Folk take to the water

Buy photos » Leamington singer-songwriter Issy Ferris - who has just been awarded Young Musician of the Year by the Cambridge Folk Festival -will be joining the Folk on the Water barge. (s)

MUSICIANS are once again be taking to the waterways of Warwickshire.

The third annual Folk on the Water festival sees 71 acts performing a series of free concerts until July 8, along canal towpaths of the Warwickshire Ring raising money for charities, Zoe’s Place and Fallen Fusiliers.

Festival director, Dutch Van Spall said: “So many people wanted to play in this year’s festival we had a hard job deciding who to include.

"But we think we’ve come up with the best of our local talent plus some great acts from further afield – including the Czech Republic, Australia, and Germany."

The festival kicked off at the Cape of Good Hope in Warwick on Saturday (June 23), moving on to Stockton, Napton, and Newbold on Avon, and then winds back to Leamington for a final weekend of free music on Newbold Comyn on July 7 and 8.

Dutch continued: “We’re proud to be able to show off local favourites like Kirsty Gallacher and Issy Ferris who has just been awarded Young Musician of the Year by the Cambridge Folk Festival, as well as the ever popular Wes Finch and Ben Drummond who also mentors the acoustic stage for Jools Holland’s Birmingham club.

"We’ve got a lot of new acts, and I can’t mention them all but one I’m excited about is Frutaloka. Frutaloka is a five-piece collective of musicians from different cultural background who have a fast-growing reputation as one of the most energising acts around.”

Everyone involved with Folk on the Water has given their time free of charge, with sponsorship from local businesses and the loan of everything from the boat, to print, web and graphic design, PR services, artists and venues.

The festival also aims to encourage people to get together to enjoy live music and the magic of the waterways. The hope is to link many canalside communities and facilities through the tour and encourage more people to make use of the canal system in the Midlands.

Visit www.folkonthewater.com or Facebook page Folk on the Water for further details.

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