The legendary ALTAN, one of the world's most popular Irish Bands, will headline this year's Feast of Folk at the Assembly Rooms in Derby. The BBC Radio 2 Folk Award Winners for "Traditional Band of the Year" aim to wow the Derbyshire folk community with their seamlessly dazzling instrumentals and the gorgeously delicate vocals of Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh. Altan have performed in China with Riverdance and recently played in Japan, Korea, USA, France, Spain, Germany and Scandinavia and their material ranges from touching old Irish songs all the way to hard-hitting reels and jigs. Also on the Feast of Folk menu is Steve Tilston, widely regarded as one of Britain's best singer songwriters, with melodeon and accordion virtuoso Chris Parkinson. And look out for Nancy Kerr and James Fagan, BBC Radio 2 Folk Award Winners for "Best Duo" and great favourites in Derby. They play upbeat music from the English and Australian traditions on fiddle and guitar-bouzouki. Festival of the Peak Feast of Folk is one of two major folk events to hit Derbyshire in the coming months as June sees the increasingly popular Festival of the Peak at Carsington Water, near Ashbourne. The event, from 9-11 June, features Eliza Carthy and the Ratcatchers, Eric Bogle and John Munro (Australia), John Tams and Barry Coope, Vin Garbutt, Finest Kind (Canada), Les Barker, Bushbury Mountain Daredevils, Marsden, Blant and Squire, Derbyshire Volunteers, Dave Hunt, Kerfuffle, Jill Fielding Band, Jug o’Punch, Dr Sunshine and Wicked Soles Dancers, plus music stalls, craft stalls, and full camping facilities. |
