Deal Maritime Folk Festival is gearing up for a great weekend in September. The organisers sent us this press release:
"This year’s Deal Maritime Folk Festival is being hailed by its organisers as being one of the most varied and exciting musical experiences in Kent of 2011.
"Ray Fielder, one of the festival organisers said “Deal has an amazing variety of great local folk music; from traditional groups like the Deal Hoodeners and the mass Morris dance to the energy surrounding the new wave around the Smugglers and local venues like the Astor.
"To this mixture, we have some fantastic headline acts at the Astor:
"On Thursday 15th, there is a folk-punk hoedown dance from Cut A’Shine supported by Deal’s own Cocos Lovers; Friday sees the return to Deal of Nuru Kane. Nuru is a Senegalese singer/songwriter and master of the guimbri (a three-stringed Moroccan bass). His sell-out concert at last year’s festival was described as one of musical highlights of 2010. On the Saturday we are hosting the masters of Shanty singing - Kimber’s Men. The festival finale on Sunday, has Martha Tilston. A captivating performer blessed with a gloriously clear and seductively beautiful voice.
"The Deal Maritime Folk Festival has never been the biggest festival around. But its focus around giving Kent performers a stage and the breath of its offering from traditional, new and world folk makes it Kent’s best kept secret.”
"This year’s festival is between 15th – 18th September will have over 40 events over the four days; with some 100 performers playing, singing or dancing. There will be 7 full concerts at the Astor and Town Hall, 11 pub concerts, 2 dances, 11 singarounds/playarounds, 5 workshops and busking at the town Braderie on the Sunday.
Tickets are available at the Astor on 01304-370220 or at Sound House in Deal High Street.
More details on the festival can be found at www.dealmaritimefolkfestival.org , at Festival’s facebook page or on Twitter at ‘DealFolk’.
