Feast Your Ears on Festival Full of Fantastic Folk Stars ; Folk

By PETE WILLOW

MERCURY PRIZE nominees Rachel Unthank and The Winterset, charttoppers Nizlopi and former MP Tony Benn with singer Roy Bailey are among the guests lined up for the all-star Warwick Folk Festival this weekend.

Tyneside singer Rachel and her band’s new album The Bairns was included in this week’s Mercury announcement alongside the latest recordings by Radiohead, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss and Adele.

Rachel and the band will be making their first public appearance since hearing the news as they headline tomorrow’s concert in the Bridge House Theatre, in Myton Road.

Leamington duo Nizlopi sing material from their new album Make It Happen during a free open-air concert in Warwick’s Market Place on Sunday afternoon and Benn and Bailey present their set of songs and observations for the opening set of the Sundayevening concert in the festival’s main stage marquee in Warwick School.

Other big names heading for Warwick include Fairport Convention and Jethro Tull member Dave Pegg with guitarist PJWright, powerhouse band of virtuoso musicians Bellowhead, veteran folk-rockers Oysterband and award-winning young Scottish musiciansBreabach.

The festival is now in its 29th year and also draws in its extensive pool of local talent with popular and regular acts Keith Donnelly, Kel Elliott and the bizarre comedy duo Great Bonzo and Doris among the attractions.

The main festival events take place in the grounds of Warwick School, but the weekend also sees a packed programme of music, song and story-telling sessions, informal concerts and dance displays in the pubs and precincts of the town.

Highlights include tomorrow night’s samba music and dancing in Market Place, a Sunday lunchtime choir performance and a spectacular Sunday afternoon procession of morris dancers from the town centre to St Nicholas Park.

Tickets information and further details available from 01926 776438.

(c) 2008 Coventry Evening Telegraph. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.