As the summer fast approaches, you know it’s nearly time for the festival season. This year Wath Festival celebrates it’s 40^th anniversary over the May Bank holiday on 4^th – 6^th May 2012.

Founded in 1972, the festival is proud to host the title of South Yorkshire’s biggest festival of music and dance and brings a stunning array of concerts, community events and family-friendly fun for all ages to the market town of Wath-Upon-Dearne.

The festival was also named as Festival of the Year 2010 runner-up in Fatea Magazine’s Music Awards, in second place to Cambridge Folk Festival.

This year audiences can sample a wide variety of acts including headliners, Fairport Convention, the Home Service featuring festival patron John Tams, Chris & Kellie While, the Billy Mitchell Band, Dick Gaughan, Boo Hewerdine, Lucy Ward, Reg Meuross & Bethany Porter, Jennifer Crook, Ray Hearne & Ciaran Boyle, Tom Mitchell, Johnny & The Prison Didn’t Help Boys, Skyhook, Charlie Barker & Harriet Bartlett, Monkey’s Fist, Brooks Williams, Flaxenby, Holly Taymar, Jenna & Catherine Bindon.

Aside from the range of national and international folk, acoustic and roots acts at the Montgomery Hall, the festival holds annual community events around Wath town centre, the Montgomery Hall, the Red Lion, the Sandygate Hotel and All Saints Parish Church.

Community events for all the family start on Saturday 5^th May with the festival procession, official opening by MP John Healey, the traditional bun throwing from the tower of All Saint’s Parish Church and the reading of Thomas Tuke’s will, stalls, crafts, workshops, singarounds and entertainers around Montgomery Square and Church Street.

We are very pleased to welcome the heavenly voices of the Sheffield Folk Chorale as a special addition to our community programme at the All Saint’s Parish Church on Saturday 5^th May.

Whilst this year sees the festival celebrating 40 years since it was founded by the Wath Morris team and local music community, it also sees the 700^th anniversary of Wath market charter and the founding of trade, which has become central to the local community.

2012 is the second year for the Wath Young Performers Award competition, where performers of folk, roots and acoustic music, aged between 16 – 24 can win the chance to perform on the festival’s main stage, get a booking at the 2013 festival, receive a cash prize, a trophy and a photoshoot from Charlie Barker Photography.

The competition attracts interest from talented young musicians across the country and this year’s finalists are Lincolnshire-based Sunjay Brayne, Anna Rice from Brighton and local musician, Andrew Frost from Sheffield.

Tickets are available to buy from the festival box office on: 0798 2658467 or through the Sheffield Arena Ticket Shop via www.wathfestival.org.uk.

The full event programme can be found at www.wathfestival.org.uk/programme.

Wath Festival works in association with the Park Inn Rotherham and The Partnership Media.

Many thanks to the sponsors:  Braisby Construction, Next, NHS, Taylor Wimpey, Charlie Barker Photography and Bramall Construction.

For further press information please contact:

CHARLIE @ The Partnership Media
Tel: 07934 007 759
Email: info@thepartnershipmedia.co.uk