Folk festival set to entertain crowds in Darlington (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Folk festival Spring Thing set to entertain crowds in Darlington

12:22pm Friday 8th March 2013 in News By Joanna Morris

A COLOURFUL festival will see scores of musicians descend upon the streets of Darlington this spring.

The town’s annual folk festival, Spring Thing, will take place throughout four days in March.

From Wednesday, March 20 to Sunday, March 24, visitors to Darlington will be treated to a series of performances by international stars and a broad range of professional and amateur folk musicians.

The popular festival will be headlined by award-winning folk musician and comedian Richard Digance, who has supported world famous actors and comedians Steve Martin and Robin Williams.

The international star will be joined at Spring Thing by acts including The Wilson Family, Bernard Wrigley, Pete Abbott and Bram Taylor.

The main venue for this year’s festival will be the Dolphin Centre but a series of free and ticketed workshops, events and performances will be held at venues across the town.

On Saturday, March 23, activities include a series of dance displays throughout the morning followed by a mass dance at noon in Market Square, a family Ceilidh at St Cuthbert’s Church Hall and an open mic evening at the Dolphin Centre Studio.

Sunday’s programme will see The Britannia Inn host a Singarounds session from noon while a family fun day is held at the Dolphin Centre’s Central Hall from noon until 4pm.

George Armstrong, Chair of the Festival Organising Committee said: “There is something for everyone in this year’s festival I urge everyone to take a look at what’s on offer and come down and sample some folk fun.”

The festival is organised by Darlington Folk Club and Darlington Borough Council’s Events team in association with Darlington Mummers and Darlington Folk Workshop.

A programme of events can be viewed at darlingtonfolkclub.com. Printed programmes are available from the Folk Club from Monday, March 11 or from the Dolphin Centre’s festival desk from Friday, March 22.

Tickets for the Richard Digance performance are available by calling 01325-388410 and tickets for events at the Forum can be booked on 01325-363135. All other tickets can be purchased on the door or through George Armstrong on 07890-006204.