Dorset Echo 10 May 2004

Annual festival weaves it way into national folk calander
By Peter Hawkins.

Weymouth's 'tremendous' folk festival is becoming cemented into the folk calender. Organiser Bob Kirkpatrick said: "We are still only in our third year but this year has really established us well"

A procession of dancers wound their way along the beach from the Jubilee Clock to the Pavilion, weaving in and out of the town centre. Folk music act Show of Hands, dubbed the U2 of folk music, headlined at the Pavilion on Saturday night while a celidh was held in the Ocean Rooms.

Musicians Jez Lowe, Bob Fox and the Bad Pennies performed at the close of the weekend on Sunday afternoon.

Bob Kirkpatrick added: "It went tremendously well. We got lots of positive comments from members of the public, the dance teams were well received and the Ocean Rooms were full - it was fantastic. "The weather helped in way - we moved the Appalachian dancers inside because of the wind and we were overwhelmed with the number of onlookers."

The festival also included dance displays, music and dance workshops and craft stalls, as well as various free musical performances in pubs around Weymouth including Paul Downes, mike Silver and Three Tons o' grass.

ENDS