HOLMFIRTH FESTIVAL OF FOLK 2006: MAY 5th - 7th
                                                                                
THE SHOW GOES ON!

Now that the director of Holmfirth Folk Festival Ltd has confirmed publicly that there will be no Holmfirth Festival in 2006 some local people have decided otherwise!

A group of Holmfirth business people met last week with local folk music and dance enthusiasts, all of whom are experienced in organising and running events, and have confirmed that the show will go on. They want it to be known that, contrary to some of the rumours that abound, they are running a festival in 2006 because no one else is and for no other reason.

Landlady of The Nook, Sheila Sutton, daughter of former licensees David and Angela Roberts said, 'We were very concerned to learn from the newspaper that the festival wasn't going to happen in 2006 and that the organisers wanted to move it to a greenfield site for 2007. Obviously the loss of income is a consideration but my family have been involved in the festival every year since it started and it is an event that we enjoy greatly. The Nook has played an important role in the success of the festival and it would be a sad loss if it was to be moved out of town.'

The new organising team are not planning to imitate what has happened in previous years but hope that they will be able to provide enough attractions to appeal to visitors and the local community. Already booked for the Picturedrome are The Strawbs, John Martyn and The Peatbog Faeries (tbc), Ceilidhs are planned for Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, Morris Dance sides are booked, The Nook, The Postcard, The Old Bridge Hotel and Carniceria are all putting together a programme of music, children's entertainment is in hand, workshops have already been offered by musicians and arrangements for camping are well advanced.

The Holme Valley Business Association and 42 local businesses have pledged their support and sponsorship has been offered by The Music Room and Pertemps.

The organisers want to make this year's festival a truly community event and further offers of support and help would be much appreciated.

Contact can be made through holmfirthfolk@btinternet.com

As one of the local vicars said, "You can't have May in Holmfirth without having the Folk Festival - it wouldn't be the same! "