Plans are going well for Tenterden Folk Festival 2022 which will run for four days from Thursday 6 October. to Sun 9 oct
The 30th Tenterden Folk Festival
The first “Tenterden Folk Day” took place on
Saturday 2nd October 1993 and, according to
the programme, there were 15 billed guests,
13 Morris sides and 18 events. The guests
included some familiar names such as Band of
Two, Pete Castle, Lucy Castle, Keith Kendrick,
Jez Lowe, Bing Lyle and Tonbridge Mummers, as
well as some less familiar names including “Lo!
& Behold” which was a one off collaboration
between Jez, Pete, Lucy and Bing especially
for the event. The dance sides listed are all
well known teams who we mainly still see at
Tenterden, including Bishop Gundulf, East
Kent Morris, Kits Coty Morris, Maenads and
of course the host side Woodchurch Morris.
The craft fair was an important part of the
programme from the beginning and in 1993
it took place in the Junior and Infant School
Halls and was organised by Linda Robards
from Ashford Library. The other Committee
members are listed in the programme as Alan
Castle who is still there 30 years on, Christina
Bax (now Fuller) from Ashford Borough Council,
Keith Rundell from Kent Arts and Libraries,
Dave Grabham founder of Woodchurch Morris
was the dance co-ordinator and the late Anne
Thomas who remained closely involved until
her sad death in 2011. Sponsors of that first
folk day are listed as Ashford Borough Council,
Kent County Council, Tenterden Chamber of
Commerce and Folk Spots and the support
of Tenterden Town Council and Woodchurch
Morris is also noted. The venues for sing-a-
rounds were the Vine and the Eight Bells with
the evening concert taking place in the upstairs
room of the Eight Bells, which we still miss.
30 years on, Tenterden Folk Festival runs
for four days from Thursday to Sunday and
includes over 50 events, 15 venues, up to 40
Morris sides, a huge marquee containing the
craft fair and stalls, a free music stage, dance
stage, over 50 guests, campsite and events for
all the family.
Full details of this year can be found in the
diary section.
Alan Castle BEM Festival Director
Festival Contacts
Festival information:
E: info@tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk
W: www.tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk
Festival director: Alan Castle,
Tenterden Folk Festival, 15 Repton Manor Road,
Ashford, TN23 3HA T: 01233 626805
E: alan@tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk