Bampton Free Folk Festival 'After the fair' in Devon October 31st to November 2nd 2008 Anglo, Irish, Breton

The Bampton Free Folk Festival 'After the fair' in Bampton, North Devon from October 31st to November 2nd 2008 is one of my favourite folk festivals with its unique flavour of Anglo, Irish and Breton.

I've just received a leaflet from the organisers Pennymoor Singaround on which the information in this article is based.

If you have been to the Bampton Free Folk Festival, you will only need to know the dates because you will know you will want to go again. If you haven't, I hope the information below helps. For any last minute changes see Bampton Free Folk Festival Web Site.

The Bampton Folk Festival is one of my favourite folk festivals because it is organised around pub sessions and it gathers so many interesting musicians, singers and dancers together in one place, including from Ireland and Brittany. The sessions are particularly welcoming and various singers and musicians will be leading them throughout the weekend to ensure everybody feels included. Roger and Jo Quigley (see photo) will be hosting the Saturday 12 noon session at the Bridge House Hotel, for example.

This year I see there are four pubs that will be hosting sessions from Friday 31st October to Sunday 2nd November 2008, The Bridge House Hotel, the White Horse, The Swan and The Quarrymans Rest.

For those of you who like a good concert (tickets five pounds to festival expenses), there will be one on Saturday afternoon in The Public Hall with Martyn Babb, Breezy Willow, Nicola Clarke, Patook, Trio Threlfall, Travellers Bag and 'the festival's Irish and Breton guests'.

Originally funded with a grant, Bampton Free Folk Festival continues to thrive on the immense goodwill it has generated over the years.

I look forward to seeing you there :-)

Bye for now

Rob

Rob Hopcott - online author