Middlewich Folk & Boat Festival

WELCOME TO YOUR NEW MIDDLEWICH FOLK & BOAT FESTIVAL

Middlewich Folk & Boat Festival is back in the hands of the Community. It is being run as a community festival to beneﬁt the people of Middlewich and continue the long standing tradition of the festival.

Moving away from big name headliners, the festival will focus on developing the event speciﬁcally for the community of Middlewich. Using the festival to showcase local groups within the community, promote local business and where permitting promote local bands as well as up and coming artists.

The festival aims to create an event driven by the local community which delivers great entertainment to the town and enables our businesses to thrive.

We can only achieve this goal with the support of everyone within the town and the continued support of the local businesses.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE FESTIVAL

The festival is still aiming to achieve much of the original festival activities, focusing around what the ‘folks’ who support the festival want to see happening in their town.

Music this year is focused around supporting local artists, up and coming artists as well as providing the town with some festival favourites from years past.

The ﬂoating market makes a return and will comprise the largest amount of boats ever to take part in the ﬂoating market!

The Salinae ﬁeld will again host a collection of stalls including food and beverage stalls.

Wheelock Street will be hosting a market as well with a road closure in place to support the return of the festival parade.

The bullring will host numerous community groups over the course of the weekend with Radio Northwich hosting the main event on the Saturday.

The main site on Market Field will host numerous acts during the weekend, the Friday & Saturday evenings will be ticketed with the rest of the weekend remaining free.

Beartown Brewery can be found across the whole festival over the weekend with their limited edition festival beer brewed especially for the festival.

THE HISTORY OF THE FESTIVAL

by Dave Roberts - The Middlewich Diary

The Middlewich Folk & Boat Festival came into being following a discussion at the Boar’s Head in Middlewich in 1989. On their travels Richard Devaney and Dave Thompson, members of the Middlewich Paddies, had seen festivals in places like Newcastleton, Bromsgrove and, closer to home, Nantwich and Chester.

They wondered if something similar might work here in Middlewich. A committee was formed with the purpose of staging the ﬁrst Festival in 1990. Members of that pioneering committee were: Richard Devaney, Dave Thompson, Mike Parsons, Peter Cox, Colin Barrass, Sally Fallon, local bank manager Derek Clayton and, the driving force behind getting the start-up money in place, John McAteer. Coincidentally, at exactly the same time, the Trent & Mersey Canal Society was thinking of staging a boat rally in the town, partly inspired by memories of the 1975 Inland Waterways Association Rally which was held in Middlewich, appropriately enough on the site of the old Seddon’s Pepper Street Salt Works, where ‘The Moorings’ now stand.

The Festival’s organisers, seeking for a unique ‘angle’ to help in promoting their event, considered Middlewich’s long canal history to be the perfect answer; Folk music and canal boats. Thus the ‘Folk and Boat’ came into being on Friday 15th June 1990, featuring The Paddies, Bernard Wrigley ‘The Bolton Bullfrog’, The Boat Band, Token Women and, as MC and purveyor of allegedly ‘funny’ poems, me. Actually, having been persuaded to go along to one of the early committee meetings on the strict understanding that I ‘wouldn’t be part of a committee’ I came away having agreed to be the Festival’s Publicity Ofﬁcer. I knew nothing about publicity (or ‘MCing’ for that matter) but I’ve always thought that you can do anything if you don’t know that you can’t do it!

People in Middlewich took the Festival to their hearts immediately, as did the visitors who ventured here to see what Middlewich had to offer. The atmosphere at that ﬁrst Festival was something none of us had ever experienced before. Our late Town Clerk, Jonathan Williams, put it best in a memorable quote for the local newspaper: ‘it was as if the whole town was on holiday’. And local people loved it too. One of them described the ‘Folk & Boat’ as ‘like the Middlewich Carnival on steroids!’

There was no going back. The ‘Folk & Boat’ was here to stay!

Chimichangos will be providing FREE Alcohol free cocktails when the parade passes by on Saturday morning! Don’t Miss Out!

This award winning Mexican restaurant will have additional space available on Saturday and will be serving food all weekend.

Spice up your life Folk & Boat Weekend!

Friday night is 80’s night and opening the main stage is local band CRY HAVOC, fresh from a headline set at the King’s Lock, these Middlewich lads are bound to get you up on your feet. They continue the recent tradition of a local Middlewich group opening the festival following in the footsteps of last years opener The Moondogz.

Next up is the UK’s premium Pet Shop Boys Tribute, having played at Boardmasters last year, this fantastic tribute is as close as it gets to the real thing, they certainly won’t be accused of ‘Being Boring.’

Middlewich Favourites Electromantics are up next, delivering you all the classics from the 80’s and beyond, be sure to pack your dancing shoes, these guys will no disappoint!

Closing the Friday night is the fantastic UK Bjorn, playing all the classic ABBA hits, they are sure to get you singing along to all your favourites!

Scan the QR Code for Tickets

FRIDAY 16TH JUNE - EVENING

SATURDAY 17TH JUNE - DAYTIME

Saturday brings together some fantastic groups from our community along with some fantastic up and coming contemporary artists and some well established groups.

The parade from meets at the Wheelock Street end of Darlington Street at 11am, all are welcome to be a part of the parade. Chimichangos will be providing refreshments along the parade route for all to enjoy. Middlewich Vets will be hosting a dog show at 11am on the main site, entries need to be made in advance but all will be welcome.

The award winning local artist Sam Lyon is joining us Saturday at the festival, Sam will be appearing on main stage showcasing her unique sound!

The Moulton Crows perform on Saturday a strange, if not unique, traditional dance which takes place to entertain all who attend called ‘The Origins of the Cornﬁeld’ or better known as the ‘Crow Dance.’ Seamus OG an upcoming artist from Manchester offering up songs from their debut release. The Old ﬁrm are a traditional 3 piece folk act and will be entertaining us all with their classic folk blends.

Kids Dance to the beat will also be performing during the day time, showcasing their talents and we will also have line dancing demonstrations to get every involved.

Saturday night is family night at the festival, a night for everyone to come down as one family unit and enjoy the acts we have on offer. Make the most of the night with our family ticket delivering excellent value for money.

Opening Saturday family night is Danny Addison, a unique UK Americana artist he will dazzle you with his earthy tones!

Just Above Snakes, this modern folk duo brings you energetic covers and original songs to get you dancing to!

Little Chix, performing the best songs from all your favourite female stars in one fabulous fun-packed set! This one is for Mums, Dads & Kids!

Closing the main Saturday are, Muddy Elephant, an Indie rock band made up of 4 friends from Chester. Their music has been played extensively across BBC Introducing, as well as on ITV's This Morning.

To book tickets follow the QR code.

SATURDAY 17TH JUNE - EVENING

SUNDAY 18TH JUNE

Sunday is festival favourites day, we welcome back some artists from previous festivals and we welcome new artists from various local festivals which are a site to behold!

Festival praise makes a return opening up the Sunday we a communal church service and community children’s choir.

Sandbach rock choir will deliver some big tunes in a range of styles, a real family favourite.

Brian Connaughton will perform his personal take on traditional folk music with a beautiful eclectic mix perfect for a Sunday morning.

Brass Monkees will take to the stage and deliver some classic indie and should anthems, although not necessarily how you will have heard them before.

Local band Maine bring the indie anthems ahead of the closing act, they will get you jumping up and down ready for the closing act.

Returning to the festival in what has become ‘Their Slot’ are The Electric Swing Circus, a live 6-piece fusion of saucy 20's swing and stomping electro beats. With an explosive sound that reverberates back through time, the ESC hotfoot their way through everything from, rock to electronica, house, big beat and rock n roll, all with their own unique style of swing.

Full timings will be released closer to the event check our website for further details

THE WHITE BEAR

Fantastic beer and local ales in a traditional pub atmosphere.

Thursday 15th June @ the White Bear

2pm FABfest Lounge Session - Hosted by Midwich, Musicians of all abilities welcome.

7pm FABfest Boaters Supper & Lounge Session - Acoustic session in the lounge hosted by the St Luke’s Buskers.

Friday 16th June - A Feast Of Folk & Roots

2pm FABfest Lounge Session - Hosted by DT’s Allstars, Musicians of all abilities welcome.

7pm Salty-Dog Blues Band - Old School Country Blues from the Dane Valley Delta.

8pm Baxter - Classic covers & Random Banter.

9pm Billy & The Swamp Critters - From San Diego, this group play a spicy gumbo of blues and cajon stomp, things are about to get lively.

Saturday 17th June - Another Feast Of Folk & Roots

1pm FolkDivas - Classic Folk, Nastee Chapel & The Hayes Sisters.

3pm 3towns Roadshow - Launching a new project showcasing artists from Middlewich, Northwich & Winsford.

6pm Peter Price - a guitarist & singer taking listeners on a strange & exotic journey.

7pm Nastee Chapel - Formed in 2019, Natalie & Steve bring eclectic and traditional styles together.

8pm Just Above Snakes - a modern day folk duo from Lancaster.

9pm the Boat Band - performing on the festival as they did in 1990 and still packing a punch with their unique style and musical taste.

Sunday 18th June - A Final Feast Of Folk & Roots

1pm Barrelhouse Jukes & Vox Americana - 2 groups alternate their sets to create an exciting start to the day.

4pm Billy & The Swamp Critters - Back for more foot stomping tunes and songs.

5pm Loud Mouth Women - sing songs from around the world.

6pm Rajasthan Brass Band - Made their ﬁrst appearance back in 2014 and a decade later the band are back with another huge blast of brass and percussion.

7pm Village Strays - formally Vicars Son, hard hitting tunesmiths.

8pm Captain Stingray’s Groove Machine - Musical fusion inﬂuenced by a wide variety of styles and cultures, playing a wide range of styles and cultures.

CAMPING - MIDDLEWICH TOWN

This year the festival has partnered with Middlewich Town Football Club. The club will be hosting the camping, which now includes access to a full toilet block and shower block and also the option of a full English breakfast each day of the camping. To Book camping use the QR Code.

WHEELOCK STREET MARKET

Wheelock Street will be hosting a fantastic street market, which will have stalls, fantastic food and drink offerings.

Entertainment can be found all along the street with various local businesses providing additional entertainment and activities. The parade will make its way through the market, why not take part in the parade and see the market at the same time?

We would like to thank Duttons contractors for providing trafﬁc management for the festival and their continued support moving forward. Dutton Contractors Ltd are Multi Utility and Infrastructure providers specialising in the project management, connection, repair and replacement of ELECTRICITY, GAS, WATER, and TELECOMS networks.

UNDER 18’S RAVE

The Royal British Legion will be holding an event aimed at under 18’s on Friday the 16th of June, an under 18’s rave, hosted by Music Knights. This is a ticketed event, tickets are available via our ticketing platform. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Please read the terms and conditions on the website carefully as this event has a number of restrictions in place to ensure the safety of all attendees.

Tickets can be purchased using the QR code.

THE BULLRING

The Bullring will feature performances from artists and local groups at various times across the weekend, the main event on the Bullring will take place on Saturday.

The event is being hosted by the fantastic radio Northwich, a fantastic collection of their presenters will feature throughout the day as well as many local acts.

Local acts who are performing on the Bullring across the course of the festival can be found on our website.

FUN FAIR & THRILL FAIR

Fantastic news for families and thrill seekers, the fun fairs return to the Middlewich Folk & Boat festival this year. A small family fun fair will be located on the main site, which is aimed primarily at younger children and families. A much larger fun fair with rides for thrill seekers will be located on the car park of the former Jack’s store and soon to be Home Bargains.

SALINAE FIELD

The Salinae ﬁeld will be hosting a fantastic market and stall offering this year with everything from food and drinks, to clothing, toys and all sorts of weird and wonderful collections.