“The finest instrumental duo on the traditional scene” – The Guardian  

~Take your partners! Dynamic duo host rare festival ceilidh in Somerset before stepping up the pace for Saturday evening headline show ~  

One of the most dynamic duos on the UK acoustic music scene will headline the first day of England’s newest folk festival next February – in a special double appearance. 

The melodeon, fiddle and singing phenomenon John Spiers and Jon Boden will head to the picturesque Somerset market town of Frome, near Bath, on Saturday, February 18 for a double dose of performances at the start of the much anticipated two-day festival at the edge of the Mendip hills.

The new festival, which will be played out at the former 19th century market hall venue The Cheese and Grain and other town locations, is the brainchild of West Country music promoter Jan Ayers, who successfully brought a folk festival back to Bristol after 32 years this spring. 

Twice winners of Best Duo at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Spiers and Boden also spawned the mighty 11-piece folk supergroup Bellowhead (whose forthcoming show at The Cheese and Grain is now sold out). 

Says Jan: “We’re delighted to announce the fabulous Spiers and Boden as our first headliners – their Bellowhead gig in Frome in November was the first to sell out on their upcoming tour so here’s another chance to catch them in town.” 

Currently celebrating their 10th anniversary year and new album The Works, Spiers and Boden have played everywhere from Glastonbury to the Southbank and the Royal Albert Hall and have been described by The Guardian as “the finest instrumental duo on the traditional scene” and “the contemporary equivalent of Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick” while fRoots magazine says “Technically they stand head to head with the best of their generation”.

Known for their punky English folk, they will bring a pukka party atmosphere to Frome’s Cheese and Grain in February, getting festivalgoers on their feet for their two-hour afternoon ceilidh, with energetic caller Phil Bassindale(above left). 

The theatrical Boden was named Folk Singer of the Year at the 2010 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and recently completed the year-long tour de force A Folk Song a Day (delivering a different song onto the World Wide Web daily) while Spiers has carved his own space in the folk scene with his unique blending of traditional squeezebox styles.

After the ceilidh Spiers and Boden will be back on The Cheese and Grain stage that evening in what promises to be a very special concert finale to crown the Saturday night programme, showing just why they are so in-demand across the country. 

The duo join some of the top names in English folk already booked to appear at the winter weekend festival, which is set to take place in the historic town on Saturday, February 18 and Sunday, February 19. 

Award-winning Irish songstress Cara Dillon, who lives in Frome, has accepted an invitation to be Patron of the inaugural festival. 

Frome boasts steep cobbled streets, old weavers’ cottages and historic Georgian buildings and is located close to Bath, wells and Salisbury.

In addition to The Cheese and Grain, other festival events are due to take place at Westway Cinema, Rook Lane Chapel and pubs in the town including The Archangel. There will also be a lively Morris dance programme as well as workshops, singarounds and market stalls. 

Sunday headliners are still to be announced but among an already strong line up is one of the finest female acts on the current roots scene. Popular young fiddle-singer Bella Hardy (left) hails from Derbyshire’s Peak District and is a three times BBC Folk Award nominee with a mesmerising voice, captivating stage presence and intricate fiddle skills. Her most recent album “Songs Lost and Stolen” has won widespread critical acclaim. 

Key members of the Lakeman dynasty, Dartmoor-based Sean Lakeman and Kathryn Roberts (left) will also be a main attraction on the Sunday combining Sean’s expert guitar playing with Kathryn’s exquisite vocals. 

Other announced artists are inspired young North Devon singer songwriter Jenna who was “discovered” by Show of Hands, singer-songwriter phenomenon Luke Jackson - just 17 years old, the wickedly inventive Belshazzar’s Feast, Somerset’s own Dyer Cummings and hot new duo Tim Edey & Brendan Power, two of the most active artists on the acoustic and Celtic scene. 

Frome Folk Festival will run from 9am-11pm both days. Early Bird weekend tickets, price £58 (£48 concessions)TICKETS are now on sale

No booking fees apply.

 

Indoor camping will be available at the town’s United Reformed Church, just a stone’s throw from the festival venues. It will be available on Feb 17,18 and 19 at a cost of just £8 per night. There will also be provision locally for camper vans and there are numerous campsites, hotels and B & B’s in the area.

More information at www.fromefolkfestival.co.uk