Joe O'Donnell's Shkayla and ColvinQuarmby step back into Tudor times at Mary Arden's Farm near Stratford-on-Avon this weekend.
Two leading folk bands step back into Tudor times at Mary Arden's Farm near Stratford-on-Avon this weekend.
Joe O'Donnell's Shkayla brings its lively blend of fiddle-driven Celtic rock to the historic venue tomorrow while the entertaining and eccentric ColvinQuarmby are Sunday night's guests.
The three-day Mary Arden's Folk Festival is set in the grounds of the working farm that was home to Shakespeare's mother and grandparents. Starting each day at 11.30am, the event includes displays of Tudor dancing, a children's choir, a puppet show, circus skills workshop and a barbecue.
Electric fiddle ace Joe O'Donnell takes the stage at 7.30pm with his all-star line-up of Si Hayden on guitar, Adrian Litvinoff on bass, keyboards-player Martin Barter and drummer Brendan J.Rayner.
Notching up several Midlands appearances since the release of acclaimed album Into The Becoming, the band also appears on Wednesday at The Dog in Coventry.
The award-winning ColvinQuarmby are known for their superb lyrics, beautiful vocals, clever accompaniments and brilliant between-song patter.
Brought up on skiffle and influenced by his experience as a session musician in Nashville, frontman Gerry Colvin sings and plays guitar while former bluesman Nick Quarmby is on bass and Martin Fitzgibbon provides percussion and backing vocals.
The band also features former Meet On The Ledge violinist Marion Fleetwood and Meet On The Ledge's founder member and guitarist Allen Maslen.
Other acts appearing include Cotswold duo Hannah-H, gypsy-folk band Grace and The Magic Roots and my own acoustic folk-blues band BorderLine Crossing, closing tomorrow's daytime entertainment at 4.30pm.
Stratford Folk Club's resident band, The Daisy Chain Quartet winds up the event with its lively set of guitar and cello arrangements at 4pm on Bank Holiday Monday.
* Mary Arden's Farm is in Station Road, Wilmcote. For further details, visit www.shakespeare.org.uk .