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Winter Delights

WINTER DELIGHTS


Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival
is hosting a series of events during November to boost awareness of next year’s Festival and to raise some money to support the popular Festival Workshops.

This year’s events show a break with tradition: in former years the ‘Winter Warmer’ has been held over just one weekend — a format which Festival Director Liz Rosenfield feels may have kept some people away. “Holding the winter event over three separate weekends gives people more of a chance to come and get a flavour of what we’re about”, she says. “In the past people have said that they would have loved to come but were too busy on the particular weekend. This year they have less of an excuse, so they can come along, have a great time and help us make next year’s Festival even better.”

Sunday November 4 sees the start of the event, with an informal session at the Kings Lock on Booth Lane from 8pm onwards. Guests will include Ann English, Ailsa and John Booth, Hayley, Acoustak, Brian Ayling, Ian Murfitt, Pete Latham, Richard, Geoff and, flown in from North Wales for a first visit to the Kings Lock Folk Club, Vicki and Trevor Williams. Also, from Northwich’s own Weaver Delta, The Weavils!
All instruments, singers and listeners are welcome; admission is free and there will be a special Festival raffle with lots of prizes.
 

On Saturday November 10, again at 8pm, another free event when everyone is invited to the regular folk session and singaround at the Boars Head in Kinderton Street.

The Winter Delights Climax

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On Friday November 23 with a special concert at the Boars Head featuring Anthony John Clarke, Kirsty McGee and Mat Martin, Fluff with guests John Dobson and Kevin Farrell. The concert will be compered by Ian Murfitt and his melodeon, with sound provided by Iain Bowley.Tickets for this concert are £10 on the door or in advance, from Liz Rosenfield 01606 834969.

“This is a fundraising concert,” says Liz, “and all the artists are performing for nothing. The festival will be holding a raffle and, for a small donation, you can have the pick of CDs from the festival director’s shelf! It is also an opportunity to thank all the festival directors and committee (who are all volunteers), friends and family, for giving all their time to the festival and for all their hard work throughout the year. Last year we raised about £200 at our Winter Warmer Event — let’s see if we can beat that! It may not seem like a huge amount of money but it was enough to cover the cost of our FOLKUS workshops.”