Richard Digance heads line-up for seventh Wirral Folk on the Coast Festival

Jun 15 2011 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

THE Wirral Folk on the Coast Festival is returning for a seventh year of music, dance, poetry and comedy.

The four-day event takes place at the OC Sports and Leisure Club on Bridle Road, Bromborough, from Thursday, June 23 to Sunday, June 26.

Alongside the main programme, there will also be free entertainment in the grounds of the centre.

This year’s line-up includes TV and radio star and comedian Richard Digance, Peter Donegan and the original Lonnie Donegan Band and Jamie Landsborough, the son of country star Charlie.

There will also be appearances by singer/songwriter and comedian Vin Garbutt, Pete Abbott and Other Roads, poet and comedian Les Barker, singer/songwriter Anthony John Clarke, Martyn Wyndham-Read and French singer Flossie Malavielle.

John Owen, chair of the festival committee, said: “We are absolutely delighted that once again we have the support of the management at the OC Sports and Leisure Centre and Wirral Council in promoting this wonderful family event to which everyone is welcome.

“It thrills us to think that we are playing a major part in the development of tourism on Wirral.”

On Saturday and Sunday Viking group Wirhalh Skip Felag will re-enact Viking battles and present workshops on coin making, spinning, weaving and story telling.

Other free attractions are music sessions, poetry, belly dance displays and Morris dancing.

The Wirral Alliance of Poets, organised by former Scaffold member John Gorman, will also be in residence.

Other artists appearing are Tyde, Gareth Davies, Wirral-based Bernie Davis, Anna Shannon, The Celtic Notes, Bill Malkin & John Sylvester, The Marrowbones, Alison Parker & the Third Man Ceilidh Band, The Zazu Gypsy Tribal Dancers and the Mersey Morris Men and Mockbeggar Ladies Morris team.

The festival will open with an open mic night and music session on Thursday.

Weekend ticket holders can enjoy a coast-to-coast coach tour of Wirral at noon on Friday.

Music starts at 7pm on Friday and the last performance, by Fake Thackray, Jamie Landsborough, Martyn Wyndham-Read and The Tom Topping Band, is from 7.15pm on Sunday.

Tickets for each of the concerts during the festival are £16 or £30 for a day ticket (no concessions). Adult weekend tickets are £60.

Camping on-site for the whole event is available to weekend ticket holders only.

To book call 652 0734/678-9902 or visit www.wirralfolkonthecoast.com