The doors open at 7.30pm and the event kicks off at 8pm with a set from Manchester's own singing postman Dominic Collins with his individual brand of humour and music. Sure to include (if you ask nicely) The Middlewich Song - where would the Festival be without that?
Following on at 9pm will be Stoke-based trio The Queensberry Rules. Hailing from the working class suburbs surrounding Stoke-on-Trent, the band was formed in September 2001, playing original compositions and performing with the unusual line up of double bass, guitar and percussion. Slowly, they added mandolin, bouzouki, fiddle and harmonica - as well as watertight harmonies - to their sound; no mean feat for a trio. Cultivating the rich seams of local history and tradition, they exhibit storytelling ability and social awareness that belie their years. They've recently released their fourth album and it looks set to raise their profile to another level.
Saturday night starts at 8pm with Thom Kirkpatrick and Jo Godfrey. Thom will be remembered by those who came to last year's Winter Warmer or this year's Festival for his storming performances with his band The Beautiful Noise. When he opened for The Dylan Project at the Festival, he won over the whole audience (including some members of The Dylan Project!). Anyway, here he is with his guitar and his accordion-playing partner Jo Godfrey for an acoustic set.
Following Thom will be folk duo Better Late and slide guitar virtuoso Tom Doughty; the evening's entertainment will be rounded off by Elbow Jane, a five-piece acoustic band comprising guitars, bouzouki, mandolin, piano, bass percussion and expressive vocals. Their repertoire ranges from thought-provoking self-penned songs…to unique interpretations of the worlds best songsmiths. Compèred by the amazing Ms Strangelove, this is definitely an evening not to be missed.
Tickets for each evening cost £5 on the door and it's first come first served, so don't be late or you might not get in. And if you really can't make it, at least now you know a few of the attractions for the main event next June. See you there!
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