Saturday 27th February 2010
Hoole Community Centre
Westminster Road, Hoole, Chester, CH2 3AU (click for map)

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

Programme: The day starts as usual at 12 noon with a MUSIC & SONG SESSION hosted by Roy Clinging. This will finish at 2pm in time for the start of the main CONCERT which features Bella Hardy (with Chris Sherburn and Corinna Hewitt), Bill Whaley & Dave Fletcher, Jonny Kearney & Lucy Farrell, Bartram, Brookes & Weatherall and Greg Russell. This will finish about 5pm and at 5.30 there will be a teatime SINGAROUND, hosted by Sue Bargh & Don Harrison .

Facilities: The real ale bar will be open all day and home-cooked snacks & hot drinks will also be available. In Hoole there is a wide variety of food outlets, including pubs, takeaways and restaurants. During the afternoon there will be a supervised playroom for the children.

Directions: Hoole Community Centre is on Westminster Road which is just off Hoole Road (A56), the main approach to the city from the east and the M56/M53. As Westminster Road is a one-way street, drivers should take the left turn before (Hamilton Street) or the one immediately after (Faulkner Street). The Centre is about 10 minutes walk from Chester Railway Station and several bus routes serve Hoole Road. (click for map)

The many national and local guests during the day include:

Bella Hardy

Though only 25 years old, Bella has already been nominated three times in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and has been well known on the folk circuit for many years, playing fiddle in a variety of popular line-ups as a teenager and reaching the finals of the BBC Young Folk Awards in 2004. However, it was following the launch of her debut album Night Visiting in 2007 that she quickly rose to become one of the shining lights of the folk scene, famed for entwining her hypnotic voice with her own fiddle accompaniment to stunning effect. In July 2008, Bella performed in two concerts at London's Royal Albert Hall as part of the first ever Folk Prom. Bella will be joined by Chris Sherburn on concertina & Corinna Hewitt on harp.

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Bill Whaley & Dave Fletcher

Bill & Dave were among our most popular guests at the Chester Folk Festival in 2009 and 2008 - as much for their soft wry humour and complete lack of ego as for their outstanding musicianship and fine voices. Their selection of songs encompasses both ancient and modern, accompanied in traditional style on English and duet concertina, harmonium, and melodeon, with enough choruses to satisfy any audience.

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Jonny & Lucy are two talented young performers who met while studying the Folk Music Degree course in Newcastle last year. Jonny sings and plays guitar and Lucy sings and plays fiddle. They perform a mixture of traditional and self-penned material and over the past year have been playing in a variety of festivals, folk clubs, theatres, pubs and music venues throughout the UK.

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One of our firm favourites from Chester Folk Festival, Neil Brookes, has joined forces with melodeon player Tony Weatherall and singer Chris Bartram. In the afternoon concert they will present a varied programme of English songs and tunes - mainly from the Cheshire/Shropshire border. Then, in the evening, they will be joined by other musicians to become the excellent English ceilidh band Shropshire Heroes.

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Greg Russell

When he first emerged doing floor spots in the area Greg Russell caused quite a stir…and a couple of years later still is! Greg is an extremely talented singer, guitarist and song writer maturing rapidly. Gifted with a powerful distinctive voice Greg is a performer who can take you to places others can’t reach. A growing reputation has seen him grace the bill at Chester Folk Festival, supported the Time Bandits at the Raven Folk Club and memorably supported Kerffufle at Northwich Folk Club. Miss him at your peril.

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