Stars come out for folk festival

TOP music stars and hundreds of activities for all the family will be on offer at next month’s Purbeck Valley Folk Festival (PVFF).

Headlining are Devon folk royalty Seth Lakeman, poprock band The Magic Numbers, singer-songwriter Newton Faulkner and Grammy-winning Texan singer Sarah Jarosz.

The bill also features Radio 2 favourite Kathryn Williams, foot-stompers Sheelanagig, Bristol’s Americana singer Lady Nade, explosive big band The Destroyers, Irish folkies The Jeremiahs and bluegrass revisionists Old Baby Mackerel.

They will all be at the event at Purbeck Valley Farm off the A351 between Corfe Castle and Harman’s Cross alongside party band Quinns Quinney, shanty combo Wareham Whalers and Dorset’s popular oompah pop specialists Bierfass Band.

Festival director Catherine Burke said: “PVFF is a festival that’s loved by everyone because there’s loads for kids to do, loads for parents and loads for the old folkies!

“We have four evenings and three full days of outstanding, original young folk, roots and world music across five stages thanks to a brilliant musical line-up.

“Purbeck Valley Folk Festival is so much more than just a great music festival.

“There is also an unprecedented number of activities for children, a huge craft area for adults, a perfect location and a great selection of real ales and ciders.

“Tickets have been selling fast already with record numbers of festival-goers buying tickets for this year’s festival before they even left the site last year – so hurry if you want to attend.”

Activities for all ages include ceilidhs, workshops, sessions, comedy, crafts, healing area and fire shows.

Children’s activities include storytelling, The Circus of Science, theatre workshops, fun crafts, puppet shows, bubble displays, baby/ toddler rhyme time sessions, face-painting, a treasure hunt, bouncy castles, fancy dress, maypole dancing and Morris dance workshops.

There is also a family ceilidh, space-hopper obstacle course, welly wanging and circus skills performances and workshops, including juggling, diablo, devil’s sticks, interspersing fiery melodies and foot-tapping rhythms with lilting laments in high-energy sets.

Paprika have performed all over the world, including Womad and Glastonbury festivals and prestigious venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and the Sydney Opera House, following the release of their album Wild, Wild East, in 2019.

Paprika are at Langton Matravers village hall (01929 423834) on Sunday, July 16. Full details and tickets are also available online at artsreach.co.uk unicycling, stilt walking, low level trapeze, an inflatable tumble mat. All children’s activities are free of charge.

They are also at Portesham village hall (01305 871117) on Saturday, July 15.

PVFF’s craft area is growing every year with workshops available in rope-making, crochet, wicker modelling, macrame, cyanotype printing, clay modelling/pottery, bunting printing, tie-dye, blacksmithing, traditional woodturning, pebble painting, origami and more.

The festival runs from Thursday, August 17, to Sunday, August 20, and tickets are on sale now from £135 (£70/£30) for the weekend, including camping.

The Dorset Arts & Crafts Showcase 2023

Friday 4th - Tuesday 8th August 10am-4pm daily

Sale of work by Members of DACA

Fine Art, Craft & Photography Competitions

Children's Workshops

Free Entry for Under 18's