Barbara Dickson lined up to headline Wirral Folk on the Coast Festival as event switches to Ellesmere Port

May 2 2012 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

WIRRAL’S annual festival of folk is moving to Ellesmere Port this summer after outgrowing its Bromborough roots.

Organisers of Wirral Folk on the Coast Festival – now in its eighth year – say they made the switch to Whitby Sports & Social Club because it is larger than their previous base at the OC Club and a more suitable venue for the rapidly expanding event.

Barbara Dickson will headline this year’s festival, which takes place from Thursday, June 7 to Sunday, June 10.

The Scottish singer was the first actress to play Mrs Johnston in Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers and teamed up with Elaine Paige to record chart-topper I Know Him So Well from the musical Chess.

Other big names lined up include singer-songwriter Kieran Goss, Wirral’s own Elbow Jane, Jaywalkers, Harvey Andrews and Jez Lowe & the Bad Pennies.

Barbara Dickson, Kieran Goss and Edwina Hayes will perform in the festival’s prime Saturday night spot.

Irishman Kieran, 49, has won fans across the globe with his dulcet tones.

His latest album, I’ll Be Seeing You, touches on a turbulent and tragic time for his family while he was recording in Austin, Texas.

He lost his mother and his sister-in-law to cancer and his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer – but her treatment was successful and two years on, she remains free from the disease.

He said: “The way I write has always been from the heart.

“I'm less afraid to be open and display vulnerability in my writing as I get older, to dig deep into how we process life, how we play the cards we're dealt.”

Alongside the main festival, there will also be a fringe programme with arts and crafts, poetry and storytelling, dance displays and workshops.

Other artists appearing at the festival are the Tom McConville Band, Bernard Wrigley, Keith Donnelly, Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman, the Young 'Uns and Timberwolf.

Away from the main folk artists there will also be appearances by the Fireflies Ladies Singing Group, Wirral Ukelele Orchestra, Ya Raqs Arabian Dancers and Viking re-enactment from Wirhalh Skip Felag.

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

Adult tickets cost £70 for the whole weekend or £40 for children aged 7 to 17.

Afternoon tickets for Saturday and Sunday are £16 each and £16 each for Fridayand Saturday evenings.

Tickets for the Saturday evening including the Barbara Dickson performance are £25.

Call 678 9902 or download a booking form at 678 9902.