financial position of the association was greatly bolstered by the very successful festival.

It was 38 years ago that the festival was founded by the late Bob Cann, who lived in the parish of South Zeal.  He had the dream of a folk event on his doorstep that would help to revive and preserve the traditions of Dartmoor.

It was the traditional music, dance, song and crafts of the area that formed the basis for the first festival and they still remain for the association which runs the festival today.

Since it was founded it has grown so that it can invite some of the best folk artists around, whilst maintaining its reputation for being a relaxed, friendly and traditional festival.

For further details about the Festival, visit the website: www.dartmoorfolkfestival.co.uk 

The Association's annual Christmas Party Ceilidh, with the Dartmoor Pixie Band and caller, Sarah Bazeley, will take place at the Victory Hall, South Zeal, on Saturday, December 12.

It will run from 8pm to 11.30pm and there will be a guest appearance from the South Zeal Steppers.

Admission will be £7 and free for children if accompanied by an adult.

There will be a bring and share supper and no bar, so those attending are asked to take along their own drink.