WEST Devon plays host to a unique blend of traditional music at the Baring-Gould Folk Festival October 27-29 in Bratton Clovelly and Lewdown.
Topping the bill will be folk superstar John Kirkpatrick who will be premiering a new set of traditional songs gleaned from the Baring-Gould collection at the afternoon concert on Saturday at Bratton Clovelly Parish Hall. John has worked with bands such as Steeleye Span and Richard Thompson and the Albion Band.
However, John will not be alone in premiering a new set of songs. Joining him for this concert will be children from Boasley Cross and Lewtrenchard schools, who have been working with Paul Wilson of Wren Trust — the organisation behind the festival — preparing old songs and writing new ones.
Paul says: 'Wren Trust believes that folk songs document their times, and these new songs are a real delight, looking at the ways children celebrate these days and how concerned they are with the environment'.
A major highlight of the festival will be the visit by Embla, a four-piece group from Iceland. They, along with US singer Sara Grey, add an international dimension to this very friendly, intimate festival.
'We are very proud of this programme, which blends all aspects of folk music, from the very local to the global, encompassing the national folk scene as well,' says festival co-ordinator Chris Foster.
A full programme may be obtained from Wren Trust, 1 St James Street, Okehampton, EX20 1DW. Tel: 01827 53754.