England’s newest winter festival just a week away as the cream of British folk acts flock to Frome 

“Two blokes at the top of their mark – one of the world’s best melodeon players and one of the world’s best mouth organ players. Brilliant!” –Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2

Stand-out musicians Tim Edey and Brendan Power - who are among the headliners performing at Somerset’s first Frome Folk Festival next weekend – scored a sensational double win at Wednesday’s BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in Manchester.

The hotly tipped pair scooped the first award of the evening-Best Duo - before Tim clinched the coveted Musician of the Year title.

They received their duo award at The Lowry from TV’s Corrie stars Kate Ford (Tracy Barlow) and Katy Cavanagh (Julie Carp) whilst Tim was presented with his award by Cathy Jordan of Irish band Dervish. See their show stopping live performance at The Lowry award ceremony described by The Guardian’s Colin Irwin as "one of the most exciting live performances of the night."

Two of the most respected and active artists on the acoustic and Celtic scene, UK-based Kiwi harmonica maestro Power and brilliant Anglo-Irish multi instrumentalist Edey opted to join forces following an impromptu festival jam session. The inspired improvisation was such a success they decided to bottle the potion on the brilliantly received debut recording Wriggle and Writhe – a title that perfectly captures this ebbing and flowing album with its emphatic “question and answer” between Power’s dazzling harmonica and Edey’s blistering button accordion and guitar. (They will be live in session on BBC Radio 3’s “World on 3” on the eve of the Frome Festival (Feb 17, 11pm)

A potent partnership fizzing with alchemy, the Kent-based duo have delivered storming sets at festivals across Europe and over the Atlantic, their freewheeling feelgood sound captivating audiences from Estonia to Cape Breton and now they are heading to Frome among an incredible roster of many of the top names in British folk, including fellow BBC Folk Awards winner, Bella Hardy .

The popular young fiddle-singer from Derbyshire’s Peak District jointly won the Best Original Song category at the Folk Awards, for her song The Herring Girl, sharing the prize with Steve Tilston for his song “The Reckoning”.

Situated at the eastern end of the Mendip Hills, Frome boasts steep cobbled streets, old weavers’ cottages and historic Georgian buildings as well as the popular entertainment venue The Cheese and Grain which will be the main focus of the festival (Feb 18 and 19).

The festival is the brainchild of West Country music promoter Jan Ayers, who successfully brought a folk festival back to Bristol after 32 years this spring. Says  Jan: “Some of our biggest folk stars will be coming to Somerset next weekend and what better place for a “banish your winter blues” festival. Frome has a great tradition for live acoustic music. Not only is it perfectly situated in the heart of Somerset close to the cities of Bath, Wells and Salisbury but it also has a number of characterful pubs and other venues we are using. Adding to the main stage attractions will be workshops, singarounds, market stalls, a big Morris dancing meet and lots of warming winter soup!” 

The whole town will be buzzing, with other stages at the nearby Westway Cinema, Masonic Hall and Round Tower as well as pub sessions at The Griffin, The Cornerhouse and The Bear featuring musicians including Leander Morales, Dizzi Dulcimer and Bath’s acclaimed cellist Beth Porter and The Availables.

Award-winning Irish songstress Cara Dillon, who lives in Frome, is festival patron and will be introducing the duo Winter Mountain, the first signing to her new Charcoal Records label. Miranda Sykes and Rex Preston will be officially launching their eponymous debut album at the festival on the Sunday, complete with a glass of fizz for the audience (!) whilst Gren Bartley will be performing a special preview of songs from his striking new album Songs to Scythe Back the Overgrown, on the same day.One of the most dynamic duos on the UK acoustic music scene will headline the festival Saturday in a special double appearance.

The melodeon, fiddle and singing phenomenon John Spiers and Jon Boden are twice winners of Best Duo at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, and also spawned the mighty 11-piece folk supergroup Bellowhead. They will host an afternoon ceilidh before performing their evening headline set

“Folk legend” Steve Knightley will be the Sunday headliner. Show of Hands’ inspired frontman, hailed as one of England’s finest songwriters, this year celebrates 20 years of his phenomenal professional partnership with multi instrumental wizard Phil Beer when Show of Hands play the Royal Albert Hall for an incredible fourth  time.But the BBC triple award-winning songwriter is increasingly carving a successful solo career alongside Show of Hands and Frome Folk Festival will offer an opportunity to see him take to the stage of The Cheese and Grain in a display of inimitable one-man showmanship.

The main line-up is completed by Chris Wood, Jackie Oates, Jim Moray, Jamie Smith’s Mabon, Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman, Pilgrims’ Way, Belshazzar’s Feast, Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin, Cole Stacey, Jenna, Dyer:Cummings, Elfynn,, Frome Street Bandits and phenomenal 17 year-old singer songwriter Luke Jackson. 

Frome Folk Festival will run from 9am-11pm both days. Great value weekend tickets, price £58 (£48 concessions) are still available HERE
A family weekend ticket for two adults and 2 children (aged under 15) is £190.No booking fees apply. Day tickets are £32 (£30 concessions).

For those wishing to camp, there will be provision locally for tents and camper vans. There are also numerous campsites, hotels and B & B’s in the area. More information on www.fromefolkfestival.co.uk