BRISTOL FOLK FESTIVAL RETURNS IN 2011
Bellowhead have been named as the first of three headline acts for next year’s revived Bristol Folk Festival – which returns to the city after a 32 year break.
The extraordinary, multi award-winning 11 piece folk juggernaut will bring the three day Bank Holiday festival to a flamboyant finale on May Day (Sunday, May 1) at Colston Hall.
Voted Best Live Act in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards an unprecedented four times, Bellowhead – the brainchild of frontman Jon Boden and box player John Spiers -play an incredible 25 instruments between them. With proven crossover appeal, they edge into world, jazz, rock and music hall with songs that are often bawdy, invariably anarchic and always impossible to sit still to! Bellowhead will also programme their own invited guests throughout May 1.
Jon Boden said: “Bellowhead are delighted to have been asked to headline and programme the main stage music for May Day at the Bristol Folk Festival. With some festivals sadly disappearing in the current climate it’s great to see this one making a comeback after 32 years and we’ll be giving it all our support.”
Co-organizer Jan Ayers added: “It’s a real coup to get one of the biggest – in every sense- names in acoustic music to top the bill on the final day of what will be a bumper ‘back again’ Bristol Folk Festival.”
The announcement has been made as Bellowhead arrive in Bristol for two sold out nights at the Old Vic (Nov 10 and 11) showcasing their acclaimed new album Hedonism, recorded at Abbey Road Studios and produced by the legendary John Leckie.
Excitement is growing as organisers set about realising the dream of bringing Bristol Folk Festival back to the city after an absence of more than three decades. The “indoor” festival will take place in and around the revamped Colston Hall – with its stunning £20m new glass-fronted foyer – and has another hot property folk performer as its patron, the Mercury Prize nominee Seth Lakeman. Headliners for Friday April 29 and Saturday April 30 will be announced shortly.
The festival has named its chosen charity as Cots forTots, part of Wallace and Gromit’s Grand Appeal. The appeal aims to raise £1 million to provide life-saving equipment for Bristol’s St Michael’s Hospital neonatal intensive care unit.
Early Bird tickets for the Bristol folk bonanza are already on sale from Colston Hall at the special price of £60 for the three days. As well as award-winning artists, the festival will feature Morris dancers, mummers and maypoles, ceilidhs, “posh loos” and indoor camping! More information at www.bristolfolkfestival.com
