WEST END legend Barbara Dickson OBE will top the bill at a festival of folk music and dance in Ellesmere Port.
The singer and actress – who started her career gigging in folk clubs in the late 60s – will return to her roots to headline the eighth Wirral Folk on the Coast Festival at the Whitby Sports and Social Club on Saturday, June 9.
Olivier Award-winning Barbara is best known for starring as Mrs Johnstone in Willy Russell’s musical Blood Brothers and for her chart-topping version of I Know Him So Well, recorded with Elaine Paige.
The four-day festival – which heads to the town for the first time after outgrowing its original venue in Bromborough – has this year attracted popular folk and acoustic acts including Kieran Goss, Harvey Andrews and Jez Lowe and the Bad Pennies.
Organisers John and Angie Owen said: “This will be our eighth festival, but our first at our new venue, the Whitby Club.
“We are all absolutely delighted that the iconic actress and singer Barbara Dickson is top of the bill on the Saturday evening in the main concert hall.”
During the festival – which runs from June 7-10 – the club’s grounds will play host to a craft market, dance displays, Viking battle reenactments and workshops in storytelling, poetry and music.
Pupils of Whitby High School will also present Who Do You Boat People Think You Are?, about the development of the town’s canal boat life.
Tickets, starting at £16, are available for individual concerts or for the whole weekend. On-site camping facilities are available for weekend ticket holders.
To book, visit www.wirralfolkonthecoast.com, call the box office on 0151 678 9902 or 0151 652 0734 or visit www.wegottickets.com.
