Welcome return for folk festival

Oldham Tinkers (l-r) John Howarth, Dave Howard and Gerry Kearns

SADDLEWORTH’s much-missed festival is to return after a four-year gap.

Uppermill Civic Hall will be the folk focus, with a host of acts lined up to keep fans entertained on July 18 and 19. Well-i-Hole Farm in Greenfield will be the festival camp site.

Over the weekend there will be more than 50 events for the £30 ticket price. Organiser Ali O’Brien — founding director of the original folk festival, says it will be the cheapest weekend festival in the country.

Oldham Tinkers — celebrating their 50th anniversary — will headline on the Saturday. Other acts include Other Roads, Risky Business, Wilson Family, the Hut People and Stanley Accrington.

There will be a festival cafe, bar and crafts fair within the civic hall. Ali, who also hosts “Sounds of Folk” every Monday for Oldham Community Radio, said it had always been her passion to revive the festival and she had been besieged by requests to do so.

“The original festival was a regular on the folk festival circuit, but ended four years ago. I’ve lost count of the number of ‘folkies’ who have asked me to reinstate it.

“Many of the artists appearing this time are long-standing friends, and all are highly regarded in the folk world.

“I really want this festival to have a young feel, and encourage young people to attend.”

Workshops and presentations will use the lower part of the hall while the bands play upstairs.

Ali’s creation, “War of the Roses” will also return. Teams from Yorkshire and Lancashire will do battle in song for a coveted trophy.

Details on the festival website: www.saddleworthfolkweekend.co.uk

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