Kimpton Folk Festival 2024

Remember to exchange your ticket for a wristband at the Festival Office

6th July 2024

is proud to support

Kimpton Folk Festival

THE BEAT GOES ON

There’s an exciting new energy in the UK folk scene right now, with emerging artists taking the tradition in all kinds of imaginative new directions. We’re thrilled to be presenting some of these artists to you today. Onto our Green Stage we welcome New Roots finalist Heather Cartwright, while Nancy Kerr and James Fagan introduce the innovative Benammi Swift as their ‘patron’s choice’. In the Family Area, Young Miscellany will share a range of dance traditions with their fellow youngsters, while at the buskstops, we present our youngest star of all –ten year-old Kimptonite Eloisa Kerry.

On page 18 you’ll find our tribute to the late Di King – a sorely missed and much loved member of our Kimpton folk team.

We’re most grateful to Helping Herts, SCOPS Arts Trust* and Herts County Council for supporting this year’s festival. And as ever, we’re profoundly grateful to our team of volunteers, without whom there could be no festival. Finally, please thank your committee for their dedication to the cause: Neil Burns, Steve Christopher, Richard Edwards, Martin Hicks, Lory Laskey, Ian Neilson, Sally Patterson, Anne Richardson and Matt Vickerstaff.

On behalf of the entire team, I wish you a wonderful day,

Doug Jenner, Chair, Kimpton Folk Events *More info on page 17

the venues

The Di King Stage (Memorial Hall)

There are two concerts on the Di King Stage (licensed bar):

Afternoon Concert 2

2.00pm – 4.35pm

 Belinda Kempster & Fran Foote

 Alden & Patterson

 Smith & Brewer

Evening Concert

8.15pm – 11.15pm

 John Ward Trio

 Dan Walsh & Brooks Williams

 Melrose Quartet

The Church of St Peter & St Paul

There are two concerts in the Church (licensed bar):

Afternoon Concert 1

11.45am – 1.30pm

 Benammi Swift

 Nancy Kerr & James Fagan

Afternoon Concert 3

(Patrons’ Concert)

5.00pm – 7.45pm

 Elizabeth & Jameson

 Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage

 Eliza Carthy

All visitors attending concerts in the Church are reminded that Kimpton Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul is primarily a place of worship, so please respect the Church and its grounds.

The Green

 Festival ticket office, street food stalls, real ales with Farr Brew, craft stalls, first aid and free entertainment all day* culminating in a traditional summer ceilidh for all Street food

 Sukanya Thai

 Buster Boxes & Burgers

 The Melt Van

Refreshments

 Farr Brew real ale bar

 Marinello’s Ice Cream

 Pimms Bar (Kimpton Horse Show) Stalls

Garden Fields

 Helping Herts crafts

 Wicker Workshop

The Boot

 Tune Session

12.00pm – 2.00pm

The Family Area

 Felting with Rockwool Creations

 Pottery with Clay –with Carol

 Open Session 2.10pm – 4.00pm

 Rumbaleena Handmade

 Madeline McAuley –Crafted pebbles & workshop

First Aid:  St John’s Ambulance

 Tiny T’s Theatre  Compton’s Company of Puppets

 Group Singing Session 4.10pm – 6.00pm

The Dacre Rooms

 ‘Learn the Ukelele’ with Euan Tees: 1.00pm – 2.00pm

 ‘Guitar Improvers’ with Brooks Williams: 2.00pm – 3.15pm

 ‘Learn Clawhammer Banjo’ with Dan Walsh: 3.30pm – 4.45pm

Busk Stops

 Church Gate, Garden Fields, The Boot

the artists

ALDEN & PATTERSON

Deeply inspired by the world around them, Christina Alden and Alex Patterson have a keen environmental eye for stories which have the natural world at their heart, and which reflect on their relationship between humans and the wild. They wowed Kimpton audiences back in 2017 and we are delighted to welcome them back.

BELINDA KEMPSTER & FRAN FOOTE

Belinda and Fran are a mother and daughter duo from Essex. Says Belinda: “Traditional music represents the history, traditions and thoughts of a community. Our songs come from farming and working on the land. Families singing together is special and singing these songs together feels like coming home.”

BENAMMI SWIFT

A long-term student of the melodion, Benammi’s background includes membership of the National Youth Folk Ensemble and 3 years of study in the first ever cohort of the Leeds Conservatoire folk degree. His music draws on a range of traditional and contemporary influences from the British Isles and beyond.

BUCKLEY’S CHANCE

The UK’s most well-known traditional Aussie bush band. Over the years the band has brought its ‘music from down under’ to venues in Ireland, Germany, France and the Czech Republic. This afternoon, Kimpton local Doug Jenner is joined by Jan Davis, Paul Buckley, Simon Barnett and Ellie Barnett.

BROOKS WILLIAMS & DAN WALSH

Dan plays clawhammer banjo, Brooks Williams hails from the US and plays guitar. Each is a leading light on his instrument and to the stage they bring a bucketload of charisma and talent. Their poignant soings and lively humour make them a remarkable duet.

“Excellent, uplifting, cheering!” — Simon Nicol

DAVIDD

DAVIDD is a London-born singer-songwriter living in the New Forest, whose music produces an eclectic but immediately recognisable sound. He recently recorded 6 new singles at Abbey Road Studios. Summer 2024 marks DAVIDD’s first UK tour, taking in small venues across the country, open mics, busking festivals and house concerts.

JOE WILKINSON

Joe has played roughly 600 shows across England, Spain, and Germany, including support for Grammywinning artist Lauren Daigle and winning ‘Songslams’ in Berlin, Frankfurt, and Karlsruhe. Three of Joe’s singles reached number one in the ‘VoiceFM’ charts with several releases supported by BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music.

ELIZABETH & JAMESON

Herts-based Hannah Elizabeth and Griff Jameson have merged their trad folk and folk pop/rock backgrounds to produce a captivating acoustic indie-folk sound which is turning heads and bringing them growing critical acclaim across the folk-roots community.

“Their voices form a seductive combination.”

(The Sunday Times)

the artists

ELIZA CARTHY

If there’s one musician who embodies the dynamism and vitality of the current English folk revival, it’s Eliza. Loved by traditionalists and iconoclasts alike, Eliza’s music crosses boundaries of genre and style. Her powerful, nuanced voice and fiercely beautiful fiddle-playing are influencing a whole generation of young musicians.

GAN AINM

It is testament to the power of folk sessions that they can give rise to such groups such as Gan Ainm. Barry Woolhead, Dorothy Phelps and Antonia White are all regulars at the Marquis of Lorne session in Stevenage. Playing fiddle, guitar, bodhran and voice, they perform traditional Irish and Scottish songs and tunes.

HANNAH SANDERS & BEN SAVAGE

Returning for a second time, Hannah & Ben are a duo whose natural chemistry defies conventions of style, genre and compartmentalisation; a touch of Americana, yet quintessentially English, traditional, yet contemporary, playful and instinctive.

MOJO declared their 2022 album ‘Ink of the Rosy Morning’ to be “as heartwarming as it is beguiling.”

HEATHER CARTWRIGHT ‘NEW ROOTS’

A finalist in this year’s New Roots competition, Heather’s guitar playing incorporates solo-fingerstyle and traditional Scottish rhythms to accompany her captivating vocals. Her time at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland resulted in a first-class honours degree in Traditional Music. Originally from Cumbria, Heather now bases herself in Glasgow’s vibrant music scene.

Flexible

the artists

JOHN WARD TRIO

The trio comprises John, John’s wife Lynne and Les Woodley, both accomplished instrumentalists. John writes thought-provoking, witty songs drawing upon his life in a gritty port town and his wider travels. Based in East Anglia, they present a repertoire of traditional and contemporary folk tunes and songs, many suited to communal singing.

ELOISA KERRY

10 year-old Eloisa, a Kimpton local, wowed audiences last year and we are thrilled to welcome her back. Eloisa says: “I have been playing my ukelele for just over a year. I first went to the folk festival last year and I am looking forward to busking and raising money for The Blue Cross in Kimpton.”

CHRIS LAWLEY

A Kimpton folk festival would not be the same without colourful character Chris Lawley and we are delighted to welcome him back again. Chris performs WW1 and Victorian music hall songs in costume as well as folk songs and ‘chanteys’ (sea shanties). Audience participation is always central to a Chris Lawley performance.

LORY LASKEY & JENNY BURKITT

The music of locals Lory and Jenny has been giving pleasure to Kimpton folk session attendees for quite a few years now, their voices blending beautifully as they render their exquisite harmonies. In recent times they have been entertaining audiences at local concerts and folk clubs.

MELROSE QUARTET

This Sheffield-based foursome continues to earn rapturous applause at concert appearances throughout the UK and around the world. Nancy Kerr, Jess Arrowsmith, Richard Arrowsmith and James Fagan are internationally renowned singers, instrumentalists, writer/composers and teachers.

“Tight as a duck’s bum instrumental playing, impeccable diction and intonation.” The Living Tradition.

DICK MOFFATT

A gifted musician with a natural, free-flowing style, Dick has been composing and performing songs as long as many of us can remember. He’s written thousands of songs and he could sing you any one of them on the spot. A master of the longer ballad style, Dick is a born entertainer.

GARY MOYLE

Archivist Gary runs the monthly folk session at the Marquis of Lorne. His instrument of choice, he tells us, is the mandola, which he plays “while attempting to sing miserable traditional and socio-political songs”. Gary is from Stevenage but assures us that he “won’t cause any trouble!”

NANCY KERR & JAMES FAGAN

One of the finest folk duos ever, these two need no introduction from us, having been associated with the festival from the start. Their live album

‘An Evening with Kerr & Fagan’ was recorded in Kimpton’s own 13th century church.

“A sheer abundance of distilled poetry.”

(Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2)

the programme

1 – Patron’s Concert 11.45pm – 1.30pm

• Benammi Swift

• Nancy Kerr & James Fagan

Concert 2

2.00pm – 4.35pm

• Belinda Kempster & Fran Foote

• Alden & Patterson

• Smith & Brewer Concert 4

8.15pm – 11.15pm

• John Ward Trio

5.00pm – 7.45pm

• Elizabeth & Jameson

• Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage

• Eliza Carthy

• Dan Walsh & Brooks Williams

• Melrose Quartet

dacre rooms the boot family area

12.30pm – 1.45pm

Ukelele workshop with Euan Tees (ukes will be provided)

2.00pm – 3.15pm

Guitar workshop with Brooks Williams (bring your own guitar)

12.00pm – 2.00pm Tune Session (All instrumental players welcome

2.10pm – 4.00pm Open Session

Calling all singers, players, reciters, storytellers, etc

4.10pm – 6.00pm Group Singing session Harmony singing, shanties, etc

3.30pm – 4.45pm Clawhammer banjo workshop with Dan Walsh (bring your own banjo) 11:00am 12:00pm 1:00pm 2:00pm 3:00pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm

11.00am – 11.30am

Tiny T’s Theatre

11.40am – 12.10pm

Compton’s Company of Puppets

12.40pm – 1.10pm

Tiny T’s Theatre

1.40pm – 2.10pm

Compton’s Company of Puppets

2.40pm – 5.00pm

Young Miscellany (Maypole, Morris and Country Dancing sessions for children)

Arts & Crafts activities will continue throughout the day (11.00am – 5.00pm)

• Helping Herts charity – craft activities

• Wicker Workshop

• Felting with Rockwool Creations

• Pottery with clay – with Carol

the artists

PETE NUTKINS

Well-known as an organiser of Watford Folk Club, Pete is a fine singer whose broad repertoire of material has caused him to become known as ‘a custodian of the tradition’. Pete’s fine EP ‘Miscellany’ received a very positive review in Unicorn Magazine. He is also involved in morris and step clog dance.

TIM RANDALL & ELLIE SMITH

Ellie and Tim play warm, laid-back acoustic songs from a wide and eclectic repertoire. You will find jazz standards, soul classics, folk songs and modern pop all brought together in a fresh new take. They will help you delight in rediscovering old favourites and also finding exciting new songs to make you smile.

TYAN

This highly regarded duo based in the Lake District comprises singer, multi-instrumentalist and sometime clog dancer Peter Michael Rowan and double-bassist June Swift, ex member of the swing folk band The Misdemeanours, also a storyteller and Westmoreland dialect reciter. ‘Tyan’ means ‘two’ in Lakeland dialect. ‘Exceptional voices... glorious harmonies’ (Unicorn Magazine)

PETER, RICHARD & RACHEL

Singer/guitarist Richard Dean and his daughter Rachel – an accomplished instrumentalist and harmony singer – are joined by Richard’s long-time collaborator Peter, both of whom are longstanding members of the group Harbottle Grimstone, a collaboration spanning more than 50 years. And their material? “Anything with a harmony,” quips Richard.

RAY PERRY & THE REVERBS

The Reverbs are, quite simply, entertainment personified. This dynamic and versatile group of nine St Albans-based musicians plays covers from jazz and folk through to rock and pop, ensuring an appeal to all age groups. The Reverbs perform regularly at private parties, festivals and corporate events.

SMITH & BREWER

First brought together by the great Joan Armatrading, Ben Smith and Jimmy Brewer perform in a range of styles, with close harmonies and intricate, accomplished guitar work. Their hundreds of shows include touring with 10cc, Ralph McTell and Fairport Convention.

“Seamless harmonies ... extremely impressive to watch.” Niamh Huges, Shoreditch Folk

JOHN STEVENS & CHRIS HARVEY

Get down to any of the bi-monthly Boot sessions and you’ll more than likely come across one or both of these guys – both sublime singers with very different guitar and vocal styles, both widely admired for their ability to captivate audiences. Take time to stop and take in their stories at the busk stops.

STEVE WARNER

Kimpton’s Steve Warner is a natural storyteller with a gift for a great tune. Originally a bass player, Steve discovered folk music by stumbling into the Kimpton pub session and he felt immediately at home in this community. Steve has a growing reputation as a new and shining voice in UK folk.

PET SUPERSTORE

Help your child find their voice

Children develop speech in different ways. ‘Problems’

Your child just needs guidance to develop skills. Some children:

• Have few words

• Are reluctant talkers

• Have difficulty speaking fluently

Tiny Communicators is here t o help. Call: 07947734856

annerichardson030@gmail. com

Are you a business owner who could use more business?

The ‘Village Business Networking’ group helps you connect with local businesses, share ideas and grow your business.

 Connect with like-minded people facing similar challenges

 Share knowledge and best practice to help each other thrive

 Build relationships for future partnerships and more business

To attend or find out more, email: annerichardson030@gmail.com

How to grow your business? Only connect!

Our supporters

SCOPS ARTS TRUST

Kimpton Folk Events is most grateful to The SCOPS Arts Trust for its generous support of this year’s festival. This Trust exists to give people of all ages, backgrounds and life circumstances, opportunities to participate in and enjoy the arts, particularly the performing arts. The grant we receive from the Trust has gone a long way to helping ensure we will continue to be able to fund our event.

More information about SCOPS Arts Trust can be found here: www.scopsartstrust.org.uk

HERTS COUNTY COUNCIL

Our grateful thanks to Richard Thake of Herts County Council, a long-term supporter of our event. The County Council’s investment in our festival does much to ensure its future prosperity.

HELPING HERTS

We are delighted to be partnering with Helping Herts –a local charity campaign which unites twelve individual charities through one common goal – to improve the lives of our children and young people. By supporting Helping Herts, people can become a catalyst for transformation and a beacon of hope for countless young lives across the county. You can find out more about Helping Herts on the Family Area, where they will be running a range of children’s craft activities.

For more information, please visit: www.helpingherts.com

Special thanks to Kimpton Bench Working party, all of our wonderful volunteers, Best Words Copywriting and talented graphic designer Clive Batkin for his brilliant work on the programme.

With love and thanks A tribute

to the very special Di King

The late and greatly missed Di King was a founder member of Kimpton Folk Events and a vital, driving force behind all of its subsequent success. Her dedication, energy, organising skill, generosity, humour and profound love of folk music –were vital ingredients in everything we created together. Renaming our Memorial Hall venue The Di King Stage is a fitting tribute to dear Di and an appropriate way of expressing heartfelt thanks for all that she was and all that she gave to this community.

Come to the The Boot on Sunday

The big farewell session starts at 11.00am!

At 11.00am on Sunday 7 July our village pub

The Boot will host the big farewell session – a feast of music and fun, with artists, organisers and festival attendees meeting to play, laugh and share songs, stories and their experiences of KFF 2024.

The Boot has been home to regular trad music sessions for many years now, with locals joining musicians from all over the country and from many parts of the world. For the Kimpton folk mob, The Boot is our ‘happy place’. Please come and be part of this event if you possibly can.

Painting of ‘The Session’ by Kimpton’s Tim Edwards. Spot anyone you know?

THE BOOT INN, KIMPTON

Bu$k timetab£e

stop, listen, throw money!

SERVICE 1 (FIVE ACTS)

CHURCH GATE

Arrival Departure

 Tim Randall & Ellie Smith 11.15am 12.00pm

 John & Christopher 12.00pm 12.45pm

 Richard Dean 12.45pm 1.30pm

 Peter Nutkins 1.30pm 2.15pm

SERVICE 3 (SEVEN ACTS)

GARDEN FIELDS

Arrival Departure

 Joe Wilkinson 10.45am 11.30am

 Richard Dean 11.30am 12.15pm

 Gan Aim 12.15pm 1.00pm

 David D 1.00pm 1.45pm

 Eloisa Kerry 1.45pm 2.30pm

 Peter Nutkins 2.30pm 3.15pm

 Reverbs 3.15pm 4.00pm

SERVICE 2 (SIX ACTS) THE BOOT

 Joe Wilkinson 12.15pm 1.00pm

 Tim Randall & Ellie Smith 1.00pm 1.45pm

 Gan Aim 1.45pm 2.30pm

 John & Christopher 2.30pm 3.15pm

 David D 3.15pm 4.00pm

 Eloisa Kerry 4.00pm 4.45pm

Buskers have always been an important part of the festival, bringing colour and entertainment to various corners of the village. This year we have another talented array of musicians at the busk stops. So do please pause, listen and show your appreciation in the form of a few coins in the case.

You’ll find the busk stops at the Church Gate in Church Lane, On Garden Fields and at The Boot.

IMPORTANT STUFF

Child protection – at all indoor venues, children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. See full details of our child protection policy at the Festival Office.

Dogs are welcome at all outdoor venues but please use designated dog bins to dispose of waste. Assistance dogs are welcome at all venues.

Festival Office is located on The Green. This is the ‘nerve centre’ of the festival and the place to come for assistance and information.

Fire and Emergency – a full fire and emergency policy is available in the Festival Office. If you need advice or assistance at any time, please approach one of the festival team, recognisable in their lime green T shirts.

First Aid – There is a first aid tent on The Green. Defibrillators are located in Kimpton School car park, the Memorial Hall and outside the village shop. There is also a First Aid box in the Memorial Hall.

#kimptonfolk – use our hashtag for all the latest updates, competitions and announcements through the day and to share your pictures and posts.

Lost children – should a child become lost, please contact the first aid group in attendance on the Green.

Lost property – if handed in this can be reclaimed from the Festival Office.

Parking for disabled visitors is available at Kimpton School

Stalls offering a wide range of food and drink are available on the Green, alongside a selection of vendors’ stalls.

Supporters – we are very grateful for generous funding from SCOPS Arts Trust and Herts County Council.

Terms and Conditions of ticket sales are given on our website and are also available at the Festival Office.

Toilets are located at the Car Park, Church House, adjacent to The Dacre Rooms and at the Memorial Hall.

Toilets for disabled visitors are available at the Recreation Ground and at the Memorial Hall.

Traffic – please be aware of traffic when crossing Kimpton High Street and other thoroughfares around the village.

Uneven ground – please be aware of the possibility of uneven ground and falling branches whilst on the Green and when accessing footpaths between venues.

Volunteers – many people have put themselves forward to help and without them today’s festival would not have been possible. Thank you to them all. If you would like to help at a future festival, please message us at: www.kimptonfolk.uk.

All details are correct at time of going to press

Kimpton Folk Events is a registered charity working to promote the folk arts in Kimpton and its surrounding communities.

Kimpton Folk Festival committee:

• Neil Burns

• Steve Christopher

• Richard Edwards

• Martin Hicks

• Doug Jenner

• Lory Laskey

• Ian Neilson

• Sally Patterson

• Anne Richardson

• Matt Vickerstaff

Accessibility

Full participation for all

Kimpton

Folk Events believes the arts are for everyone, which is why we are doing our best to ensure that every event we stage – including Kimpton Folk Festival – is as accessible as possible. Our long-term goal is to achieve full accessibility for all, in partnership with the people we support, their support networks and our trustees and volunteers. We also recognise that accessibility is an area for continuous improvement.

• Our signage incorporates ‘Communicate in Print’ symbols

• Concert venues at The Memorial Hall, The Church and The Green are all wheelchair accessible

• Parking for disabled visitors is available at The School and The Memorial Hall

• Disabled toilets are available at the entrance to the Recreation Ground and the Memorial Hall

• If you need to let us know about your access needs in advance, or if you are disabled and need to arrange a free carer ticket, please send an email to: hello@kimptonfolk.uk