September 6th to 8th 2019
Aylsham Festival of Dance Music and Song
Folk fans across Norfolk and beyond are gearing up for Aylsham’s third annual weekend Festival of Dance, Music and Song – renamed “A-Fest”.
A full programme of events over the first weekend of September is still being planned but will include the return of morris and other dance displays around the town, a major concert in the town hall, live music in other venues and much more.
The weekend festival in 2017 and last year, organised by Holt Ridge Morris and Aylsham Town Council, proved popular with folk fans across East Anglia and Aylsham residents and traders.
This year a new team of organisers hope to build on that success and introduce several new elements.
Festival headliner this year will be singer and concertina player Damien Barber who grew up in North Walsham but has achieved national success with his band The Demon Barbers – especially with their award-winning dance and music stage show “The Lock-In”.
Damien and supporting guests will be in concert in Aylsham Town Hall on Saturday 7 September.
Other events planned for A-Fest include free sessions by Sheringham Rock the Lobster singers and musicians, dance and music workshops, a Norfolk archive folk film show and, on Wednesday 11 September a musical talk “Norfolk Hero – The Songs of Lord Nelson, The Victory and Trafalgar” in Aylsham Library.
To join the A-Fest mailing list contact gaudetbrianr@gmail.com
Do any residents remember Aylsham’s musical chimney sweep and woodman Percy Brown?
Organisers of A-Fest plan to commemorate Percy at musical and other events during this year’s festival.
Percy is remembered by many folk fans as a fine melodeon player not only at musical gatherings around the area but also for accompanying Norfolk stepdancers including Dick Hewitt and Cromer fisherman “Shrimp” Davies.
Recordings and film footage of Percy made in the 1970s are still available.
If you remember Percy, or have photographs of him, please contact gaudetbrianr@gmail.com