Young talent lines up for February Folk Day in Chester

Feb 16 2010 Chester Chronicle

CHESTER’S February Folk Day on Saturday, February 27 will be showcasing some extraordinary young musical talent.

Held at Hoole Community Centre, Westminster Road, Chester, this popular event has been providing top class entertainment for more than 20 years.

The headline act in the afternoon will be Bella Hardy. Though only 25, Bella has already been nominated three times in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and has been well known on the folk circuit for many years.

Bella will be joined by Chris Sherburn on concertina and Corinna Hewitt on harp.

Also appearing will be Jonny Kearney and Lucy Farrell, two talented young performers who met while studying on the folk music degree course in Newcastle.

Accompanying themselves on guitar and fiddle, they perform a mixture of traditional and self-penned material.

The concert also features the wry humour, outstanding musicianship and fine voices of Bill Whaley and Dave Fletcher plus English songs and tunes from Bartram, Brookes and Weatherall; and the fine singing and guitar playing of local teenager Greg Russell. Alongside all this there will be the usual mix of informal sessions which add so much to the atmosphere of the event.

In the evening you can choose whether to sit in the Folk Club and let some of the guests entertain you again or put on your dancing shoes to kick up your heels in the ceilidh where local band The Shropshire Heroes will be providing the music, with caller Dave Ball helping to ensure that everyone is able to join in the fun.

Tickets cost £10 for the afternoon, £9 for the evening and £16 for the whole day (concessions apply) and are available on the door, through the website (www.chesterfolk.org.uk/ ) or by ringing 07005 977045 in advance.