Nuts In May4-6th May, 2012 Stainburn, Workington, Cumbria

NUTS IN MAY, Cumbria’s newest festival, takes place over the bank holiday weekend 4-6 May 2012, just outside Workington. Held on fifty acres of specially landscaped beautiful woodland, Nuts In May promises to become another permanent fixture on the festival scene. Already experiencing brisk ticket sales with people booking tickets from all corners of the country, Nuts In May will be the place to be in Cumbria come May! 

Boasting six stages, the main Jack In The Green stage, Cup Of Wonder, Nut Shack, Woodland Glade , Tufty’s Den and Nuts In-Formation (Open Mic). The organisers promise an exhilaratingly eclectic mix of acoustic, rock, folk, blues, reggae, soul, funk, dance, roots and world music and more with plenty to entertain besides includes storytelling, workshops, kid’s events, late night entertainment and plenty of delicious food stalls at this family friendly event.  

The organising committee includes a team who previously has worked with Solfest and bring to Nuts In May a degree of professionalism and a passion for festivals. 

Joanne Braniff, of the organising committee of Nuts In May said

“The idea of Nuts In May has been an ambition of Alwyn [my partner] and me for eight or nine years.  The experience and learning of being involved with Solfest festival has given us the tools we believe are essential for putting on a good family festival.  We have been fortunate in that we discovered festivals twenty or so years ago and want to bring the joy and experience of a real festival to our very own doorstep. 

We believe that Nuts In May will be a festival that Workington and West Cumbria can be proud of and the community can feel part of.  We really want to help dispel the myth that ‘nothing ever happens here’ and be rightly acclaimed as a destination people from outside our region are attracted to. 

The wonderful experience of live music and the pleasure of seeing young and old enjoying themselves is our main reason for this festival, that said we believe Nuts In May will benefit both our local economy and community”. 

As for further delights and the origins of the festival name, Joanne explains further. 

“The festival itself will also celebrate some old and possibly quirky pastimes, such as Morris and maypole dancing and brass bands!  The traditional old English rhyme of Nuts In May is fitting to the festival name, but really it’s an appreciative nod towards the cult comical television film devised and directed by Mike Leigh. 

We hope Nuts In May will be an annual event, and we will try to bring together a balance of some of the very best and most successful parts of Solfest and Brampton Live”. 

With acts still to announce Nuts In May have established a website and both a Facebook and Twitter online presence to keep people notified on developments and bookings.

So far confirmed are: Hazel O’Connor star of the film Breaking Glass and songwriter with hits ‘Eighth Day’, ‘D-Days’ and ‘Will You’ in her repertoire. Nik Kershaw, the chart-topping star who as well as performing at Live Aid, wrote a succession of hits for Let Loose, The Hollies and Chesney Hawkes, and has worked with Elton John, Bonnie Tyler and Imogen Heap amongst others. Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick, two living folk music legends, instrumental in the likes of folk-rock premier league Steeleye Span and Fairport Convention. Emma’s Imagination, the musical for acclaimed Polydor records artist Emma Gillespie.

Ahab, the much in demand purveyors of acoustic alt-country.The Magic Tombolinos, the London Based quintet whose exhilarating mix of world, Latin, Gypsy and classic rock has already caught the ear of Rob Brydon, who has booked them to be the house band for his Christmas special 2011. MJ Hibbett & The Validators, Steve Lamacq favourites and cult songwriter MJ brings his unique musical vision. Mad Dog Mcrea, the folk rock musical whirlwind will blow in from Cornwall.  The Boat Band, longstanding maritime and canal-based purveyors of joyous Cajun, zydeco and folk tunes. The Martin Harley Band, a hardworking and dynamic British blues trio. The Baghdaddies, the Newcastle mainstays of the festival circuit whose superb fusion of jazz and world grooves always thrills. Rory Connor, the hugely talented Alson based singer-songwriter and member of contemporary folk act Tarras.Gus MacGregor, the hugely talented singer-songwriter and previously star of  musical Buddy.Tarantism are another band of festival diehards as likely to ska and psychedelia as reggae and folk.

Sean Taylor the highly acclaimed young acoustic blues maestro, with Cambridge Folk Festival and Glastonbury appearances recently added to his CV.  Megan Henwood ,the hugely talented folk flavoured young singer-songwriter. Steam Radio the North-east based six-piece renowned for the prowess in taking traditional folk to pastures new. Pikey Beatz, quite possibly the most popular unsigned festival band in the North! Walsh & Pound are Dan Walsh, banjo player extraordinaire and Will Pound wizard of the harmonica. Together they become one of the most formidable duos on the folk circuit. Mishaped Pearls, the London based seven-piece whose timeless blend of world music, opera and classical music is a joy to behold. Earthling Society, the 21st century purveyors of good old fashioned spacerock, prog and psychedelia. Katus Young, the multi-talented, multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter. Evie Plumb the much heralded young Windermere based singer-songwriter. The Indian Postal Service, south Cumbria’s finest new act of recent years. The Dish Of Cheese, madcap song writing from West Cumbria’s own fusion of The Pythons and Zappa! Plus The Lost Padres, Indian Postal Service, Paul Pearson, Hoochie Coochie Moonshine Band, Ex-Lepers and lots more still to be confirmed. 

All weekend tickets are available at a recession beating £34. Young people of 12 to 17 £20. Under 11’s are free.  Camping is free although there is a small charge for vehicles of £5 per vehicle. Vehicles with trailers/caravans are £9 Tickets are available to buy online.

Location: Middlemoor, Stainburn, Workington, Cumbria  CA14 1SZ