February Folk Day
Saturday 23rd February 2008
Hoole Community Centre, Westminster Rd., Hoole, Chester, CH2 3AU (click for map)

AFTERNOON CONCERT, EVENING CEILIDH & FOLK CLUB,
SESSIONS, SINGAROUNDS etc. from 12 noon

Featuring a variety of national and local folk performers including:

Strawhead Strawhead (Gregg Butler, Malcolm Gibbons and Chris Pollington) have achieved recognition world wide through their distinctive repertoire and sound, and with definitive versions of songs like 'The Rochester Recruiting Sergeant ',' Over the Hills and Far Away' , ' Spanish Ladies' and many more. According to their website, their songs include 'songs of sovereigns, songs of war, songs of mystery, and the poor, songs of whimsy, songs of note, songs of the people, blue jacket and red coat, songs that are political, songs of heroes bold, songs of wine and women, songs of legends old, songs of work and play, songs of just complaints, songs of felons sold, songs of holy saints, songs of the wild sea, songs of the quiet land, songs of old England, songs from a far off strand'. They were our bill toppers at the very first February Folk Day in 1988, and although, they have appeared several times since then at the Folk Festival, this will be their first return visit!

Quicksilver Hilary Spencer (That Voice in acapella meistersingers Artisan) and Grant Baynham (ex-'That's Life!' and comic songsmith to the stars) have been working together as a duo for a year or so now. QuickSilver, so named because the initials H & g also form the elemental symbol for mercury, is all about Hilary's voice and Grant's guitar-playing and writing. And the chemistry is indeed wonderful: the material (roughly half self-penned) includes all the things you can imagine doing with two voices and an acoustic guitar, plus a good few that you probably can't. Both performers are experienced pros, well known for their on-stage repartee, so their set flows seamlessly and is by turns moving, funny, relaxed and occasionally jaw-dropping. You can see them in the afternoon Concert and again to finish off the evening Folk Club.

This Way Up This Way Up are a four-piece English ceilidh band who have been performing together for nearly 20 years at dance clubs and festivals around the UK. They play a selection of contemporary & traditional tunes from Great Britain, Europe and beyond, with a firm commitment to rhythm and energy. Their caller for our evening Ceilidh will be the one and only Martyn Harvey.

Jon Harvison Jon Harvison is a singer and guitar player who performs a well-balanced mix of traditional, contemporary and self-penned songs. His great strength is his rich, expressive and powerful voice which contrasts with his neat guitar work and witty stories. A regular guest at the Raven Folk Club, he has performed at clubs and festivals nationwide and we are pleased to welcome him to the Folk Day to perform in our afternoon Concert.

Full House Our own Chester-based supergroup and hosts of the Raven Folk Club which takes place every Sunday night in Chester, Full House are Nick Mitchell (vocals, guitar mandola), Chris Lee (mandolin, bass, vocals), Dave Russell (vocals, fiddle, bouzouki, guitar, bass), Mark Woolley (percussion, whistles) and Ian Jones (melodeon, flute, whistles). All sensitive singers and talented multi-instrumentalists - they are firm favourites with Chester audiences. As well as performing in the afternoon Concert they will be hosting the evening Folk Club.

Welcomme, Finnan & Chrimes This fairly new trio of bass player Frank Welcomme; singer, guitarist and long-time friend of Chester Folk Festival, John Finnan and banjo player Andy Chrimes, of long established local group Fiddlestone, were a late but popular addition to our programme at last year's festival. They will be performing in the afternoon Concert and hosting our teatime Singaround.

Roy Clinging & Neil Brookes Roy is an experienced singer, both solo and with various harmony groups, and Neil is an outstanding dance musician. Roy's singing and concertina (and occasional guitar) playing are enhanced by Neil's musicianship as he compliments the songs and inspires the tunes on fiddle and octave fiddle. Roy & Neil wil be hosting the Music & Song Session to start the day off with a swing.

TICKETS: Afternoon £9, Evening £8, All Day £15
Children 10-18: Afternoon £4.50, Evening £4, All Day £7.50 (under 10's - free)
CONCESSIONS (for OAP's, students and unwaged): Afternoon £8, Evening £7, All Day £13