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.
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. In 2008, the festival was declared among the top three folk festivals in England by Guardian Online.
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 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
2014 (13–15 June) Source: Ade Edmondson & The Bad Shepherds The Men They Couldn't Hang Hat Fitz & Cara Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin The Liverpool Shanty Kings The Peace Artistes Emma Stevens Brian McCombe Band Merry Hell Moulettes Headsticks Allan Yn Y Fan Niamh Boadle NE3Folk Jaipur Kawa Brass Band Les Barker Sean Taylor Simply Soweto Encha The Driving Force Pamela Wyn-Shannon Shamus O'Blivion and the Megadeath Morrismen Thrill Collins
2013 (14–16 June) Source: Dick Gaughan Spiers & Boden Greg Russell & Ciaran Algar Seth Lakeman Mark Radcliffe & Foes Woody Mann African Entsha All Blacked Up Ceilidh Band Babajack The Backyard Devils Blue Horyzon The Boat Band Clutching at Straws Fosbrooks Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys Golty Farabeau Headsticks Kye Sones The Liverpool Shanty Kings Maddocks & Bayes Moulettes NE3FOLK The Peace Artistes My Sweet Patootie The Roving Crows Dan Walsh & Christi Andropolis The Willows
2012 (15–17 June)
Including Show of Hands Mark Radcliffe & the Big Figures All Blacked Up Les Barker Merry Hell The Toy Hearts Babajack Roving Crows Eddi Reader Glenn Tilbrook The BlueYellows
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
June Tabor The Family Mahone Martin Simpson Bandersnatch Kerfuffle Peatbog Faeries Nick Barraclough and the Burglars Lau Rory Ellis Zoe Mulford The Warsaw Village Band Stomp Nick Harper Jonathan Kelly
2007 (15–17 June) Seth Lakeman Elbow Jane and Dave Dove The Family Mahone with Mark Radcliffe Dave Hunt and Happenstance. Blazin’ Fiddles Queensberry Rules Ashley Hutchings and Rainbow Chasers The Demon Barber Roadshow Breeze & Wilson Full House Peeping Tom and caller Mick Peat. The New Rope String Band Richard Digance Show of Hands De Develeski PJ Wright and Thom Kirkpatrick
2006 (16–18 June) The Stereo Graffiti Show with Darren Poyzer and Friends Tommy Kirkpatrick and the Beautiful Noise The Dylan Project Tom Doughty PJ Wright and Dave Pegg Karine Polwart CrossCurrent Michael McGoldrick and His Band Emma and The Professor Hazel O'Connor A Woman's Word McDermott's The Levellers The Family Mahone Darren Poyzer Ann English Kirsty McGee Dear Gregory All Blacked Up Cave Martin Eden and The Assembly Boys
2005 (17–19 June) Queensberry Rules Uiscedwr The Family Mahone Mostly Autumn Bellowhead Jez Lowe and the Bad Pennies Kerfuffle Martin Carthy Eddi Reader Tickled Pink Brian Kennedy Eliza Carthy The Ratcatchers
2004 (18–20 June) Fairport Convention The Family Mahone Simon Mayor Hilary James Shooglenifty Baker's Fabulous Boys Show of Hands The Levellers
2003 (13–15 June) Bob Geldof The Family Mahone John Wright, Gary Forrest and Serious Kitchen Whapweasel Gordon Potts The New John Wright Band Ian Bruce Kirsty McGee Te Vaka Rick Roser Waterson–Carthy Les Barker Jim Moray The Oysterband Eliza Carthy Band Sean Cannon
2002 (14–16 June) Fairport Convention Lindisfarne Kate Rusby Black Umfolosi Andy Cutting and Chris Wood Isla St Clair e2k Cara Dillon Kathryn Robert and Sean Lakeman Jon Boden and John Spiers Whorticulture Jenny Butterworth Jon Brindley Emily Slade Hot Tamales Aphrodite Jug O' Punch Steamhead Taggart and Wright Trefor and Vicki Williams Roam Quartz Ailsa and John Booth Brass Tacks The Family Mahone The Peace Artistes Root Chord Odd at Ease Tom Brown and Ian Goodier South Cheshire Pipe Band Elle Osbourne Sarah Hayes The Middlewich Paddies
2001 (15–17 June – cancelled) Cancelled due to Foot-and-mouth disease.
2000 (16–18 June) Vin Garbutt Iron Horse Te Vaka Roy Bailey and John Kirkpatrick Blue Horses Show of Hands Les Barker Blowzabella Loctup Together Jenny Butterworth Cuckoo Oak Seize the Day Dragonfall The Family Mahone Slip Jig Karen Burton Tania Opland and Mike Freeman Bob Webb Calico Jack Steamhead Bakers Fabulous Boys Ceolta The National Youth Folklore Troupe of England John Barden Roy Clinging Davian Reel Quartz St Patrick's Pipe Band The Middlewich Paddies
1999 (18–20 June) Cherish the Ladies Black Umfolosi The Poozies Tanglefoot The Old Rope String Band Cock and Bull The Oldham Tinkers Bernard Wrigley Ian Bruce The Boat Band Acquiesce The Middlewich Paddies The Chipolatas St. Patrick's Pipe Band Keeper's Lock Steamhead Davian Reel Roy Wilcock & Bridget Guest Lorebreakers
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) The Yetties Coope Boyes and Simpson Big Jig The Boat Band Anam - Flook! The Geckoes Jez Lowe and The Bad Pennies Crook Sears and Harrison Davian Reel Gavin Lewery and Jock Tyldesley Les Barker To Hell with Burgundy The Middlewich Paddies Calico Jack Youthquake Salt Town Poets The Chipolatas Gilly Darby Chew the Roots Harvey Andrews
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
External links http://www.midfest.org.uk/ http://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/middlewich/2014 2014 Festival page http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/gsivills/gsfandb.html 2003 Festival home page https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0O3VKl1OHA Clerical Error at the 2006 festival https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC2KTAv0owo Music at the Big Lock during the 2007 festival