'Local' Folk Festivals?

Subject: RE: 'Local' Folk Festivals?
From: GUEST,livelylass
Date: 23 Jun 11 - 09:47 AM

PS - please don't restrict your suggestions to purely traditional events, any folk festival showcasing local-ish talent and colour is welcome.

Subject: RE: 'Local' Folk Festivals?
From: GUEST,livelylass
Date: 23 Jun 11 - 09:41 AM

Somewhat surprised at the rather low uptake for this thread so far - I wonder if it has anything to do with the oft repeated comments I've heard from folkies who say that the same small group of high profile artists tend to top the bill wherever you go?

Possibly I'm just being premature and should give more contributors a chance to add more suggestions for regionally focused folk fare!

Keep them coming..

Subject: RE: 'Local' Folk Festivals?
From: soupercaper
Date: 23 Jun 11 - 07:47 AM

Try Newscastleton Folk Festival (Copshaw to the locals) going for 41 years, no paid acts just sessions and competitions which are old style and local....

Subject: RE: 'Local' Folk Festivals?
From: theleveller
Date: 23 Jun 11 - 03:29 AM

I much prefer 'local' festivals. There are several in north/east yorkshire that feature local performers, as well as having some national or international artists; notably Ryedale, Scarborough Seafest and Moonbeams Wold Top (where even the beer's local - it's brewed on the premises). I especially love Moonbeams because many of the songs I write are about the local area and take on a special resonance when performed in the heart of it.

Subject: RE: 'Local' Folk Festivals?
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 23 Jun 11 - 03:13 AM

We went to the shetland festival this year - a lot of local people in the line up, including some talented youngsters, and shetland dancing as part of the concert and workshops. Most of the audience seemed to be local and they made an effort to take one of the concerts round to the remoter islands. The concerts were fairly full.

There is a general concern in the shetlands that the council are pulling the funding for the children to have free music lessons where fiddles and accordians are strong. The festival sessions were mostly tune sets rather than singing.
FloraG

Subject: RE: 'Local' Folk Festivals?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 23 Jun 11 - 03:03 AM

Rothbury in North East England, Dartmoor in the South West....

Kitty

Subject: RE: 'Local' Folk Festivals?
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jun 11 - 10:02 PM

Mod please edit thread header to read "fe(s)tivals". thank you

Subject: 'Local' Folk Fetivals?
From: GUEST,livelylass
Date: 22 Jun 11 - 10:00 PM

How many folk festivals are there out there which place a distinct emphasis on local regional folk arts, music and artists?
I'd like to know why I should travel a hundred miles to experience something regionally unique and distinctive? (I don't mean something like a generic "Irish" or "Scottish" festival, for both countries contain distinct regions within them.)

I'm sure there are the folk festival equivalent of regional food fairs, which folk festivals are dedicated to presenting local regional folk arts and music? Where are the Arbroath Smokies and Salt Marsh Lamb of folk festivals to be found?

There must be a great number of local specialities I'm sure, but which ones are really special to you, and why?