Natures World Folk Festival
The weekend of 12th & 13th July 2008
We went along to take a peek at the sixteenth annual folk festival at Natures World in Middlesbrough on the 12th July. The festival is a charity event and is hosted by Natures World every year. The event itself consists of some high quality folk artists from both the local area and further afield and also includes a singaround - hosted today by The Wayfarers, various workshops and childrens entertainment. The main event is held outside of the cafe and this is where the performers get the chance to entertain. With a line up today as follows we were sure to be in for some serious entertainment.
13.00 - 13.20 Jump Back Georgia
13.20 - 13.40 The Lynotts
13.40 - 14.00 Brother Crow
14.00 - 14.20 Dave Kidman
14.20 - 14.40 Ahurei
14.40 - 15.10 Mick Sheehan
15.10 - 15.30 On The Edge
15.30 - 15.50 Beeswing
15.50 - 16.10 Janets Lads
16.10 - 16.30 Hot Aspahlt
16.30 - 16.50 Gardy Loo
16.50 - 17.10 Skyran
The sun was shining on the Saturday and already the venue was very busy with many people arriving early to get a good seat. Held over 2 days this festival is extremely popular with fans and performers alike. We saw many artists which were not due to appear until the Sunday turn out to play in the Singaround. A singaround - yes thats what I said - we hadn't heard of one of these either until today! A singaround is exactly what it says it is - the audience is encouraged to join in and perform a song or a dance. Its a friendly get together in a relaxed setting with great music and no judgements. Indeed we popped in throughout the day and the room was buzzing with people enjoying the performances!
The main event started with Jump Back Georgia a dance troop and band from Saltburn. This group perform tunes and dance steps from the Appalachian mountain region of the USA which originated in England, Ireland and Scotland. The group performed an interesting array of steps and moves to a joyful musical accompaniment and started the festival off charmingly.
Throughout the course of the day many acts appeared on the stage at the festival. The Lynotts are a three piece female acapella group made up of three ladies from other popular groups. They delighted the audience at Natures World with their performance of traditional and contemporary songs.
The M C for the event is Dave Kidman. Dave is well known for his reviews in Folk Roundabout and is regularly seen on the folk circuit. He has a deep passion for music and even goes so far as performing himself. Today the audience were treated to a set from Dave unaccompanied on the stage at Natures World and he even managed to keep to the schedule! The PA today was supplied and operated by Yorkie of Copper Fox who managed to keep the event sounding great all day.
Brother Crow from Weardale made an appearance today and charmed Natures World with some of their amazing songs.
Brother Crow are a duo who are well known in the local area and further afield for their profound take on life brought forth in their haunting songs.
Altogether today was extremely entertaining and pleasurable - certainly worth going along to. Some other fine performances included Ahuri - a maori dance group made up of children aged 8 to 16 from Billingham and Mick Sheehan - a traditional solo artist. Long time favourites of the festival, Skyran closed the day off beautifully with a performance of well known traditional and popular songs from England, Scotland and Ireland.
Day two of the Folk Festival is set to be equally as good with the line up as follows;
13.00 - 13.15 Avocet
13.15 - 13.30 Barbara Helen
13.30 - 13.45 Sally Wright
13.45 - 14.00 Johnny collins
14.00 - 14.15 Phil Graham
14.15 - 14.30 Heighington PS Dancers
14.30 - 14.45 Susie Fox & Jack Firminger
14.45 - 15.00 JIVA
15.00 - 15.15 Stan Gee & Evelyn May
15.15 - 15.30 Paul Cornwall
15.30 - 16.00 Jim & Francie Bainbridge
16.00 - 16.15 Copper Fox
16.15 - 16.30 Dave & Sue Swales
16.30 - 16.45 The Young 'Uns
16.45 - 17.00 Keeper's Fold
17.00 - 17.15 Paul & Wendy Arrowsmith
17.15 - 17.30 Anna Shannon
17.30 - 17.45 Old English
17.45 - 18.00 Trish McLean & Ian Wright
18.00 - 18.15 Reel Deel
Certainly a much busier day with performances and also the other activities will be continuing with the Singaround being hosted by The Cutty Wren Folk Club tomorrow. This event is certainly one we look forward to attending again next year and if you are looking for a great day out for all the family then we would recommend a visit to Natures World.
Back to Archive
13.00 - 13.20 Jump Back Georgia
13.20 - 13.40 The Lynotts
13.40 - 14.00 Brother Crow
14.00 - 14.20 Dave Kidman
14.20 - 14.40 Ahurei
14.40 - 15.10 Mick Sheehan
15.10 - 15.30 On The Edge
15.30 - 15.50 Beeswing
15.50 - 16.10 Janets Lads
16.10 - 16.30 Hot Aspahlt
16.30 - 16.50 Gardy Loo
16.50 - 17.10 Skyran
The sun was shining on the Saturday and already the venue was very busy with many people arriving early to get a good seat. Held over 2 days this festival is extremely popular with fans and performers alike. We saw many artists which were not due to appear until the Sunday turn out to play in the Singaround. A singaround - yes thats what I said - we hadn't heard of one of these either until today! A singaround is exactly what it says it is - the audience is encouraged to join in and perform a song or a dance. Its a friendly get together in a relaxed setting with great music and no judgements. Indeed we popped in throughout the day and the room was buzzing with people enjoying the performances!
The main event started with Jump Back Georgia a dance troop and band from Saltburn. This group perform tunes and dance steps from the Appalachian mountain region of the USA which originated in England, Ireland and Scotland. The group performed an interesting array of steps and moves to a joyful musical accompaniment and started the festival off charmingly.
Throughout the course of the day many acts appeared on the stage at the festival. The Lynotts are a three piece female acapella group made up of three ladies from other popular groups. They delighted the audience at Natures World with their performance of traditional and contemporary songs.
The M C for the event is Dave Kidman. Dave is well known for his reviews in Folk Roundabout and is regularly seen on the folk circuit. He has a deep passion for music and even goes so far as performing himself. Today the audience were treated to a set from Dave unaccompanied on the stage at Natures World and he even managed to keep to the schedule! The PA today was supplied and operated by Yorkie of Copper Fox who managed to keep the event sounding great all day.
Brother Crow from Weardale made an appearance today and charmed Natures World with some of their amazing songs. Brother Crow are a duo who are well known in the local area and further afield for their profound take on life brought forth in their haunting songs.
Altogether today was extremely entertaining and pleasurable - certainly worth going along to. Some other fine performances included Ahuri - a maori dance group made up of children aged 8 to 16 from Billingham and Mick Sheehan - a traditional solo artist. Long time favourites of the festival, Skyran closed the day off beautifully with a performance of well known traditional and popular songs from England, Scotland and Ireland.
13.15 - 13.30 Barbara Helen
13.30 - 13.45 Sally Wright
13.45 - 14.00 Johnny collins
14.00 - 14.15 Phil Graham
14.15 - 14.30 Heighington PS Dancers
14.30 - 14.45 Susie Fox & Jack Firminger
14.45 - 15.00 JIVA
15.00 - 15.15 Stan Gee & Evelyn May
15.15 - 15.30 Paul Cornwall
15.30 - 16.00 Jim & Francie Bainbridge
16.00 - 16.15 Copper Fox
16.15 - 16.30 Dave & Sue Swales
16.30 - 16.45 The Young 'Uns
16.45 - 17.00 Keeper's Fold
17.00 - 17.15 Paul & Wendy Arrowsmith
17.15 - 17.30 Anna Shannon
17.30 - 17.45 Old English
17.45 - 18.00 Trish McLean & Ian Wright
18.00 - 18.15 Reel Deel
Certainly a much busier day with performances and also the other activities will be continuing with the Singaround being hosted by The Cutty Wren Folk Club tomorrow. This event is certainly one we look forward to attending again next year and if you are looking for a great day out for all the family then we would recommend a visit to Natures World. Back to Archive