and 19 September Festival preview

from St Ives Local, July/August 2021

Art

St Ives September Festival: Folk, films and face painting – and much more

Momentum is building as the 2021 St Ives September Festival continues to defy the difficulties thrown up by the further delays in the lifting of coronavirus restrictions. Since plans were revealed in the last St Ives Local, many more events have been added – big-name Guildhall nights, theatre, films, walks, talks and exhibitions to participatory workshops.

Martin Simpson, one of Gibson Guitars’ Top 30 Acoustic Guitarists of all-time, will appear at the Guildhall on Thursday 16th September.

The folk and blues exponent has had a record 32 BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nominations, including 13 as Musician of the Year, winning that twice. Martin and Eliza Carthy are at the Guildhall on the following Thursday, the 23rd. English folk music legend Martin celebrated his 80th birthday in May (in the same week as Bob Dylan) and his twice Mercury Awards-nominated daughter Eliza have both appeared at the St Ives Festival before – but never together!

Ongoing audience-size restrictions mean the Guildhall programme is not as extensive this year, but other venues have stepped up. St Ia Parish Church will host 22 events

Barry Hunt over 15 days, starting with Andrew Tellam’s lunchtime Piano Melodies and the Company B jump jive band on Saturday 11th September. Ranging from folk and blues through to shanty and choral singing to classical music and art workshops, the church programme finishes with Helston Town Band’s Proms Night on the 25th.

“We are absolutely delighted to be able to use our buildings and grounds for the enjoyment of the community,”

Martin Simpson

The Halcyon Quartet

Bryher’s Boys

Eliza and Martin Carthy said Rev Nick Widdows, vicar of St Ives. “We hope to see many people throughout the festival fortnight – visitors and locals alike.”

Cornwall performers include Femmes de la Mer’s Songs By Candlelight, shanty singers Bryher’s Boys, Foxes Fair, Will Keating, Cornish Roots Big Band, Cornish Sinfonia and Gwel Trecrom Singers. Blues guitarist Claude Bourbon, Winter Mountain (aka Devon singer-songwriter Joe Francis) and rising chamber music stars Halcyon Quartet are among St Ia’s many performers from further afield.

Outdoors, St John’s In The Fields Church will host a Tinners Session night of folk, face-painting, food and dancing featuring musicians from the Tinners Arms in Zennor and Disco In The Fields.

The Arts Club’s line-up includes St Ives’ folk singer Alistair Brown, singer-songwriter Barry Hunt, Tir ha Tavas and a Drama Express charity show. Graphite & Co, the play by poet Evelyn Holloway, returns for two more nights after premiering – and selling out twice – in 2019. The Cohort Hostel present Cornwall band Du Glas while other music venues include St Ives Theatre, Café Art and the Mariners and Penwith galleries.

Those wishing to take part rather than watch are welcome to Bob Devereux’s daily lunchtime poetry and music sessions in Norway Square and there will be numerous workshops. First to sign up were Barnoon Workshop, with art courses plus the chance to have your portrait painted at their Your Face My Art sessions, and weaver Jo McIntosh with four craft workshops at St John’s Church Hall.

Find more festival details and buy tickets at

Alistair Brown