Wise eyes in the folk and roots community will turn in anticipation to the Village Pump Folk Festival starting 24th July at the White Horse Country Park, Westbury in Wiltshire.

Not only does the festival promise upwards of 30+ hours of cracking acoustic, roots, and folk across its four stages, but this is a festival that welcomes your active involvement in the host of workshops, open mic slots, and other delights throughout an action packed weekend. Not only that, but you can also be part of the backing cast to a unique recording of a live album by festival patrons Show of Hands on Saturday night!

The weekend ticket includes free camping or caravanning within the stunning location of White Horse Country Park. Apart from the views, you are also welcome to enjoy a top notch range of food providers, and craft stalls, and, of course, a full programme of activities for the kids. Expect a few raucous evenings in the well provided bars too - with a choice of beers, ales, and ciders almost as numerous as the bands.

Musically, the festival has pulled a very strong line-up together, with patrons’ Show of Hands being joined by the likes of Oysterband, Barbara Dickson & Nick Holland, Treacherous Orchestra, Edward II, and Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick, as well as promoting emerging talent including False Lights, Coco & The Butterfields and Calan. Late additions Keston Cobblers Club, replacing the sadly indisposed Strawbs, are sure to be worthy substitutes. Singer-songwriter Kelly Oliver completes the final line-up.

Apart from the fully inclusive weekend ticket offering at £120 (£130 on the gate), the festival also offers Day tickets, and, as a new venture this year, Evening tickets at a bargain £30.

Our Festival For All reviewers can’t wait... Roll on the 24th July!

Full Line-up:

FRIDAY 24TH JULY

BARBARA DICKSON & NICK HOLLAND / COCO & THE BUTTERFIELDS / WILLE & THE BANDITS / THE BROONZIES / JEZ LOWE / CARDBOARD FOX / UP THE CREEK / MIKE SCOTT / PAUL DARBY’S NATURE RAMBLE / ANDREW BAZELEY / GEORGIA LEWIS / ROSIE EADE BAND / SANDY & GRAHAM BALL / SIAN PENLINGTON & ROB CALQUHOON / TIM BRINE & SUE FRANKLIN / RAY BRADFIELD

SATURDAY 25TH JULY

SHOW OF HANDS / TREACHEROUS ORCHESTRA / EDWARD II / FALSE LIGHTS / MEGSON / SAM GREEN & THE MIDNIGHT HEIST / ROVING CROWS / POLLY BARRETT / BILL SMARME & THE BIZNESS / CARRIVICK SISTERS / ROD CLEMENTS / CHRIS PARKINSON / MAGGIE HOLLAND / THE CLEVERLY BROTHERS / ROB LEAR / ALLAN YN Y FAN / KEVIN BROWN / JENNA WITTS / UP THE CREEK / ROSIE EADE BAND / BILLY HILL / BI-VOCAL / ANDREW BAZELEY / THE WILLBEES

SUNDAY 26TH JULY

OYSTERBAND / KESTON COBBLERS CLUB / MARTIN CARTHY & DAVE SWARBRICK / SPOOKY MEN’S CHORALE / MAD DOG MCREA / RUARRI JOSEPH BAND / CALAN /MICK RYAN & PAUL DOWNES / WORRY DOLLS / GAZ BROOKFIELD / KEITH CHRISTMAS / UP THE CREEK / FOREIGN AFFAIRS / KEVIN BROWN / THE YIRDBARDS / JENNA WITTS / AFTER AURA / GEORGIA LEWIS / LEANDER MORALES / KIRSTY CLINCH / PHIL COOPER / JACKIE & FELIX BYRNE / KELLY OLIVER / STRIDING EDGE / JORDAN WHATLEY / BERTIE WRIGHT / FRANK CLEWITT / CLIFF GATER / MILK STREET BAND / FRESHLY GROUND / ROB BARRATT / PETE STERN / IS YOU IS / IS YOU AINT / GEOFF FRY & SUE WALKER / VILLAGE PUMP CHOIR

Village Pump Folk Festival 2015

White Horse Country Park, Westbury, Wiltshire, BA13 4OX

Dates: 24th - 26th Jul 2015

Price: Tickets for adults (with camping) from £120.00


Article by Barrie Dimond