Dancers parading at Sidmouth, Devon, England in August 2008
One of my favourite places to be in early August is down at Sidmouth folk music festival. Naturally, since I am a folk musician, I am a little biased but I reckon, for those who are fed up with straight sun, sea and sand breaks, Sidmouth with its pebbly beaches and its August folk festival, has a lot to offer.
Of course, if you hate Morris men and Morris dancing, Sidmouth is not the place to be in early August because they are everywhere dancing in the streets on the long sea front promenade. You may also see dancers from other parts of the world too. I saw some that had come all the way from France and they were really great.
Morris men at Sidmouth folk festival in West Country county of Devon 2008
The second thing about being at Sidmouth in early August is that the pubs will be packed with folk musicians playing or singing. There are so many people ‘having a go’ that there is very little room for anybody who wants to watch.
Many brave souls don’t seem to mind the crowds and their reward is the opportunity to sit or stand shoulder to shoulder with some of the best folk musicians and singers (and occasionally the worst) in the UK.
At different pubs you will find different styles of traditional folk music. At one pub it will be playing traditional English music, at another there will be dancing and open mike sessions, yet another will be wall to wall Irish music. Down at the Sailing Club, there will probably be massed accordions and melodeons. I say ‘probably’ because its all arranged very informally and depends on who turns up on the day.
Sidmouth 2008 during the folk festival - dancing in the street!
Naturally, at the Sidmouth folk festival in early August, there are many arranged concerts and activities organised by the festival promoters. I tend to prefer the fringe events but paid for events can be booked and perhaps will happen with more certainty.
If you are interested in reading first hand accounts of folk festival events in the South of England or sessions that happen in many pubs throughout the year, check out my Folk Music and Sessions blog for more information.
So, if you are looking for somewhere to go on the South Coast of England in early August, check out what is happening down at Sidmouth during the folk week. It’s very different and you may become addicted as the rest of us have with some now travelling over a thousand miles each year to ‘come home to Sidmouth’.
Bye for now
Rob
Rob Hopcott - online author and tourism, tourist and travel writer