Fine folk festival

A FOLK carnival by the sea will take place this weekend.

Thousands of visitors are expected to flock to Lyme Regis for its annual Folk Weekend.

Hundreds of singers, musicians and dancers are expected to converge on the town.

Last year’s first folk weekend rocked the resort with three full-on days of singing, dancing and performance as thousands enjoyed the carnival vibe along the sea-front and in the pubs and cafés around the town.

And this year’s event, held over three days from tomorrow to Sunday, is set to be even better than last year, with over 30 acts on three different stages plus hundreds of Morris Dancers from all over on Lyme’s seafront for massed dance-offs.

Julie Sheppard, the festival’s publicist, said: “We’ve invited some of the finest names in the business for one explosive weekend of folk, in one of the country’s finest coastal settings.

“There’ll be performances from top headliners such as Martin Simpson, Lisa Knapp and Demon Barbers at Marine Theatre.

“There’s a string of up-and-coming acts at the Pilot Boat.

“Plus there will be free concerts, busking, shanty singing and story-telling around the town.

“Lyme Regis is definitely the place to enjoy a last fling before heading back to work, college or school.

“What better way to end a fabulous summer than a folk carnival by the sea?”

See lymefolk.com for more details on acts, venues, tickets and times.

 

Creative collaboration

INDEPENDENT festival End of the Road will see Gruff Rhys performing alongside The Flaming Lips, John Grant and Wild Beasts.

The festival begins tomorrow and continues until August 31.

The Larmer Tree Gardens, on the North Dorset and Wiltshire border, creates an atmosphere where music-loving, open minded and chilled out people get together in the beautiful countryside while parrots and peacocks wander around.

Band participation is encouraged in all areas of the festival, and some acts will be invited to DJ, present workshops and many other things.

The festival has the kind of atmosphere which encourages collaboration and special events.

Gruff Rhys, pictured, will be performing at End of the Road ahead of his September UK tour.

Former Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff has just released his highest charting solo record to date.

Part of a uniquely ambitious multi-format project, the album tells the story of Welsh explorer John Evans’ fantastical journey across the States to find a lost tribe of Welsh speaking Native Americans.

American Interior has been nominated for three prestigious awards: one for music, two for literature.

See endoftheroadfestival.com for more information.

 

All set for take off

SPANDAU Ballet lead singer Tony Hadley will be performing among the Saturday line-up at ‘Corona Night Air at the Piers’, part of the Bournemouth Air Festival.

Gig goers will also see American singer-songwriter Nell Bryden, performing tracks from her critically acclaimed new album ‘Wayfarer’, as well as Sophie Ellis Bextor, The Struts and Jack Savoretti.

Tomorrow, commercial drum and bass chart toppers Sigma will perform their anthem ‘Nobody to Love’, and hotly tipped new single ‘Changing’, which sees them teaming up with Paloma Faith. Sigma join Rixton, Loveable Rogues, Alexa Goddard and headliners Rizzle Kicks.

The live music event, which is sponsored by Corona and Bournemouth’s new Co Wheels Car Club, takes place over two nights and features a host of big names and and dusk flying demonstrations.

Tickets are available from the BH Live website bhlivetickets.co.uk As well as live music, the Night Air programme features The Band of HM Royal Marines (CTCRM) performing the Beat Retreat, Royal Marines Combat Display Team on the East Overcliff, an extended dusk display starting at 7.15pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday, firework displays Friday and Saturday night and beach fireworks Thursday and Friday evening.