Injection of youth boosts folk festival

Mawkin Causley

FOLK music fans flocked to Saddleworth at the weekend to enjoy a burgeoning event which is now in its 12th year.

Saddleworth Folk Festival has gone from strength to strength and become a firm favourite far and wide.

Greenfield’s Churchill Playing Fields were thrown open for campers during the three-day festival, which saw almost 70 events take place.

This year’s music extravaganza had an emphasis on young performers.

They gathered at the Commercial on Saturday to give a Young Generation Concert, prompting festival organiser Ali O’Brien to commend them as “wonderful ambassadors and role models for young visitors to the festival.”

Pubs and venues throughout Uppermill gave a stage — both indoor and out — to artists from the folk scene.

They included the internationally acclaimed Chris While and Julie Matthews, Mawkin Causley and five-piece acoustic band Elbow Jane.

Entertainment also came from seasoned campaigners Roy Clinging and Neil Brookes, France’s Flossie Malavialle, harmony singers Barrie and Ingrid Temple and Zoe Mulford from the United States.

Festival chief steward Anne Yates said: “It was amazing. Absolutely wonderful, it went so well.

“There were a lot more young people this year because we had young bands on.

“It’s lovely to see young people coming back to folk music, and it gave a better mix of audience.”