2014 Programme - Folk By The Oak

Folk by the Oak 2014
A warm welcome to you all!
We’ve been busy since we last saw you!
Our love of this beautiful and historic
venue of Hatfield House became the
inspiration for a major folk music project
- The Elizabethan Session. It has been a
wonderful project to be involved in and we
owe so much to our remarkable partners
in this project: The English Folk Dance and
Song Society. With extra funding from The
Arts Council of England and PRS for Music
Foundation we were able to bring together
8 of folk’s finest musicians to create the
astonishing set that you will hear today.
Martin Simpson, Nancy Kerr, Jim Moray,
John Smith, Rachel Newton, Hannah
James, Emily Askew and Bella Hardy
were all holed up for a week in a rural
retreat to create new material based on
the Elizabethan era. After 5* rave reviews
and 2 sell-out concerts we feel that these
musicians have succeeded in contributing
to a major leap in the evolution of folk
music. Today is the sales launch for The
Elizabethan Session CD at the Concert
Shop; be amongst the first to own one. The
historian Ian Mortimer (who wrote The Time
Traveller’s Guide to Elizabethan England)
was an invaluable inspiration for all of the
artists during their residency and you can
read his experience of the project later in
this programme.
The Main Stage opens with 2 duos one
after the other - Josienne Clarke & Ben
Walker, and Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita.
Although their music is very different,
both duos are equally as captivating and
mesmeric. Kathryn Tickell has teamed up
with her new band The Side comprising
exceptional contemporary harpist Ruth
Wall, The Shee’s accordionist and clogger
Amy Thatcher, and popular classically
trained cellist Louisa Tuck. This folk and
classical combination adds a fantastic new
dimension to Kathryn’s sound. We are
so fortunate today to be welcoming Beth
Orton whose latest album Sugaring Season
is gently rooted in the folk song tradition
and, with her delicate yet powerful songs,
this is a set to look forward to. Guitar
legend Richard Thompson is only playing
a few gigs this summer and it is our honour
to be one of those gigs. Finally, it is such a
Folk by the Oak in association with
pleasure to have Seth Lakeman here again
so that we can all enjoy his revved-up folk
full of energy, rhythm and intensity!
Now a firmly established feature of Folk
by the Oak, The Acorn Stage has started
to grow! A larger auditorium will create
a bigger and better platform for a new
generation of folk musicians. Today
we have a great line-up of artists – the
outstanding talents of The London Youth
Folk Ensemble, the soulful singer-songwriter
Maz O’Connor, the truly remarkable
musicians of The Keston Cobblers’ Club,
Scottish four piece Salt House, country
twang from Jaywalkers, culminating in our
headliners the Welsh duo Paper Aeroplanes
whose beautiful heartfelt songs will leave
you blissed out.
You may have spotted that we have a lot
of harpists here at Folk by the Oak today
– Rachel Newton, Catrin Finch, Seckou
Keita (on the African harp the Kora) and
Ruth Wall. The harpists today will reveal
the versatility and glory of harping and
Rachel has kindly written an article for us
to honour this gathering of harps.
Our charity Willow have been with us since
the start of Folk by the Oak and we are
proud to have them here again. With your
generosity and our donations together we
have raised £31,300 for their charity which
provides special days for seriously ill 16-40
year olds.
We hope you all enjoy our colourful mix
of craft stalls, vintage stalls, music stalls,
creative workshops & activities, imaginative
food stalls, and wonderful storytelling. The
Young Miscellany Dancers are here again
performing all sorts of traditional dances
and inviting you to join in. Look out for
the new knotting workshops with Stonk
Knots (workshops at 1.30 – 3.30 and 4.30 –
6.30) and also our natural leaf printing and
noggin making with Muddy Faces!
Revel in the music and enjoy the
atmosphere at Folk by the Oak 2014.
Caroline and Adam Slough
Festival Directors
H
Hatfield House
atfield House was built by Robert Cecil, First Earl
of Salisbury and Chief Minister to King James I,
between 1607 and 1611. This celebrated Jacobean
house, which stands in its own Great Park, has been in
the Cecil family ever since, and is now the home of the
7th Marquess of Salisbury.
The State Rooms are rich in world-famous paintings,
exquisite furniture, fine tapestries and historic armour.
Superb examples of Jacobean craftsmanship can be
seen throughout the House, such as the Grand Staircase,
with its wealth of lively detail carved in wood, and the
rare stained glass window in the private chapel. In the
extensive gardens is the surviving wing of the Royal
Palace of Hatfield (circa 1485). It is here that Queen
Elizabeth I spent her childhood. In November 1558,
Elizabeth received news of the death of her sister Mary
Tudor and her accession to the throne, whilst sitting
under an oak tree in the very same area of Hatfield Park
as Folk By The Oak is staged, now known as the Queen
Elizabeth Oak Field. Elizabeth held her first Council
of State in the Great Hall of the Old Palace, where
marriages and parties are regularly held, and where
Hatfield’s famous Elizabethan Banquets are staged.
Displayed in the House are many historic mementos
collected over the centuries by the Cecils, one of
England’s foremost political families. The 3rd Marquess
of Salisbury was three times Prime Minister during the
closing years of Queen Victoria’s reign, when the British
Empire was at the height of its power and influence.
The gardens at Hatfield House date from the early
17th century when Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury,
employed John Tradescant the Elder to plan and lay them
out around his new home. Tradescant was sent to Europe
where he found and brought back trees, bulbs, plants
and fruit trees which had never previously been grown in
England. Following the fashion of landscape gardening
and after some neglect in the 18th century, restoration
started in earnest in Victorian times. Visitors can now see
the recently restored kitchens, which show preparations
for Queen Victoria’s banquet in 1846.
Hatfield House is currently hosting an exhibition
of sculpture in the West Garden. ‘The Great British
Sculpture Show 2014’ is an ambitious exhibition
showcasing the UK’s top figurative sculptors. Conceived
and curated by award-winning artist Andrew Sinclair,
one of the foremost figurative and surrealist sculptors in
the UK today, and his partner, artist Diane Coates, the
exhibition will feature their work and that of 22 other
prominent sculptors. These include acclaimed artists
David Goode, Geoffrey Dashwood, Hamish Mackie,
Ian Rank-Broadly and Etienne Millner, President of
the Society of Portrait Sculptors. Over 80 works will
be brought together with the aim of bringing beauty,
technical skill and craftsmanship back to the world of art.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS AT HATFIELD HOUSE
Eastern Electrics 2 August
Adventure 001 Helicopter Days 9 August & 13
September
Shakespeare in the Park - Romeo & Juliet 10 August
Theatre in the Park - Pantaloons History of Britain 28
August
Luna Cinema presents Wolf of Wall Street & The Great
Gatsby 29 & 30 August
Children’s Theatre in the Park - Alice in Wonderland 31
August
Wedding Fair 14 September
Hatfield House Chamber Music Festival 25-28 September
French Market 28 September
Willow 10K 5 October
Target Ovarian Cancer - Walk for One Million 5 October
Firework Display 1 November
Christmas Market 8 November
Frost Fair 23-25 November
Stable Yard Market Weekends take place on the third
weekend of every month. Saturdays - Antiques Market
10am to 5.30pm, Sunday - Farmers Market 10am to 2pm.
INFORMATION AND BOOKINGS
The House Office, Hatfield House, Hatfield,
Hertfordshire AL9 5NQ www.hatfield-house.co.uk
Email: visitors@hatfield-house.co.uk Tel: 01707 287010
The Willow 10K Run will take place on Sunday 5th
October 2014 – see the website for more details:
www.willowfoundation.org.uk/FundRaising/Events/
SportingChallenges/willow10k
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Willow is the only national charity working with seriously ill young adults aged 16
to 40 to fulfil uplifting and unforgettable Special Days.
Willow is totally reliant on the generosity of individuals, companies, trusts and
foundations to raise awareness and fund its work. With your help we can move
closer to providing a Special Day for every seriously ill young adult in the UK.
“You have given me the strength to keep fighting to stay
as healthy as I can be.”
Levi, 20, cystic fibrosis
“It gave me a boost to continue fighting hard and strong.”
Katie, 34, incurable bowel cancer
Find out how you can help or if we
can help someone you know today:
w: willowfoundation.org.uk
e: info@willowfoundation.org.uk
t: 01707 259 777
Registered Charity Number 1106746
Days when they and their families reconnect and refocus on each other while
enjoying an activity of their choosing. A day for them, a day about them and a
day that will create memories to be treasured forever.
Folk by the Oak 2014 main stage Line-up
Hosted by Festival Patron Jim Moray
Gates open 12.30pm
1.30pm - 2.15pm
Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker
Josienne Clarke – Vocals
Ben Walker - Guitar
Anna Jenkins - Violin/Viola
Jo Silverston - Cello
Basia Bartz - Violin
Bradley Blackwell - Double Bass
Ruairi Glasheen - Percussion
Jim Moray - Piano
2.30pm - 3.15pm
Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita
Catrin Finch – Concert Pedal Harp
Seckou Keita – Koras
3.35pm - 4.25pm
The Elizabethan Session
Martin Simpson - Vocals, Guitars, Banjo
Nancy Kerr – Vocals, Fiddle, Viola
Jim Moray – Vocals, Keyboards & Piano
Bella Hardy – Vocals, Fiddle
John Smith - Vocals and Acoustic, Tenor, Electric
and Hi-Strung Guitars
Hannah James – Vocals, Accordion, Clogs
Rachel Newton – Vocals, Harps
Emily Askew – Vocals, Recorders, Violin, Vielle,
Frame Drum, Bells, Hurdy-gurdy
4.55pm - 5.40pm
Kathryn Tickell & The Side
Kathryn Tickell – Northumbrian Pipes and Fiddle
Ruth Wall – Harp
Amy Thatcher – Accordion, Clog Dancing
Louisa Tuck - Cello
6.10pm - 7.00pm
Beth Orton
Beth Orton – Vocals, Guitar
Ted Barnes – Acoustic Guitar
7.30pm - 8.45pm
Richard Thompson
Richard Thompson – Vocals, Guitars
9.15pm - 10.30pm
Seth Lakeman
Seth Lakeman – Vocals, Tenor Guitar, Fiddle, Banjo
Cormac Byrne – Percussion
Ben Nicholls – Double Bass, Banjo, Mouth Harp
Lisbee Stainton – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Banjo
Jack Rutter – Acoustic Guitar
All times are approximate.
Details of band members accurate at time of going to press.
Josienne Clarke
& Ben Walker
T
his exclusive set at Folk by the Oak will
include accompaniment from a string section.
Josienne’s jewel-like voice finds the nuance and
melancholy in the simplest phrase and effortlessly
sends it straight to your heart. Ben’s musical tact and
mastery of the guitar provide the perfect setting and
allow the song centre-stage.
In a town full of songs and singers, Josienne
Clarke and Ben Walker give you the real thing.
Both classically trained, their musical proficiency
is beyond doubt. But this isn’t about technical
accomplishment. This is about a song, first and
foremost. Whether interpreting words centuries old,
or singing Josienne’s own authentic lyrics, their work
together combines an exquisite command of their
instruments with lyrics steeped in the tradition of
English songwriting, and in ageless stories of love
and loss
Josienne was born in Sussex and Ben in Evesham. It
was after studying in London, and utterly by chance,
that they met in July 2009. They have been working
together ever since. Critical acclaim soon followed,
“One of the
hottest tickets in
folk”
Mark Radcliffe
BBC Radio 2
along with the Isambard Folk Award and the FATEA
award for Female Vocalist of the Year.
Two joint releases later, they’ve played as a duo
alongside many of the living legends including
Martin Simpson and Steve Tilston, and have toured
in Germany, the Netherlands and the UK.
Though influenced by greats such as Sandy Denny,
Richard and Linda Thompson, Nick Drake, Bert
Jansch and June Tabor, their 2013 album Fire and
Fortune marks two musicians who have resolutely
found their own path through traditional English
music.
Of the twelve tracks, some are carefully selected
traditional songs re-imagined, others equally
carefully selected original compositions. This is
timeless stuff, and its purity will stay with you long
after the last note fades.
Josienne and Ben recently won Best Duo at the
Spiral Earth Awards which is voted for by the public.
www.josienneclarke.co.uk
HHHH
“Extremely
compelling”
The Independent
HHHH
“Graceful
precision”
The Daily Telegraph
Catrin Finch
& Seckou Keita
T
he remarkable affinities between the harp and
the kora as well as the Welsh and West African
cultures from which they have emerged
are fused through this collaboration into a single
intensely inspiring river of music.
It’s been an amazing year for welsh harpist Catrin
Finch and Senegalese kora player Seckou Keita.
Winners of the prestigious fRoots Album Of The Year
for their debut album Clychau Dibon, nominated
for two BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards for Best Duo and
Best Traditional Track, and featured in Songlines
Magazine Top Ten Albums of 2013, and as recent
winners of the Best Cross-Cultural Collaboration
at the Songlines Music Awards, the sky is indeed
the limit for this fearless pair of virtuoso musicians
whose “heavenly music…intricately realised”
(Songlines Magazine) and infectious onstage
chemistry defies categorisation and continues
to merge the boundaries between the genres of
classical, world, folk and traditional music.
Hot on the heels of her innovative collaborations
with Cimarron from Colombia and Toumani Diabate
from Mali, Catrin Finch is once again proving her
radical and adventurous musical spirit with this
wedding of Welsh and West African musical culture.
Seckou Keita is a member of the renowned Cissokho
clan of ‘griots’ or bards from southern Senegal who
has already blended his kora (21-stringed West
African harp) with jazz, funk, rock, Indian classical
and all manner of other musical styles.
Catrin is a star in the world of classical music and
widely recognised as one of the world’s finest
harpists. A nominee for a Classical Brit Award, she
has performed with orchestras all over the globe
(including the Royal Philharmonic, the New York
Philharmonic and the Boston Pops) and was the first
Royal harpist to HRH Prince of Wales in modern
times.
Seckou Keita has performed around the world a solo
artist, a bandleader and a collaborator with Baka
Beyond and the Jalikunda Project. He’s a master of
both the kora and a wide range of West Africa drums
and percussion instruments. He set up the first kora
course at London’s School of Oriental and African
Studies and his teaching skills are highly prized.
Their debut album Clychau Dibon has attracted huge
critical acclaim and a clutch of 4 and 5 * reviews
from National and Industry press.
A Theatr Mwldan / Astar Artes Co-production
www.catrinfinchandseckoukeita.com
Photography by Josh Pulman (above)
and Andy Morgan (line-up page)
The
Elizabethan
Session
Martin Simpson
Nancy Kerr
different times, facing different challenges, and struggling along as
Jim Moray
Bella Hardy
best they could.
John Smith
Hannah James
Such things were in my mind when I drove up to the Elizabethan
Rachel Newton
Emily Askew
Session house in Herefordshire in March 2014. We had dinner
by candlelight, just me and this folk supergroup. I chatted about
T
he Elizabethan Session was inspired by this stunning and
the differences between Elizabethan times and now – how even
historic setting of Hatfield House, the childhood home of
seemingly natural things, such as the ways in which we see colour,
Elizabeth I and now home to Folk by the Oak. In March
textures and light, have changed over the centuries. I spoke about
this year our wonderful gathering of folk artists spent five days living
the daily lives of labourers and housewives as well as queens and
together at a farmhouse in rural Herefordshire creating new works
seadogs: glass, smells, high heels, high buildings in London, water,
inspired by the music, the people, the myths and the stories of the
travel and religion. I dare say there was more cruelty, torture,
Elizabethan age. There followed 2 sell-out concerts, 5* reviews in the
disease, fear, sexism, slavery, pirates, racism and underwear in my
broadsheets, and a recording session in the 15 century Old Palace
talk than most of the musicians were expecting, but at the end of
at Hatfield House to create the CD. We have the CDs on sale today at
the night I drove off into the darkness knowing that there had been
The Concert Shop!
a great listening around the table.
The author, Ian Mortimer, treated us all to an atmospheric and
Six days later, at Hatfield Old Palace, I had one of the best nights
engaging discussion on The Elizabethan era over dinner on the first
of my life. Several insights from my talk came back to greet me –
night of the project. He created a magical and memorable evening
accompanied by the most astonishing music. Lines of Elizabethan
which became ingrained in the artists’ minds, so it is no surprise
poetry and heartfelt evocations of tragedy and mirth filled the palace
that his influence shines through the tales and stories used in their
and trumpeted the spirit of the past. It was a musical adventure on
songs. In fact, before the early spring sun had risen on the second
the high seas, a lament for lovers lost centuries ago, and a laugh
day of the project, Nancy Kerr had already written her remarkable
over a candlelit supper in a tavern.
th
song, Shores of Hispaniola, which is the opening track of the CD.
We didn’t bring the past to life. No one can do that. But we can
Here’s what Ian has to say on the project:
embrace a distant time and dance with it, and revel in all the things
There is an assumption common in some quarters that history is
we have seen over the centuries, and sing along with the shadows
all about the past. Personally I blame the education system, which
of our ancestors. The truth is that not even four hundred years – nor
encourages students to objectify what happened long ago, so they
death itself – are barriers to the fellowship of men and women.
can be examined on it. In reality, history is about you and me –
Ian Mortimer
Group photography by Elly Lucas
about living people. The only difference is that it’s about people in
www.folkbytheoak.com/tes
Kathryn Tickell
& The Side
K
athryn Tickell is the foremost exponent of the
Northumbrian pipes, a composer, performer
and successful recording artist whose work
is deeply rooted in the landscape and people of
Northumbria.
Kathryn will perform with her new ensemble ‘The
Side’, comprising Louisa Tuck (cello), Ruth Wall (harp)
and Amy Thatcher (accordion, clog dancing).
She recently became a recipient of the coveted Queen’s
Medal for Music, awarded to those deemed to have
made an outstanding contribution to British music,
and is current BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards ‘Musician
of the Year.’ Last year her album Northumbrian
Voices won Best Traditional Album in the Spiral Earth
Awards, voted for by the public, and she was awarded
funding from the PRS for Music Foundation for the
development of new work and touring.
Highlights of Kathryn’s 25-year career include extensive
touring throughout the world, three appearances at
The Proms, two TV documentaries about her work, 15
albums, and collaborations with Sting, The Chieftains,
The Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Sir Peter Maxwell
Davies, Andy Sheppard and many others.
She first took up the Northumbrian smallpipes
at the age of nine. Landscape, weather and the
stories of the people that lived and worked in
rural Northumberland were part of her childhood.
Kathryn’s personal evocation of this is heard through
the traditional tunes and songs that she brings to
audiences all over the world.
The Side
Channelling their diverse musical experiences into a
powerful new sound, ‘The Side’ stay true to the spirit
and essence of Kathryn’s own Northumbrian folk
tradition whilst unleashing the talent and creativity
of each individual musician. Evocative slow airs that
could break your heart move seamlessly into lifeaffirming jigs and reels; Amy storms into a clog dance;
Kathryn’s dizzying rapid-fire piping contrasts with the
richness of the cello and Ruth’s sparkling harp playing
melds it all together.
Amy Thatcher is an accordionist and clog dancer
who has worked with Kathryn on various projects
including ‘JigHop’ a multi-genre spectacular
commissioned for the 2012 Olympics celebrations.
Amy is also a member of The Shee and The Monster
Ceilidh Band.
Classically trained Scottish harpist Ruth Wall
performs as a soloist and in some of the most exciting
ensembles and bands (Goldfrapp, Fitkin) as well as
working extensively with composers, orchestras,
electronic and visual artists.
Louisa Tuck is principal cellist at the Royal Northern
Sinfonia, a position she has held since 2007.
She is a regular guest principal with many UK
orchestras including the John Wilson Orchestra
and the CBSO. Louisa plays a rare Italian cello
dated 1752 by Jacobus Cordanus.
www.kathryntickell.com
Seth Lakeman
W
idely regarded as the UK’s foremost
folk singer songwriter, Seth Lakeman
has been credited with breaking down
perceptions and barriers often associated with
folk music and its acceptance (or lack of it) in the
mainstream.
Seth has released 7 albums to date, including the
gold-selling Freedom Fields, and Mercury-nominated
Kitty Jay in 2005, when he came to wider public
attention and brought folk music to a new, younger
audience.
Seth’s virtuoso fiddle playing and rhythmic,
captivating brand of indie-folk song writing has
gained him an impressive following. He was named
Folk Singer of the Year and Freedom Fields awarded
Album Of The Year at the prestigious Radio 2 Folk
Awards in 2007, and his 2008 album Poor Man’s
Heaven charted at number 8 in the UK on its release.
His new album Word of Mouth straddles the
folk tradition that his music is steeped in and the
contemporary folk movement that he has become
such a seminal figure of. It’s the natural successor
to 2011’s Tales From the Barrel House. It keeps the
stripped-back storytelling but embellishes it with a
denser, fuller version of Seth’s hauntingly melodic
style.
In between recording the new album in 2013, Seth
toured in Europe and Australia and then amidst a
hectic summer of festival appearances and the birth
of his twins he flew to New York to meet Izzy Young
for a BBC Radio 4 special called The Folklorist.
Seth then toured the UK with his band in October
followed by a number of live dates as part of ‘The
Full English’ project. The first single from Seth’s new
album Portrait Of My Wife which was released in the
Autumn also features on ‘The Full English’ album.
Expect a captivating, energetic and undeniably
compelling live show from award-winning Seth
Lakeman and his superbly talented band.
www.sethlakeman.co.uk
Beth Orton
W
e are delighted to welcome Brit Award
winner Beth Orton to Folk by the Oak
for a rare UK festival appearance this
summer.
Known for her “folktronica” sound, which mixes
elements of folk and electronica, she was initially
recognised for her collaborations with William Orbit
and the Chemical Brothers in the mid 1990s — but
these were not Orton’s first recordings. She released
a solo album, Superpinkymandy, in 1993. Since the
album was only released in Japan, it went largely
unnoticed by international audiences. Her second
solo album, Trailer Park, garnered much critical
acclaim in 1996. With the release of the albums
Central Reservation (1999) and the 2002 UK top 10
album Daybreaker, Beth developed a devoted fan
base. On her 2006 release, Comfort of Strangers, she
moved towards a more folk-based sound and away
from the electronic sound of past albums. Her latest
album, Sugaring Season, came out to great acclaim
in October 2012 and was produced by Tucker
Martine (Lau, Laura Veirs, Sufjan Stevens).
www.bethortonofficial.com
“Genius appears early. Legends are
earned. But history’s greatest never stand
on their laurels. This is the artistic arc for
Richard Thompson!”
Richard Thompson
N
amed by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of
the Top 20 Guitarists of All Time, Richard
Thompson is also one of the world’s most
critically acclaimed and prolific songwriters.
He has received Lifetime Achievement Awards for
Songwriting on both sides of the Atlantic - from the
Americanas in Nashville to Britain’s BBC Awards,
and the prestigious Ivor Novellos. In 2011 Thompson
was the recipient of the OBE (Order of the British
Empire) personally bestowed upon him by Queen
Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. Most recently
he was nominated for Artist of the Year by the
Americana Music Honors & Awards.
Having co-founded the ground-breaking group
Fairport Convention as a teenager in the 60s, Richard
Thompson and his mates virtually invented British
Folk Rock. By the age of 21 he left the band to
pursue his own career, followed by a decade long
musical partnership with his then-wife Linda, to over
30 years as a highly successful solo artist.
A wide range of musicians have recorded
Thompson’s music including Robert Plant, Elvis
Costello, REM, Del McCoury, Bonnie Raitt, Los
Lobos, David Byrne, Don Henley and many others.
“The Finest rock songwriter
after Dylan and the best electric
guitarist since Hendrix.”
LA Times
Thompson’s massive body of work includes over
40 albums, many Grammy nominations, as well as
numerous soundtracks, including Werner Herzog’s
Grizzly Man. His most recent CD, Electric, was
produced by the great Nashville musician Buddy
Miller (Band of Joy, Patty Griffin.). Electric continues
to receive positive praise with Rolling Stone
declaring, “…the excellence is undeniable.”
This year saw Richard Thompson headlining dates
around the world as well as co-headlining shows
with Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell. Thompson
and his band joined the Americanarama Tour sharing
the stage with Bob Dylan, Wilco, and My Morning
Jacket culminating with Dylan himself covering RT’s
classic song “1952 Vincent Black Lightning”.
Thompson’s genre-defying mastery of both acoustic
and electric guitar along with dizzying energy and
onstage wit continue to earn Richard Thompson
massive new fans and a place as one of the most
distinctive virtuosos in folk rock history.
www.richardthompson-music.com
Photos courtesy of Pamela Littky (above)
and Ron Sleznak (line-up page)
“A folksinger who (shreds) like
an arena-rock star... and still
writes songs that sting and storm.”
NPR
The Acorn Stage
Bought to you in association with The English Folk Dance and
Song Society. Now a firmly established feature of Folk by the
Oak, the Acorn Stage has grown! This year it will be housed in
a covered auditorium, creating a bigger and better platform to
showcase a new generation of up and coming, emerging and
more established musicians.
1.10pm-1.25pm & 2.15pm-2.30pm
London Youth Folk Ensemble
Billie Hyde
Chung Chung Stockman
Dante Shepherd
Ellen Price
Fela Maslen
Jude Crofton
Laskhmi Maslen
Nathan Lyne
Olivia Kersey
Sebastian Sacchi- Wilson
Theo Cordery
Photo by Roswitha Chesher
The ensemble is led by Laurel Swift, with Chris Faulkner and Ben Moss
Christina Childs
Clara Robins
Eleanor Budden
Elsie D’Souza
Freda D’Souza
Kitty Low
Matthew Ward-Perkins
Nina Hicks
Rhiannon Humphreys
Stevie Wing
Zoe Lakota-Baldwin
Set up by the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) in October 2013 and led by folk artist Laurel Swift,
the London Youth Folk Ensemble is made up of committed young musicians with a passion for playing and
performing folk music. The Ensemble meets monthly at Cecil Sharp House, exploring and arranging traditional
folk repertoire. Music is taught by ear and all instruments are welcome. The Ensemble is supported by the
National Foundation for Youth Music with additional support from the Garfield Weston Foundation and the
Dischma Charitable Trust.
3.15pm-3.35pm
Maz O’Connor
Maz O’Connor
Maya Amin-Smith
Tom Fairbairn
Nominated for the Horizon Award at the BBC Folk
Awards 2013, Maz O’Connor is a gifted singer of
traditional and self-penned songs. She accompanies
her uniquely pure voice with guitar, shruti box,
piano and harmonium.
After a busy year of gigging and gathering new
material, Maz’s new album, This Willowed Light has
been produced by Folk by the Oak patron Jim Moray
and will be released in June 2014.
4.25pm-4.55pm
Jaywalkers
Jay Bradberry
Lucy Williams
Mike Giverin
BBC Young Folk Award finalists 2009, Jaywalkers
create a unique sound based on their collective and
individual musical backgrounds, with influence from
folk, bluegrass, country and western swing music
in the form of virtuosic instrumentals, three part
harmony and occasional slap bass.
5.40pm-6.10pm
Salt House
Ewan MacPherson
Lauren MacColl
Siobhan Miller
Euan Burton
Acoustic four-piece Salt House is the meeting of
four distinct musical minds on the Scottish scene.
Their highly current sound is earthy, deep-rooted,
yet eagerly progressive, built from grassroots folk
with contemporary influences. Their reworking of
old ballads sits alongside their own writing and
the instrumental section wraps Siobhan Miller’s
striking, distinctively Scottish voice in a myriad of
musical colours and textures.
7.00pm-7.30pm
Keston Cobblers’ Club
8.45pm-9.15pm
Matthew Lowe
Julia Lowe
Bethan Ecclestone
Harry Stasinopoulos
Tom Sweet
Paper Aeroplanes
Based on folklore but full of modern kick, with
beautiful harmonies, an oom-pah tuba line and
a mish-mash of accordion, guitar, banjo, piano,
harmonica and mandolin, the Cobblers make music
that will make you dance “until your shoes wear out”!
From the wild shores of West Wales, Sarah and
Richard have been working together for 5 years,
concocting intricate, heartfelt songs about the
things that really matter in life. With burgeoning
support across the UK and Europe, live is
where Paper Aeroplanes really shine. Richard Llewellyn
Sarah Howells
Miriam Wakeling
All times are approximate.
Details of performers accurate
at time of going to print.
On Site
In various tents, yurts and vans around the arena you’ll discover a whole
host of things to browse, buy and do.
Around
and About The Place
Here’s a round-up of all the incredible stall holders and creative people we have here
today!
Stalls
The Makery beautiful handcrafted gifts from a collective of artists and craftspeople
Recycled Gifts at the Complete Wasters Yurt
CDs and Music at the Talking Elephant stand
Handmade Clothing and Jewellery from Beez Neez
Folklore inspired Cards, T-shirts, Calendars and Books from Hedingham Fair
Massage Treatments with VIP Therapies
Reflexology and Massage with Janice Hellens
Traditional Fairground Stalls from Flyte Entertainments
Crystals, Candles, Aromatherapy and more from Wicked Dragon
Hand Printed Clothing from Hands On Design
Jewellery and Fairtrade Gifts from Kaynara Jewellery
Holistic Massage, Reiki and Tarot with Bernadette Brennan
Fun
Stuff
Natural Leaf Printing and Noggin Making with Liz Knowles from Muddy Faces
Sand Art with Sandy Mills
Face Painting by Whatsaface
Storytelling with The Yarnsmith of Norwich
Folk Dance Sessions with the Harpenden based Young Miscellany Dance Group
The Lavender Mandala and Crown Making with Jenny Lewis and friends
Archery and Celtic Crafts in the Medieval Village organised by Celtic Harmony
Circus Skills and Handmade Clothing from Flip Juggling
Willow Weaving with the ever popular Sandra Barker
Stonk Knots: New this year we have some knot making workshops with Sol LoretoMiller. Workshops times: 1.30 – 3.30 & 4.30 – 6.30
Spoon Whittling with Tom at The Makery stall
Craft
Tent
Visit our talented craftspeople in the Folk by the Oak Craft Tent.
On Display today:
Handmade Greetings Cards from Sleepy Tree Crafts
Folklore Inspired Fine Art and Illustration from John Wakefield
Stunning Stained Glass Gifts from Michelle Burnett
Artisan Cakes and Bakes made by Treats From The Kitchen
Handcrafted Ceramics by Lucienne de Mauny
Fine Art and Illustration by Ed Org
Musical Instruments and Sheet Music from PJ Music
Craft Workshops:
Silk Painting: June Faulkner sells beautiful silk artwork and will also be helping you to
create your own silk painting.
Pottery and Pot Throwing: Vanessa Cox Pendray is an ever popular presence at the
festival teaching you and your family how to throw a pot.
“Have nothing in your house that you do not
know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful”
William Morris
Flora and Fauna Arts Felt Making: Connie Flynn brightens up the Craft Tent with her
colourful felt accessories and felt making workshops.
Knitting: Helen Bridgwood is a lover of all things knitted and her knitted necklaces and
gifts are a joy. She will also teach you how to knit, but be warned it’s quite addictive!
Embroidery and Sewing: Kristine Raw and her daughters will assist you in embroidery crafts
and sewing workshops as well as selling some exquisite embroidery quilts and panels.
Woodturning: Pete Moncrieff-Jury and Mo Goodfield of Bodrighy Wood will be selling
turned wooden crafts and jewellery as well as running woodturning demos and workshops.
Vintage
Tent
A nostalgic array of vintage clothing, accessories, jewellery and bric-a-brac, which have
either been carefully sourced or hand crafted.
Vintage Second Hand Clothing and Accessories from Vintage Retreat
Vintage Ephemera, Books and Art Glass from The Grand Vintage Fair
Handmade Waistcoats from Dandy Waistcoats
Beautiful Vintage Jewellery, Accessories and Retro Homewares from Carolyn’s
Collectables
Children’s Handmade Vintage Material Creations from Handmade At Home
Ladies Retro Accessories and Handbags from Samien Accessories
Vintage Bric-a-Brac from Debbie Asquith
Retro Jewellery - by Lia Neillson from Vintage Violette
Vintage Gifts and Homeware – by Beau’s Boutique
Vintage Style Clothing by Catherine Gumo from Chicability 4 You
Vintage Style Jewellery by Rebecca Sloan of Ribbons and Kites
Our
Food Village
Visit our Food Village for all things nourishing and tempting. The nearby Acorn Stage is
the perfect accompaniment to your real ale or ice cream!
To Eat:
Taste of the Nile - Elaine once more creates delicious Egyptian style food
Cinnamon Traveling Cafe - unique Indian and Caribbean ethnic street food
The Proper Pizza Co. - fresh wood-fired pizzas
The Great British Sausage Co. - proper local sausages sizzled to order
Rock and Sole - gourmet seafood selection, so much more than Fish and Chips!
Plus:
Ice creams, crêpes, baguettes, a hog roast, a host of samplers and much more.
To Drink:
Real Ale Bar: A wide selection of quality local Real Ale from the Tring Brewery
A Licensed bar
Cocktail bar
Plus:
Teas, coffees, hot chocolates, soft drinks, and much more….
Folk by the Oak would like to thank all our stallholders and creative
people here today who make our festival so colourful and vibrant.
The Year of the Harp
at Folk by the Oak
F
our harpists feature in our line up today
which is very much a case of the more
the merrier! The undeniable chemistry
of the harp and the kora is expertly revealed
by Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita. Kathryn
Tickell’s band - The Side - includes Ruth
Wall whose intricate work often favours
a contemporary and atmospheric sound.
Rachel Newton is the exceptional harpist
and singer who we invited to be part of
our Elizabethan Session. To celebrate this
gathering of harpists we asked Rachel to
write about her and her harps.
“I bet you wish you had taken up the
flute!” - the cry a harpist will most likely
hear at least once every day of his or her
working career, usually from a person who
believes that’s the first time the harpist
in question will have heard this witty
remark. There have been moments I have
to admit, while travelling on the London
Underground escalator for example or
trudging across a festival field, where I
have slightly doubted the wisdom behind
my choice of instrument. My harp bears
the marks of many public transport
mishaps, falling microphones and even
an occasional ride in a tractor. But it is all
worth it because the harp is really a rather
special instrument.
Harps have always had an association
with mythology and legend. From ancient
Greek Apollo and his son Orpheus to Irish
mythology’s Dagda to the many frescos of
cherubs wielding the instrument, there has
always been a belief that the music of the
harp holds special powers. Another classic
remark harpists come to expect on a daily
basis is “oh, you must be an angel!”....er,
sorry to disappoint!
My historical knowledge of harps is fairly
particular to Scotland, although types of
harps or lyres were played in some form
or another around the world going back
thousands of years. In Scotland, the Gaelic
name for a harp is a clarsach. Up until
several hundred years ago, the clarsach
would have been wire-strung and played
with the fingernails. Harpers were held
in high regard and the clarsach was the
primary instrument of the Gaelic courts
before the introduction of the bagpipes in
the 15th century. Due to historical events
of the time, harping in Scotland nearly
died out in the 18th Century and much
of the music, having never been written
down, was lost. There came a revival in
interest however, and although there are
still some wire-strung harps being played,
most Scottish folk harpists now play an
instrument that shares many of the same
features as the classical gut or nylon strung
pedal harp, which is played with the pads
of the fingers and has a very different
sound to the clarsach as it was.
The harp that I play is a lever harp. It is
smaller than a pedal harp, but the main
difference is how one changes key. On a
pedal harp or concert harp (the one you’d
see in a classical orchestra), there are seven
pedals - one for each note of the scale.
Each pedal has three different positions.
When the pedal is in the top position, the
note it controls will be flat, a note with
the pedal in the middle position will be
natural and when the pedal is in the lowest
position that note will be sharp. On a
lever harp, it’s the lever at the top of each
string that shortens it by a semi-tone (or
half-tone), making it sharp and therefore
changing the key. The strings on a harp are
coloured differently so one can tell which
note is which. Usually, red strings are C
and black strings are F while all the other
strings are white.
I own two harps and one is an electroharp.
It is like an electric guitar in that it only
works when plugged in to an amp and
the bass is very powerful. Playing in a big
band, it is brilliant to be able to turn up
the volume on what can often be a quiet
instrument. I love experimenting with
the different sounds of the electroharp,
although I do miss my acoustic harp when
on tour without it. The tone is so beautiful
on the acoustic and it’s such a joy to play.
It isn’t surprising the harp was believed to
hold special powers as it does have such
a soothing effect to both the player and
the listener. In fact, it’s for that reason and
many others that I expect to be carting
it round the country for years to come,
politely stating that no, I don’t in fact wish
I played the flute. I’m quite happy with my
harp.
Rachel Newton
Celtic Harmony, the Award winning education charity.
Hands on Heritage
education since 1998
Providing hands-on cultural heritage education of ancient
Britain to increase understanding of the natural world and
create a more sustainable way of life for future generations.
School children, families, special needs and community groups experience primitive
skills hands-on with a range of events and courses at Celtic Harmony Camp
the Iron Age settlement, in the surrounding woodland and at The Archery Barn.
!
w
e
N
Chieftain Experience
Bring your family together as Celts in ancient Britain for the day
On Thursday 31 July or Friday 1 August 2014
An extra special family experience, guided by our Celtic experts.
Learn Iron Age skills including:
Archery, Warrior training, Owl Handling
and enjoy a Hog Roast & Celtic platters.
“This has been the most magical day like stepping into a time machine” L Hunter, London
!
w
e
New Archery Summer Stars Course
N
is a fun way to introduce young people to archery over 3 mornings
Choose between: Monday 28, Tuesday 29 & Wednesday 30 July
or Monday 25, Tuesday 26 & Wednesday 27 August 2014
From 9 until 12am each day
for 8 to16 years old
The Archery Barn
Keep active this summer on 01438 718543
(The Archery Barn is just over
the road from the entrance to the camp)
celticharmony.org
Who are all these Complete Wasters?
Complete Wasters is a not-for-profit community recycling organisation based in
Leicestershire, established in 1996 to collect and recycle waste from businesses
and at outdoor festivals. They have been involved with JSL Productions events
since 1999 and so far have collected over 195,000 bottles and cans at these
events alone. Also, over 1,800 trees have been planted within the National Forest
and at schools, with more in the pipeline.
Visit the Shop
Those of you who have attended before will be
familiar with their Mongolian Yurt tent that houses
their busy eco-shop. Please come and visit them
and check out their range of ethical gifts such as
windchimes and jewellery made from recycled
cutlery, socks made from bamboo, goblets and
suncatchers made from recycled glass and for the
kids wooden swords and shields, musical instruments
and catapult pencils!. How can you help?
As well as the yurt, the team of Complete Wasters
volunteers will be on hand to supply plastic bags for
your rubbish (black) and recycling (clear) if you’ve
forgotten your own. There is a small charge for bags
(proceeds to fund more tree planting). Although
they will be happy for you to take your rubbish and/
or recycling away with you, for those of you who
don’t wish to do so please sort the rubbish from the
recyclable materials: cans, plastic bottles and glass.
There will be collection points for the rubbish and the
recycling near the exits. Remember the volunteers will
have to sort the clear bags by hand, so please don’t
contaminate them with food or rubbish! Deborah
from Complete Wasters told us that the Folk by the
Oak audience are amongst the greenest, helping us
to recycle 65% of the waste produced. This is helped,
of course, by all the heavy wine and beer bottles that
festival goers bring. So carry on drinking responsibly
and maybe offer a glass to our volunteers, it’s for the
good of the environment, honest!
For more information about Complete Wasters
and what they do, check out
www.completewasters.co.uk.
https://twitter.com/completewasters
http://www.facebook.com/CompleteWasters
Photography Competition
We are running our photography competition again this year because it’s always so great
to see your perspective on our festival. We really enjoyed looking through all the entries
last year, so if you manage to take a stunning snap this year, send it to us and you may be
a winner!
Enter for your chance to win:
- Four tickets to next year’s festival
- A signed Seth Lakeman CD
- A Folk by the Oak t-shirt
There will be one winner of the above, and 2 runners-up each winning a pair of tickets to
Folk by the Oak 2015.
To enter: Take some inspiring photographs today and then share them on our Facebook
or Twitter pages. One person can enter up to six photographs.
Facebook – www.facebook.com/folkbytheoak upload a photograph on our Facebook
page, tag us in it and name it ‘Competition Entry’.
Twitter – www.twitter.com/folkbytheoak Tweet your photograph @folkbytheoak
#CompetitionEntry
Even if you don’t participate, be sure to ‘Follow’ or ‘Like’ us and check out the entries!
The images down the side of this page are a selection of last year’s favourites.
Closing date will be 29 August 2014 and winners will be informed by 5 September 2014.
For full terms and conditions or if you need further information,
e-mail info@folkbytheoak.com
Charity Poster Auction!
Enter our charity auction and win a
very special Folk by the Oak limited
edition poster signed by all of our
main stage artists. The Auction is in aid
of our chosen charity Willow
We have a beautiful new limited edition poster this year brought
to us by the wonderful designers at Hatch Show Print. They were
formed in 1879 and are one of the oldest letter press printers in
America, based in Nashville. They have a uniquely identifiable
art style and are famous for creating posters for the likes of Johnny
Cash, June Carter, Dolly Parton and now Folk by the Oak!
Each printing machine is hand operated and every single poster is
handmade. No corners are cut and the results are stunning pieces
of poster art.
They are on sale for £10.00 at the Programmes Tent and this year
we will be auctioning a limited edition poster signed by all of our
main stage artists at Folk by the Oak 2014. All the money raised
will go to Willow so be generous! Simply make your way to the
Programmes & T-Shirts stall at the back of the festival site and
outbid your fellow audience members by putting in your bid and
giving us your name and telephone number. We will contact the
lucky winner who has placed the highest bid by 25 July 2014.
AROUN
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Enjoy your
favourite local
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an amazing 50p
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part payment for a copy of the Welwyn Hatfield Times newspaper.
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publication or offer. Photocopies are not accepted. Cash value 0.0001p.
TO THE RETAILER
Please accept this voucher as part payment against the purchase of the
Welwyn Hatfield Times newspaper.
Please return this voucher within 30 days
of receipt to your wholesaler for credit
and a handling charge. This voucher is not
transferable. Accepting in lieu of any other
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voucher 1p retailer/2p wholesaler.
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