Tenth time around for folk festival (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Tenth time around for folk festival

THE 10th Cheltenham Folk Festival bursts onto the scene from February 9-12.

2006 also heralds an exciting new chapter in the Festival's history as the festival welcomes Eliza Carthy as its patron.

After performing at the 2005 Festival, Eliza now makes a welcome return, not only as patron but also as one quarter of the phenomenal Waterson:Carthy. Having performed for more than 30 years Waterson:Carthy are one of Britain's most successful and influential folk groups - making this year's Cheltenham Folk Festival, an extra special occasion.

Winners of the 2004 BBC3 World Music Award, the Warsaw Village Band kick-start this exciting programme. With their new-age-hard-core folk sounds this group of Polish players looks set to deluge Cheltenham in an 'avalanche of rhythm', on Thursday, February 9.

The weekend offers opportunities to enjoy special rare appearances by Roy Bailey, John Kirkpatrick and Martin Simpson in 'Sit Down & Sing' at the Everyman Theatre plus Martin Carthy and Martin Simpson in a Showcase concert on Saturday afternoon.

Newcomers The Devil's Interval perform a group repertoire which is a varied mix ranging from English tradition to influences from Tom Waits to Phoebe Smith and Dolly Parton. The Festival Finale on Sunday evening opens with the one and only 'one man folk industry' Pete Coe.

Next up, and making their Cheltenham debut all the way from Winnipeg in Canada are The Wailin' Jennys, who create masterful three-part vocal harmonies.

With the stage well and truly warmed-up, the winners of the 2005 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Best Live Act, Bellowhead close the Festival with strings, pipes, eclectic percussion and a funky brass section, making the dynamic 11-piece megaband that you just can't sit down to!

To mark the tenth anniversary, Martin Carthy, Norma Waterson and Eliza Carthy join Martin Graebe's celebrity slot, on the Festival Sunday for this year's Noon Interview. Weekend ticket holders get the chance to enjoy more intimate concerts during An Hour or So With ... where you can hear artists perform in an informal unplugged session.

Novice folk fans are also included - for the young in years (and young at heart) The Kids' Place offers a warm invitation to enjoy some crazy and creative fun throughout Saturday and Sunday.

For those who might wish to dance the weekend away, there will be the opportunity to join in the Friday and Saturday night dances on the newly refurbished floor. The Aardvark Ceilidh Band and The Committee Band will provide the music, so bring along your dancing shoes for some wonderful Festival fun.

Thursday, February 9, The John Dipper Band and Warsaw Village Band, 7.45pm, Town Hall; Friday, February 10, Sit Down & Sing, 7.45pm, Everyman Theatre; Aardvark Ceilidh Band, 8pm, Town Hall; Cheltenham Folk Club Concert, 8.30pm, Town Hall; Saturday, February 11, Saturday Midday Concert, 12noon, Town Hall, An Hour or so with..., 12-6pm, Town Hall, Brian Peters & Gordon Tyrrall, John Kirkpatrick, Roy Bailey, Tom Napper & Tome Bliss; Tales of Otherness, 5.30pm, Town Hall; The Committee Band, 8pm, Town Hall; Cheltenham Folk Club Concert, 8pm, Town Hall; Saturday Night Concert, 8.15pm/Everyman Theatre; Sunday, February 12, An Hour or so with...... 12-6pm, Town Hall, Pete Coe, Trio Threlfall, The Wailin' Jennys, The John Dipper Band; Sunday Afternoon Concert, 1.15-6pm, Town Hall, This is Gloucestershire Concert, 2pm. Town Hall; Final Concert, 7pm, Town Hall.