Gary Verity Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire said: “We are delighted to support the Wath Festival which is one of the key folk festivals in the county’s calendar.

“Festivals and events are big business in Yorkshire, they’re worth around £500m to the economy and account for 10% of visits here.

“Wath Festival makes a fantastic contribution to the rich diversity of events on offer in Yorkshire throughout the year and we are proud to support it.”

The 41st Wath Festival is almost here!  There is still time to book your tickets in advance to see an amazing line up of quality folk artists.

Ticketline: 0798 265 8467 

After a whole year of preparation Wath Festival’s 40^th anniversary event didn’t disappoint and sold out all three of it’s evening concerts at the Montgomery Hall over the May Bank holiday.

The festival was founded in 1972, by the Wath Morris Team and local music community. It has expanded it’s programme over the last decade to take the form it does today, hosting concerts, workshops, competitions, singarounds/ sessions and community events throughout the town.

From the moment the concert doors opened on Friday 4^th May it was clear that the music community from Wath and further afield were keen to support the event and subsequently all tickets sold out for the evening concerts, featuring headliners Fairport Convention, the Billy Mitchell Band and Home Service.

The audience also enjoyed sets from Chris & Kellie While, 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.

Community events taking place around the Town Centre were well attended with performances from Wath Morris team, Orlyk Ukrainian Dancers, Flag Crackers, Francis Cassidy Irish Dancers as well as performances from children at Wath Comprehensive, Wath Central and Wath Church of England schools.

Local MP, John Healey joined the community for the official festival opening in Montgomery Square and got into the festival spirit himself by joining the Maltby Phoenix Sword Dancers for a sword dance, much to the enjoyment of the assembled crowd.

Local musician, Charlie Barker hosted the second Young Performer’s Award competition where three finalists, handpicked from submissions received throughout the year from performers of folk, roots and acoustic music, performed to a judging panel consisting of Sheffield Live radio broadcaster, Dave Eyre, RootBeat Records director, Tom Sweeney and BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Horizon Award Winner, Lucy Ward.

Applicants had to be aged between 16 – 24 and could 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.

Lincolnshire-based, vocalist and guitarist Sunjay Brayne, 18, took away first prize and performed to a full house at the Montgomery Hall on Sunday 6^th May and was presented with a trophy by festival patron, John Tams.

Anna Rice from Brighton and local musician, Andrew Frost from Sheffield were selected as runners up and also received a cash prize and photoshoot.

The festival committee would like to thank all those who attended, both audience and performers, the volunteers and venues. The event would not continue to grow and develop without the hard work and support it has received over the years.

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, Bramall Construction and The Co-Operative Group.

For further press information please contact:

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

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