ALL ABOARD THE FOLK TRAM

Over twenty musicians are due to perform at Crich Tramway Village in what organisers are calling the first folk festival of its kind, on Sunday 28 and bank holiday Monday 29 May.

Derbyshire based folk musicians The Down Trodden Swing Band from Bakewell, Big Al Whittle from Alfreton, Pete Castle from Belper and a number of acts from Buxton, will perform alongside artistes from Manchester and Lancashire.

"This is a Folk Festival with a difference," says Chris Rockcliffe who has booked the musicians for the event. "We are breaking the mould by bringing together a wide range of musical styles in this unique location. Performances will be kept relatively short and repeated throughout the day on different stages, including on the trams themselves."

Festival goers can expect the unexpected; Celtic jigs to lively American folk tunes to contemporary love songs; from hilarious comic songs and music hall ditties, to classic old-timey songs; from traditional English ballads to worksongs, blues, bluegrass, ragtime, swing, acoustic pop and a lot more besides. There will even be the opportunity to listen to the sounds of a didgeridoo.

"This is an ideal opportunity to enjoy a day out at the Tramway Village and discover the wonderful range of musical styles that are loosely grouped under the term folk music, " says Chris Rockcliffe. "You may be surprised, you certainly won't be disappointed."

The trams will play a key part in the event, enabling people to travel between the three live music stages; the Red Lion pub, the Tramshed stage, and the Victorian bandstand. The trams themselves will also become venues for impromptu performances.

Crich Tramway Village event organiser Christine Brown said, "To our knowledge this will be the first time that folk music has been played on board trams. The Peak District has folk trains so we thought why not folk trams!

"The variety of locations within the Tramway Village means we can have different acts on stage at the same time, giving visitors the opportunity to ride the trams, explore the Village and see a great range of live music. The Red Lion pub with real ale on tap is sure to be a popular venue.

"This is also a family event. Children will love the entertaining style and humour of Jolly Jok, there will be children's entertainers, and of course the Tramway Village's play areas, exhibitions and tram rides will be open as usual."

The youngest performer at the festival is 14-year-old Lucy Spraggan from Buxton, who has been playing guitar and writing her own songs for the past four years. Although she performs regularly in Buxton, Crich Tramway Village is her folk festival debut. Observers say she possesses musical talents way beyond her years and is tipped to go a long way.

Headlining the two-day festival at a special evening concert on Sunday 28 May at 7.30pm will be Manchester folk singer and performer Kirsty McGee. Kirsty has teamed up with Mat Martin and the pair have created quite a stir in the UK acoustic music scene with Kirsty fast establishing herself as a singer songwriter of immense talent.

"The lass has a wonderful voice, and is causing quite a stir". Mike Harding BBC Radio 2, Oct 2002

The support act for Sunday night will be Martin Hall. The Tramway Village will be open until 11pm, there will be live music in the Red Lion pub and trams running until late.

All daytime Folk Festival events are included in the normal Crich Tramway Village admission prices: Adult £9.00. Senior £8.00. Child (3-15) £4.50. Family (2 adults, 3 children) £24.00. Tickets for Kirsty McGee on Sunday evening 28 May are an additional £5 and can be booked in advance by calling Crich Tramway Village on 01773 854321.

Artistes performing each day and brief biographies

Sunday 28 May: Big Al Whittle, Dominic Collins, The Down Trodden Swing Band, Lucy Spraggan, Martin Hall, Pelican Babies, Pete Castle.

Sunday 28 May 7.30pm: Kirsty McGee and Mat Martin with support Martin Hall (tickets an additional £5.00).

Monday 29 May: Gentleman George, Jolly Jok, Jon Brindley, Last Call, Lucy Spraggan, Snakey Terrain

Kirsty McGee and Mat Martin

Kirsty McGee first came to prominence on the Manchester music scene. Her high quality songs led to awards and her charming stage presence brought her to the attention of various festivals where her appearances led quickly to a record deal.

In 2003 Kirsty was nominated for the prestigious BBC Radio 2 'Horizon Award' for best newcomer and in the year that followed played many of the UK's major festivals including Cambridge, Sidmouth and Glasgow's Celtic Connections.

Kirsty secured a PRS foundation grant to tour as a trio with double bassist Miranda Sykes and multi-instrumentalist Mat Martin in February of 2004. This was to be the start of a long-term collaboration with Mat, who has gone on to accompany Kirsty on fretted strings at all her live appearances and to co-arrange material with her.

In 2005 her song Coffee Coloured Strings was nominated for 'Best Original Song' at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards (televised by BBC4).

"Absolutely superb. Memorable. I love her songs. I love her way" Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2

"...her sound verges on Folk but her voice would fit nicely on a classic pop song.... she could pick up a fantastic fanbase" Paul Heaton of The Beautiful South (ex-The Housemartins) in Q Magazine, Dec '04

"The lass has a wonderful voice, and is causing quite a stir." Mike Harding BBC Radio 2

Big Al Whittle

Deep-voiced singer of self-penned songs with a distinctly American flavour. Recently won the Musicians Union best performer award at BBC Radio Lincolnshire's annual 'write a folksong' competition. Lives near Alfreton in Derbyshire.

Dominic Collins

Manchester postman by day, singer/songwriter and guitarist by night (and weekend) who writes all his own excellent comic song material - a sort of 21st century Mike Harding with bits of Northern humour.

The Down Trodden String Band

Quartet from Bakewell, the DTSB perform Appalachian dance music and songs on fiddle, bouzouki, guitar, banjo and mandolin.

Lucy Spraggan

Young talented performer and prolific songwriter from Buxton who writes all her own songs and plays guitar very well too. At just 14 Lucy is the youngest person on the Crich Tramway Village Folk Festival bill.

Martin Hall

Buxton based guitarist /singer of mostly contemporary singer/songwriter material - superb voice and top guitarist who is well known in the North West and Derbyshire circles

Pelican Babies

A duo from Lancashire currently making waves with some great self-penned songs and crowd pleasing covers - think Simon & Garfunkel and Everly Brothers harmonies with superb twin guitars. They also play a didgeridoo - and very well as it happens.

Pete Castle

Well-known local Derbyshire based singer and guitarist, originally from the south of England and now living in Belper. A fine purveyor of traditional English folk songs for many years.

Gentleman George

High Peak based songsmith/guitarist who spent many years in the USA where he had the opportunity to jam with some very good musician's such as, Kenny Rogers, Barry Manilow, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Supertramp and many others. Powerful voice and crowd pleasing popular contemporary acoustic style songs.

Jolly Jok

Hilarious frontman for the Biggles Wartime Band (they play Glastonbury every year) and a completely off the wall performer of songs - traditional, modern, old and new - various instruments played and others attempted! If you haven't been entertained by Jolly Jok's solo act - you haven't really discovered all the facial muscles that make you laugh. Your jaw will ache – guaranteed!

Jon Brindley

Jon Brindley (34) hails from Wigan and likes to take his audience on a lively journey, bringing passion and humour to music. Playing guitar and a fiddle handed down from his Grandma, his range includes Celtic fiddle tunes, blues, contemporary folk, country, rock, popular songs and traditional ballads, all with his own unique interpretation - expect the unexpected!

Last Call

Buxton based Keith Smith & Ric Bateman have had this blues to rags and pop song thing going for ages and always good listening - guitar, slide guitar and harmonica.

Snakey Terrain

Duo Chris Rockcliffe, guitar/vocals, and Bernie Dart, 5-string banjo and guitar/vocals, play a real mixture of roots music from Britain, Ireland and the USA including bluegrass, Old timey, western swing, jazz, blues traditional folk and pop songs.