Choosing to hold a Music Festival for over 600 people in one of the least populated parts of England may sound unwise but that is exactly what is going to happen during the early May Bank Holiday week-end on 5/6th May 2012.  The Stepping Stones Festival is the brainchild of Maddy Prior, whose career spans over 40 years of singing and touring with groups such as Steeleye Span and The Carnival Band.  

In between tours Maddy runs singing and musical classes in a converted Barn at her homestead near Bewcastle and the Festival is her way of celebrating 10 years of such courses at Stones Barn.  Maddy commented, “I am as passionate about supporting local communities as I am about making music and the Festival will be the perfect way to attract Festival goers to this immensely beautiful but rarely visited corner of NE Cumbria, as well as help stimulate the local economy.” 

“Through my extensive contacts in the world of Folk music I have secured the talents of some well known names: Spiers and Bowden, The Carnival Band, Coop Boyes and Simpson, The New Rope String Band, Keith Donnelly and many more.  We will be running 4 major concerts over 2 days and are also engaging local artists to be the supporting acts.  Cumbria is a well known hot-spot for Folk music and to satisfy local demand we will also be running an ‘Open Mike’ stage to give young musicians the chance to perform at a bigger event.” 

“There will be plenty at  the Festival to  entertain both young and old such as traditional arts and craft demonstrations and concession stalls, a meditation tent, street theatre acts, story-telling sessions, a huge graffiti wall and a children’s adventure play area.  Because the evenings will be cool in May we will have a large bonfire around which to drink the Festival beer, brewed specially for us by the Brampton based Geltsdale Brewery.  We are even encouraging people to bring their own decorated hot water bottles with prizes being awarded for the most imaginative hotty!” 

Week-end tickets are currently priced at £60 (£65 after Christmas) with children under 12 and all camping being free, which represents exceptional value for money.  We are now open for bookings and further details will be added to the Festival website as and when they become available. Provided the Festival is successful Maddy hopes to follow up with another one the following year (watch out Glastonbury!). Those lucky enough to attend in 2012 will be able to tell their grandchildren, “I was there, where it all began!”