Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival

The Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival takes place in June in Middlewich, Cheshire, England. The festival builds on the town's industrial heritage in which canal boats were used to move coal and other raw materials in the town for the production of salt, and then move the salt out of town, either for use directly, or as a raw material in the manufacture of chemicals such as chlorine and soda ash.

Eliza Carthy and the Ratcatchers (2005)

The Middlewich Folk and Boat festival is now firmly established on the folk circuit and it is estimated that 30,000 people visit the town during the festival weekend, along with 400 boats. The festival was originally organised by members of the Middlewich Paddies, and taken over by the local council in 2011 when the original committee were unable to continue with the event.[1] In 2008, the festival was declared among the top three folk festivals in England by Guardian Online.[2]

History

The festival has been held since 1990. It was cancelled in 2001 because of Foot and Mouth disease.

The festival

Since 1990 there has been an annual folk music and (canal) boat festival, which is now highly regarded on the folk circuit[3][4] with visitors coming into the town from all over the UK. During this festival artists appear at venues throughout the town, whilst Morris Dancing and Craft Stalls also featured. The boating festival centres on the Trent and Mersey Canal. The main venues where people and boats converge are the Big Lock and Kings Lock, public houses next to locks of the same name on the Trent and Mersey canal.

Artistes
Poster depicting artistes Ade Edmondson & The Bad Shepherds, The Men They Couldn't Hang, Hat Fitz & Cara, The Peace Artistes, Emma Stevens, Brian McCombe Band, Moulettes, Headsticks, Merry Hell, Jaipur Kawa Brass Band, Africa Entsha, Jessica Rhodes
2014 Poster showing artistes

2014 (13–15 June)[5]

2013 (14–16 June)[6]

2012 (15–17 June)

Including

2011 (17–19 June)
  • Phil Maddocks
  • Pilgrims' Way
  • Andy Buckley
  • Salty Dog
  • The Tow Path Tipplers
  • The Crazy Folk Band
  • Sniggleheap
  • Acoustak
  • David Gibb and the Pony Club
  • Steamhead and the Weavils
  • Calico Jack
  • Last Ones Out
  • The Boat Band
  • Wearside Jack
  • Maxine Adelle
  • Louisa James
  • The Kane Sisters
  • Edel Fox
  • Hayley Strangelove
  • Dai Thomas
  • The Middlewich Paddies
  • With Bob On Our Side
  • The Generation
  • No Dinosaurs
  • Blackfingers
  • Providence Jug Band
  • Stan's Magic Foot
  • Steven Doyle

2010 (18–20 June) - 20th Anniversary Celebration

INCLUDING

  • Stan's Magic Foot
  • London Philharmonic Skiffle Orchestra
  • Mabon
  • Little Johnny England
  • The Lonnie Doneghan Band
  • Ken Nicol and Phil Cool
  • Nigel Beck
  • Queensbury Rules
  • Show of Hands
  • Pete Donegan
  • Tom Palmer
  • Peter Knight's Gigspanner

2009 (19–21 June)
  • The Family Mahone
  • Blue Murder
  • Ade Edmondson & The Bad Shepherds
  • All Blacked Up & Baz Parkes
  • Thea Gilmore
  • Jim Moray
  • Stan's Magic Foot
  • The Rainbow Chasers
  • Gina Le Faux
  • Tom Doughty
  • Greg Cave & The Village Band
  • Ella Edmondson
  • Vicki & Trefor
  • Andrea Glass
  • Rachel Harrington
  • Liz and the Lizzettes
  • Isambarde
  • Zoox
  • Acoustak
  • Barron Brady
  • Bill Malkin
  • Breeze and Wilson
  • Brendan Fahy
  • Calico Jack
  • Chloë
  • Chris Layhe and Oyster
  • Cold Flame
  • Dave Dove
  • Deportees
  • Dominic Collins
  • Dr Bob and the Wildboys
  • Fiona Simpson and Brian Adams
  • Full House
  • Geoff Mather
  • Guitar Mal
  • Holy Maggots
  • James & the Giant
  • Jaywalkers
  • Jonathan Tarplee
  • JP Slidewell
  • Kavona
  • Last Ones Out
  • Lorelei Loveridge
  • Lost in the Mist
  • Madcap
  • Men in Black
  • Michelle Martin
  • Nigel Beck
  • Peter Butler
  • Picnic Area
  • Providence Jug Band
  • Salt Town Poets
  • Shake the Barley
  • Song & Story
  • The Huers
  • Thom Kirkpatrick
  • Time Bandits

2008 (13–15 June)

Including

2007 (15–17 June)

2006 (16–18 June)

2005 (17–19 June)

2004 (18–20 June)

2003 (13–15 June)

2002 (14–16 June)

2001 (15–17 June – cancelled)

Cancelled due to Foot-and-mouth disease.

2000 (16–18 June)

1999 (18–20 June)

1998 (19–21 June)
  • Dervish
  • The Albion Band
  • Chris While and Julie Matthews
  • Artisan
  • Tanglefoot
  • Huw and Tony Williams
  • Cock and Bull Band
  • The Peace Artists
  • Calico Jack
  • Davian Reel
  • Moorland Folk
  • Buzz & Sam Collins
  • Stanley Accrington
  • The Middlewich Paddies
  • Chris Sherburn and Denny Bartley
  • Flakey Jake and The Steamin Locos
  • John Conolly and Pete Sumner
  • Fiona Shirra
  • Acquiesce
  • The Salt Town Poets
  • Ian Goodier and Tom Browne
  • Steamhead
  • Roy Wilcock and Bridget Guest
  • The Lorebreakers
  • Biggles Wartime Jug Band
  • The Ram Shanty Crew
  • Silk Brass

1997 (20–22 June)

1996 (14–16 June)
  • After Hours
  • Cosmotheka
  • Calico Jack
  • Gary and Vera Aspey
  • Five Speed Box
  • New Bushbury Mountain Daredevils
  • Chris Sherbourn and Denny Bartley
  • The Southgators
  • Keith Donnelly
  • Risky Business
  • The Middlewich Paddies
  • Jenny Shotliffe and Youthquake
  • The Great Bonzo and Doris
  • Dave Roberts
  • Circus Sensible
  • Paul and Glen Elliot

Notes
  1. "Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival saved from sinking by town council".
  2. "Folk on the water at top music festival". icCheshireOnline. 7 May 2008. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
  3. Dominiczak, Peter (23 April 2008). "10 top folk festivals". Guardian Online. London. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
  4. "Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival". The Mudcat Cafe. Archived from the original on 6 October 2007. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
  5. "Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival 2014 Line Up". Archived from the original on 13 June 2014.
  6. "Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival 2013 Line Up". Archived from the original on 1 February 2014.
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