Fun for all at 39th Dartmoor Folk Festival

Fun for all the family is assured at the 39th Dartmoor Folk Festival, all at modest prices or free-of-charge.

The festival, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 5, 6 and 7, will take place in the foothills of Dartmoor at South Zeal, near Okehampton.

Friday, August 5, the date the 39th festival opens, would have been, co-incidentally, the festival founder, the late Bob Cann's 100th birthday.

It will include a packed programme of events and activities suitable for all ages, including a hugely-successful dedicated children's festival which will run alongside the main event.

There will be concerts, a ceilidh, craft displays, dances, a Dartmoor Fayre, music hall, pub sessions and music, song and dance workshops and competitions.

Free events include a Starter's Song Session, Festival Folk Club, a ramble on Dartmoor, Folk church service and Youth Music Session.

The Dartmoor Fayre, from 2.15pm to 5pm on Saturday, August 6, will include an afternoon of family entertainment.  It is free for children and £4 for adults.  The Sunday afternoon programme of events, from 2pm to 4.30pm, is similarly priced and will also include a programme of entertainment.

A rich crop of local and national artists will appear during the weekend, including Blazin' Fiddles, Miranda Sykes and Rex Preston, Bob Fox, Mawkin, Talisk, Pete Coe, Alice Jones and Tickled Pink with Fee Lock.

Other artists attending are The Dartmoor Pixie Band (Friday and Sunday night), Ramsley Minors, Entertainingly Different, Dave Wills, Bill Murray, Tich Scott and various morris and dance teams.

Children's entertainers include The Makeshift Ensemble, Pregnant Fish Theatre Company and The Raree Man Peepshow.

Hotly-contested competitions will include the Dartmoor Broom Dance championships and Dartmoor Stepdance Championships.

Dartmoor Broom dancing involves dancing with a broom, or rather over a broom, and is for primary school-aged children.

The Dartmoor Step dance sees dancers step on a 15-inch square board showing the different steps to try and out step the previous dancer, until a final champion is decided upon.  Adult and junior champions will be selected.

Classes to teach both broom dancing and step dancing are held during the festival and anyone is eligible to take part.

It was 39 years ago that the festival was founded by 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.

Mr Cann was awarded the British Empire Medal for his services to folk music, which included founding the festival.

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.

The association includes many descendants of Mr Cann and his daughter, Shirley, was recently elected president of the association. She took up the role after the sad death of her mother, Joyce, Bob's widow.

Since it was founded the festival 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 event.

The Dartmoor Fayre, on Saturday, August 9, will be opened at 2.15pm by Shirley Bazeley and her sister, Wendy Murrin.  Also present will be the Mayor of West Devon, Cllr John Sheldon.

The festival is supported by Waitrose, The Dartmoor Society, West Devon Borough Council, Devon Folk, Devon County Council, Willand Folk Dance Club, Reddaways Removals, VIP Marquees and other businesses and individuals.

It will also include a duck race, craft marquee, stalls and refreshments will be available.

Alan Quick, publicity officer, said: “An action-packed programme has been arranged and we are looking forward to a great festival.

“There will be three days of music, song, dance and crafts.

“Entertainment is arranged for the whole family to enjoy, whether to take part or simply sit and watch.  Most events are very modestly priced and some are totally free, so there is something for everyone.

"The festival is deeply rooted in the heart of the Dartmoor community and is keeping customs and traditions alive."

For further details, including a full event listing, visit the website: www.dartmoorfolkfestival.org.uk 

To book tickets, telephone 01837 840102.