29 July – 5 August 2016
Sidmouth FolkWeek is a unique week-long celebration of music, dance and song which takes place in the charming East Devon regency coastal resort. It’s an absolute must in every festival goer’s annual diary. There has been a folk festival in Sidmouth in the first week of August every year since 1955, attracting tens of thousands of visitors to over 700 diverse events, with broad ‘something for everyone’ appeal. With an ear to the past and an eye on the future, the festival features established stars and emerging talent, major concerts and small intimate sessions, ceilidhs, folk dancing and lively roots parties, storytelling, fun family entertainment and youth-centred sessions, hands-on workshops and spectacular dance displays, the best in South West crafts and the tastiest of local food and drink.
The town’s streets and venues burst with festive atmosphere and colour as holidaymakers and festival goers join together in the friendliest, music-based holiday of the summer.
Children’s Activities
Blackmore Gardens is the main hub for family-based fun throughout the week, offering opportunities for all ages to get involved. It’s a colourful and welcoming place to spread out your picnic blanket and enjoy the Young Performers Showcases, Strolling Performers and surprise pop up events as well as all the fantastic programmed activities. There are also already some fabulous evening Family Shows in place for 2016. Go to:
http://www.sidmouthfolkweek.co.uk/uploads/2016%20CHILDRENS%20Programme%20final.pdf for more details. From Saturday to Thursday there will be special shows for families including a hilarious Clown Show with SPANGLES THE CLOWN; the truly magical story of the Three Billy Pigs – an enchanting puppet show presented by NOISY OYSTER THEATRE. The tale of Mary Anning, who discovered the world’s first ever fossil of an Ichthyosaurus, is told by ONE MOMENT IN TIME THEATRE in Mary’s Monsters with songs, puppets and objects from the natural world. Don’t forget the Magical Evening Ceilidh with the SIDMOUTH SEASIDE STOMPERS CEILIDH BAND (Don’t forget to bring your instruments along to join in the Magical Evening Ceilidh!) in Blackmore Gardens Marquee, including a whole load of special surprises to make the event something to really remember.
A wide range of venues gives plenty of scope to plan a host of fun activities in 2016, including for children over 8 years; the ever-popular Craft Carousel where youngsters have the opportunity to work in small groups to produce a special craft item to take home. For younger children there will be special sessions for both 6 –7 year olds and also 5 years and under, including Crazy Crafts, Action Songs, Fun Percussion, Mini Crafts, Messy Crafts, and, new this year, Yoga, plus many more noisy and quiet sessions.
Some amazingly talented young performers apply each year to perform in the special Young Performers Showcases featured on The Garden Stage in Blackmore Gardens. Further details on how to apply to become one of the featured 2016 Garden Stage Young Performers are published on the website.
For your youngsters to get the very best out of FolkWeek, the most cost effective way is to buy them a Children’s Season ticket which gives them priority access to all Children’s Festival events including evening family shows (space permitting).
A selection of what’s on offer during the festival:
Thursday 28th July
PAM AYRES (PRE-FESTIVAL SPECIAL)
STEELEYE SPAN plus THE DRYSTONES (PRE–FESTIVAL SPECIAL)
Friday 29th July
FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS plus JIM CAUSLEY (PRE-FESTIVAL SPECIAL)
THE JOHN McCUSKER BAND, BLACKBEARD’S TEA PARTY, JEZ LOWE.
KIRKOPHANY, MISHAPED PEARLS, PHOENIX DANCE BAND,
SHEILA KAY ADAMS, DARIUSH KANANI, FACE FURNITURE
Saturday 30th July
SHARON SHANNON AND BAND, SHOOGLENIFTY, JOHN KIRKPATRICK,
PETE COE, JEZ LOWE, WHAPWEASEL, BOB FOX, LEN GRAHAM & JACK LYNCH,
THE DROLE, KEVIN & ELLEN MITCHELL, MICK RYAN & PAUL DOWNES, PHOENIX DANCE BAND, NIAMH BOADLE, MARYEAGLE
Sunday 31st July
SHOW OF HANDS WITH MIRANDA SYKES, JAMIE SMITH’S MABON 
KATHYRN ROBERTS & SEAN LAKEMAN, WHAPWEASEL,
BOB FOX, JEZ LOWE, KHIYO, THREE CANE WHALE. PETE COE,
DEAD RAT ORCHESTRA, EFFRA, WINDY GYLE BAND, KIRSTY MERRYN,
RACKER DONNELLY
Monday 1st August
BLAZIN’ FIDDLES, NANCY KERR & JAMES FAGAN, MELROSE QUARTET
JAMIE SMITH’S MABON, ANNA & ELIZABETH, WIZZ JONES,
BRIAN PETERS, HANNAH SANDERS, SHEILA KAY ADAMS, JIM CAUSLEY TRIO
MONSTER CEILIDH BAND, GADARENE, URBAN FOLK THEORY
LUCY FARRELL, ROBYN STAPLETON, PETA WEBB AND KEN HALL
MATTHEW CRAMPTON & THE LONDON LUBBERS
VICKI SWAN & JONNY DYER, BLACKTHORN BAND
Tuesday 2nd August
MARTIN SIMPSON & DOM FLEMONS, LE VENT DU NORD, MANRAN
ANNA & ELIZABETH, NANCY KERR & JAMES FAGAN, FARA
MELROSE QUARTET, COCK & BULL BAND, LADY MAISERY, BRIAN PETERS,
TOM & BEN PALEY, JENNA REID, RHONA DALLING, CIARAN ALGAR, DIPPER MALKIN
PETA WEBB AND KEN HALL, SHEILA KAY ADAMS, KITTY MACFARLANE
Wednesday 3rd August
SETH LAKEMAN, KATHRYN TICKELL & SUPERFOLKUS, OYSTERS 3
ROBIN DRANSFIELD, ANNA & ELIZABETH, TRIO DHOORE, LADY MAISERY,
TYMON DOGG, COCK & BULL BAND, HOT VULTURES, SAM KELLY TRIO, THE CLAQUE
CIARAN ALGAR, PETE WOOD, TOM & BEN PALEY, THE ESKIES TRED, VICKY SWAN & JONNY DYER
Thursday 4th August
JON BODEN, LYNCHED, RICCARDO TESI & BANDITALIANA, ROBIN DRANSFIELD, STICK IN THE WHEEL, THE RHEINGANS SISTERS, JOHN KIRKPATRICK, TRIO DHOORE, MOLTENAMBA, HANNAH JAMES’ JIGDOLL, MAD DOG McREA, WILL POUND CEILIDH BAND, MAGGIE HOLLAND, TALISK, TOM & BEN PALEY, ALMA, TOBIAS BEN JACOB ,TRED
Friday 5th August
THE YOUNG’ UNS, THE WATERSHED BAND FEATURING PHILLIP HENRY & HANNAH MARTIN, JIM CAUSLEY, PETE COE, LEN GRAHAM & JACK LYNCH, MOLTENAMBA, BANTER, ENGLISH CONTRA DANCE BAND, TALISK, NINEBARROW, NICK WYKE & BECKI DRISCOLL, PETE WOOD, THE BARBER SISTERS, WILL DUKE, CAROL ANDERSON, RACKER DONNELLY, WINDBEATEN, THORN & ROSES
Some of these artists, and many more, are performing at the festival all week. The above list features just some of the performances. See the festival programme for the full schedule at: http://www.sidmouthfolkweek.co.uk/uploads/full%20prog%20final%202016%20med-res2.pdf
Festival Bus Service
The regular ‘Festival’ bus service is being provided by the same popular Hampton Grays team of the last few years. From Friday 29th July throughout the Festival, the bus service will run as follows:
Sidmouth Seafront to Bulverton Campsite (Please note that the pick-up point is on the Esplanade slightly West of the Bedford Hotel):The first bus will be 08.30 then every 20 minutes(approx.) until 18.50. Then from 19.10 the buses will leave every 15 minutes (approx) until the last bus at 02.25 am.
For Wednesday 27th July and Thursday 28th July:
A cut-down service will operate in both directions, starting from the Bulverton Campsite on Wednesday 27th July, from 14:00; and on Thursday 28th July, from 08:20. Last bus back from the seafront on these two days is midnight.
Friday 29th July to Friday 5th August
Town Circular Route
The first bus will be 0815hrs and the service will run every 45mins approximately. The route will be as follows:
Campsite – Seafront – All Saints Road – Radway – Sidmouth Primary School – Woolbrook – Stowford – Campsite.
This route provides for venues: All Saints Church, Sidmouth Primary School (Vicarage Road) and Stowford Rise Community Centre. This service will stop at 2300hrs.
Bus Tickets
Week and Day Tickets available from the Festival Box Office and Festival Campsite:
For the Week (27th July – 5th Aug):£32 (6-17s £16, 5 and under free).
For the Day: £5 (6-17s £3, 5 and under free).
Single journey: £2 payable on bus.
Access for people with disabilities
The Festival organisers try to make venues as accommodating as possible to all people. Wheelchair access is available at most venues and our volunteer stewards are always ready to assist with any special requirements. If special requirements exist, such as the positioning of a wheelchair, it is the ticket holder’s responsibility to contact the venue to make sure that their requirements are known. Venue stewards will do their best to accommodate all such requests. Go to: https://sidmouthfolkfestival.co.uk/accessibility/ for more information.
The area of Watersmeet and Countisbury comprises 2,000 acres of wonderful walking country with breath-taking views and many opportunities to spot the local wildlife. It is so named as it is the meeting place of the East Lyn River and Hoar Oak Water. 
Watersmeet is a haven for many visitors. Built originally as a fishing lodge and secluded retreat, with connections to the romantic poets, it has been a tea room since 1901.
It is a showcase for the best of local farming, produce, crafts and rural skills and there are in excess of 400 trade exhibitors, including crafts, shopping and fabulous food. It is one of the largest business and social events in East Devon and more than 20,000 visitors enjoy the day, as well as over 1,000 livestock entries. Honiton Show is delighted to host the West of England Hound Show, the second largest in the Country, attracting packs from all over the British Isles.
Thirty years and a world war later, in 1920 the show moved to Dowell Street and the association was re-named Honiton Union District Agricultural Association. After the second world war, in 1946, the classes included Labourers Long Service Awards and judging of the Hunting Hounds. Poultry classes disappeared and dairy cattle were very low on entries; This was due to the rationing taking effect during the war. In 1948 the show saw the introduction of The West Of England Hound Show. This was the beginning of what is now one of the largest and most prestigious Hound Shows in the country.
The association, now known as Honiton & District Agricultural Association, celebrated its centenary in 1990 as a limited company and held a special show to commemorate, with some 290 trade stands. The association has come a long way since 1890 and is ready for the next one hundred years!
The Exmoor Horn Wool project is all about promoting and adding value to the Exmoor Horn sheep by selling their wool. Of all the hill breeds of sheep, Exmoor Horns have some of the finest wool. A group of Exmoor farmers, in partnership with the Exmoor National Park, got together a couple of years ago to form the Exmoor Horn Wool company and try and capitalise on the quality of the wool. Part of this involves taking stands at various shows, the most important of which is Woolfest, so important in fact that it required the presence of Mr Terry himself.
In contrast, the rams are more relaxed about life. For rams generally this is unusual, and trying to stop rams fighting each other is a constant problem. Terry lives with two Suffolk rams, who will fight over nothing. When Terry was first introduced to them we feared the worst so we had them penned up tight in the sheep shed, not allowing them room to take a run at each other. We need not have worried. Terry turned to face one of the shed supports, rammed it furiously with his horns until the whole shed shook, then turned to face the Suffolks. The two Suffolks both became very interested with something on the ground. They have got on ever since.
Our spring crops have been planted and are thriving in the warm sunshine. The grass has been growing so well that it is now time to cut it and store it to feed our sheep and cattle through the winter. We have recently made some round bale silage. This involves cutting a field of grass and leaving it to dry. We generally leave it in situ for a couple of days, turning it twice a day to reduce the moisture content. When it is ready a local contractor comes to the farm and in farming terms ‘rues up’, which basically means a racking machine puts it into neat rows for the baler. Afterwards, another tractor and baler compacts the grass into round bales and wraps it in black plastic – the bales are stored in plastic so that the grass ferments into silage. The cattle love to eat this in the colder months of the year. While we were baling this year, a friend came along with his drone and took some wonderful photos of the field and our farm.
Killerton House is a particularly elegant 18th century building, surrounded by eighteen acres of landscaped and parkland gardens. They boast a wide variety of unusual trees and shrubs, collected by some of the great Victorian plant hunters. There are also wonderful herbaceous borders, a Victorian laundry, ice house, bear hut and chapel.
The interior of the house reveals a warm and welcoming Georgian family home, with a colourful history. On the first floor you can browse the renowned historical fashion collection, which is changed annually. During a visit you will be able to learn the history behind the many family portraits and listen to the country-house organ, still played every day.
Budlake Old Post Office – A stone’s throw from Killerton House you’ll find a 1950s post office that served the community until 1976. Fascinating vintage items fill the shelves and don’t miss the beautiful cottage garden with rose border, herb and vegetable plots.
Markers – An intriguing medieval hall-house with smoke blackened timbers and a rare 15th century cross passage screen, intricately painted and depicting St Andrew and his boat.
I had put her back in calf to a Blonde Aquitaine bull and was very excited at the prospect of new life on the farm. A cow is in calf for about 283 days, similar to us in the region of 9 months, so I was fairly certain that the day was soon approaching when another beautiful calf was to grace our farm.
I had her in a field near the house so that I could keep a close eye on her and it wasn’t long before the day arrived and she was showing sure signs of starting to calve. It is so important that the cow remains as quiet as possible, but, after a while with no visible progress, I started to feel concerned that things were not as they should be. She was getting very agitated and clearly not getting on with the job as in previous calvings. A very good friend of ours was an excellent cowman and I was soon on my mobile calling him from the field and describing what was going on. I explained that Daisy has started calving and I felt slightly worried.
Clearly Daisy didn’t much care for this idea! She let out this almighty bellow, gave one enormous push and the calf’s head appeared. A beautiful golden coloured bull calf was born and seemed none the worse for his journey into the world. Daisy turned slowly and began licking her newborn and within no time the calf was up and searching for the milk bar. A truly wonderful sight!
The remainder of the route covers a wide variety of landscapes, including wooded river valleys, moorland, coastal cliffs and sandy bays. Walking varies from easy through to moderate and strenuous, depending on the location, but, in general, it is comprehensively waymarked.
The trails are a popular tourist destination and bicycle hire businesses are available for those who wish to cycle along suitable sections of the Trail. A section of the Trail is part of the National Cycle Network’s route number 27 and forms part of the route known as the Devon Coast to Coast Cycle Route. This is a route of 102 miles stretching from Ilfracombe to Plymouth, largely using former railway lines.
Your first glimpses of the village of Widecombe-in-the-Moor is of a picturesque little hamlet that nestles snuggly between the rolling green hills of Devon farmland. It is set off by a spectacular backdrop of granite tors and moorland. The village has a coach and car park as well as the usual collection of craft shops and tea rooms, serving refreshments.
Next to the churchyard is Church House, built in 1537 as a brew house for the production of church ales. Church House is now managed by the National Trust, having also been a school house and alms house at various times in its history. The old Sexton’s cottage is also part of the complex, currently being utilised as a National Trust and Dartmoor National Park Information Centre and shop.
Catering facilities are available in the competitors paddock (admission FREE of charge) where a selection of food and beverages are available, both hot and cold, including breakfast rolls etc. A licenced bar is also open at the appropriate hours offering a range of alcoholic drinks, including beers from the local Otter Brewery. You can also enjoy an ice cream whilst you relax and watch the action.
The majority of motor sport in this country would not exist if it were not for the volunteer force of marshals, and Wiscombe park is no exception. The fact that these individuals are volunteers in no way compromises their skills and expertise, but do not let this wealth of experience deter you if you are a ‘rookie’ marshal or have yet to ‘step forward’. At most events the chief marshal ensures that there is a balance of experience on each post so there is usually a mix of experienced marshals working alongside those who are ‘learning the ropes’.