News / Press Releases

Press Release for issues w/e 29.07.11

The new lottery funded Marymass Folk Festival Fringe!

Marymass Folk Festival will have a Fringe this year thanks to an Awards For All grant of £8,609.  The Festival, which is in its 44^th year, heard last week that a grant application had been successful and now all stops are being pulled out to get arrangements in place for Marymass.

 “It’s terrific to get this Awards For All grant’ said Folk Festival Committee Chair Anne Clarke.” It means we can extend and develop the Festival, reduce the financial pressure and it lets us try out new ideas.  Straightened financial times means that to do new things without new money is just not possible.  The Awards For All grant gives us new money and we will use it to bring top quality folk music to Irvine that people can enjoy free of charge at our new Fringe.  We are delighted.’

The A4A funding will see live folk music out and about in Irvine on Friday 12^th and Saturday 13th August at, weather permitting, outdoor venues, free of charge.  The Continental Market in the Bridgegate taking place will be one of the key venues and the Harbourside will also be included.

In the early days of the Folk Festival, musicians playing in the street were commonplace.  Rising transport costs and a move away from live music contributed to the demise of such outdoor sessions.   Experience here and elsewhere shows that there is a demand for live music and having it outdoors  helps make an overall feel-good factor in the community - particularly when   the town is geared up for its annual Marymass Celebrations.

The new Fringe will also be an excellent springboard for the Folk Festival ‘proper’ which starts on Wednesday 17^th August and runs until Sunday 20^th August.  The programme boasts 19 events - 10 of which are totally free.

The funding will also support a Marymass Photography Project - but don’t be put off by the word project!  Essentially, it’s about asking anyone who has a camera to take photos at Marymass and these will then become a Marymass  Web Exhibition later in the year.  Experienced photographers will guide the volunteers each day of Marymass and give tips on the do’s and don’ts of getting a good pic.  The web based exhibition will hopefully have some of the pics that will be seen in future years.

Festival Gallery - 2004/2005/2006 picture gallery.

If you would like pictures included on this site then please send with a description to Joyce Hodge .

Pete Heywood has put photos of many of the artists onto
The Living Tradition
web site. Follow the above link to his news page.

Our New Venue is the

In Quarry Road. Irvine.

Please Note

New 2011 Programme now on Gigguide

The Club Programme.

Flyers giving details of the Club Programme are now available from libraries, museums, the Magnum and of course the Club. Irvine Folk Club has always prided itself in regarding floor singers as being the backbone of the club. If you can sing, play, tell a story, dance, whatever - come along, we'll always find a space for you - you will be made most welcome.

For further Information please contact Joyce Hodge

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