The organisers of the Kimpton Folk Festival faced the daunting task of trying to build on the enormous success of last year’s inaugural event. It was suggested that everything could be moved onto recreation ground or other big open space “like other folk festivals”. But part of what made the Kimpton event special was that it wasn’t like every other festival. Laying on music and dance in the Memorial Hall, the Dacre Rooms, the church, the green and all around the village generated a sense that Kimpton was alive with music.
So the unanimous decision is that for this year’s festival, on Saturday, July 1, we’ll do everything exactly the same as last year…only better. In particular we’ve doubled our efforts to provide entertainment for all ages, spreading story-tellers, face painters and other family attractions into even more corners of the village.
And of course we have the most fantastic line-up of singers and musicians.
In the Memorial Hall, the top headline act will be Sam Kelly and the Lost Boys who are rapidly taking the folk world by storm. Among other star attractions are County Durham singer-songwriter Jez Lowe and his Bad Pennies and making a welcome return, Wild Willy Barrett’s French Connection.
Norwich trio Alden, Patterson and Dashwood will be part of a stunning line-up of guests in the church, along with a special tribute to Australian bush poet Henry Lawson, put together by our festival chairman Doug Jenner.
As last year, many of the acts will be performing extra sets on the village green as part of a full afternoon of free music and dance, culminating in a mass ceilidh. There will be all day music sessions in The Boot public house, musician workshops in the Dacre Rooms and food, drink and craft stalls galore.
Brian King, Festival Trustee.
