Weekend treat for fans of folk

Folk festival: John Courtman’s Whistle Workshop at the civic hall

FOLK music lovers are being urged to pick up their tickets for the third Saddleworth Folk Weekend in July.

The event is the largest weekend folk festival in Greater Manchester, with over 40 artists, and more than 50 individual events taking place over the weekend of July 14 to 16.

Events include concerts, singaround, musicians sessions, workshops, presentations and Meet the Artists, as well as special opportunities for children and young people to get involved.

The main venue is Uppermill Civic Hall, which will the Festival Office, the Festival Cafe and Bar, workshops, the Festival Craft Fair and the larger concerts.

Accessible

Venues include the Conservative Club, the Commercial Inn, Christy's cafe bar. Scona, and the Cellarpot cafe.

Fesitval director Ali O'Brien said: "Although there will be around 50 events over the course of the weekend it will remain one of the cheapest folk festivals in the country as I want it to be accessible to all.

"Workshops will include guitar, whistle, bodhran, song and harmony singing, and circus skills.

"Presentations will include the Last Days of Steam with Mark Dowding and Chris Harvey, Edwin Waugh - the Lancashire Burns, with Sid Calderbank and an Oldham choir, and Poems and Pints with Dylan Owen and Jim Savile.

"Street entertainment will be provided by numerous Morris teams, organised by the Saddleworth Morris Men."

Tickets cost £45 for a weekend ticket, £35 for concessions, and free admission for under 16s.

Tickets can be obtained by calling Ali on 0161 624 3119, or getting hold of a flyer and sending it to 4 Wrigley Street, Scouthead, Saddleworth OL4 4AP with a cheque and stamped addressed envelope.

Campsite places at Well-i-Hole Farm, in Greenfield, are booking in advance for caravans and campervans on 01457 834316.

For more information visit the festival website www.saddleworthfolkweekend.co.uk.

Alternatively, call Ali O'Brien, Festival Director, on 0161 624 3119.