Travelling folk singer Julie to perform in Swindon (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Travelling folk singer Julie to perform in Swindon

WORLD famous folk singer Julie Felix, who appears at the Arts Centre, Swindon on Sunday, March 6 at 7.30pm, first came to England from California in 1964, after hitch hiking around Europe with not much more than a duffel bag and a guitar.

When Decca released her first album later that year, she was the first solo folk artist to be signed to a major UK company and within a year she became the first British-based folk singer to fill the Albert Hall.

In 1966 she became the resident singer on The Frost Report and by 1968 had her own TV series.

The following year she appeared at the legendary Isle of Wight Festival where Bob Dylan was the main attraction and she was also at the forefront of protests against the Vietnam War.

She returned to California for a break from performing but, after witnessing the suffering of the indigenous people of Central America during a peace march, she returned to Hertfordshire and began singing for Latin American refugees, women's and gay rights and peace projects.

Julie Felix marks her 40th year in the music industry with a new CD entitled I Walk With Beauty, her first live concert DVD, filmed on the Isle of Wight and with a huge UK tour.

Entitled The Rainbow Tour, this will coincide with the release of a compilation album, The Rainbow Collection.

She has performed in recent years with such as Bill Wyman, Steve Harley and Roy Harper, in 2004 she appeared in the London Pride event, and is working with the charities Oxfam, Christian Aid, the Mines Advisory Group and Adopt-a-Minefield.

Her music remains eclectic as she performs her own material as well as Dylan classics, traditional Mexican songs and some surprises!

She continues to speak out against inequality, injustice and war, still believing that the power of music can have a positive effect on an often harsh world.

Tickets from the box office on 01793 614837.