Folk festival ends on a high with sun-soaked sounds (From Brentwood Weekly News)

Folk festival ends on a high with sun-soaked sounds

2:40pm Monday 29th June 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

FAMILIES and music fans basked in glorious sunshine as the Leigh Folk Festival came to a climax.

Venues across the town had something for everyone, as professional and amateur musicians showed off their skills in front of audiences of all ages.

For the first time in its 18-year history, the event was extended from four days to eight with workshops, performances and dances running through the week ahead of the traditional festival weekend.

Organiser Paul Collier said: “The new format seems to have worked really well.

“The idea was to be inclusive with existing clubs and societies in the town and it’s been great to have more people involved.

“It has perhaps got more people involved in the festival who might not have seen this as their sort of thing, and the general feeling has been that it has been very successful.”

The extended run saw more than 70 acts perform on stages which included a Scout hut and a truck, as well as the more traditional venues across the Old Town.

Mr Collier said: “We spend around three quarters of the year planning the festival, so it’s quite something to see it all come together.

“We try to find interesting and new acts to go alongside the old favourites, so it’s a real mix.”

Spectators tapped their toes to the sounds of international artists including American folk star Rachel Harrington and former Sneaker Pimps singer Kelli Ali, as well as local performers including acid folk band the Owl Service and cajun band Acadian Driftwood.

Highlights for youngsters included the ever-popular Punch and Judy shows on the beach in Old Leigh, puppet-making at Leigh Sailing Club and face painting and games in Leigh Library Gardens.

Mr Collier said it was difficult to estimate the numbers attending the festival because tickets are not issued, but he said there were about 1,000 people at Saturday’s events in the library gardens alone.

He added: “We also usually get around 5,000 people down in Old Leigh each day of the weekend. The weather has been fantastic too, so it’s probably a good job I warned the pubs to order in extra beer!”

Yesterday, a carnival feel came to the festival as a procession of dancers made their way along the High Street before gathering at Victoria Wharf for an open-air ceilidh.

Mary Drummond, 66, of Church Parade, Canvey, dances with the Maureen Corr Irish Dancers, who performed at the Boatyard.

She said: “I’m not joining in today, but three of my granddaughters are dancing so I’m really excited to watch them. The festival is always good fun and it’s great to see everything going on.”

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)