Get involved in the Spring Thing Folk Festival (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Get involved in the Spring Thing Folk Festival

11:22am Monday 18th March 2013 in News

THE Spring Thing Folk Festival opens in Darlington tomorrow (Wednesday, March 20) and residents are being invited get involved.

The annual event, which has been running for almost 30 years, will see a host of folk musicians play at various town centre venues over four days.

Visitors can try their hand at the ukulele, banjo and guitar at workshops throughout the weekend, as well as take part in open mic sessions and ceilidh dancing.

George Armstrong, festival chairman, said: “The Spring Thing is not just about listening to great music and looking at wonderful dancing, it is also an opportunity to participate and try something new.”

He added: “All are welcome to come along and enjoy the festival whether to join in or just to watch and listen.”

The festival opens with a Youth Acoustic Concert at The Forum at 7.30pm on Wednesday and will be followed over the next four days by performances from headline act Richard Digance and other folk favourites including Bernard Wrigley, Bram Taylor, Flossie Malavialle and Pete Abbott.

There will be Morris dancing displays around the town on Saturday morning culminating in a dance showcase in the Dolphin Centre that afternoon.

The banjo workshop takes place at 10am in the Dolphin Centre on Saturday, followed by a guitar workshop at noon, while the ukulele session will be held on Sunday at 10am.

The Dolphin Centre will host the majority of acts and events throughout the festival, but there will also be performances at The Forum, St Cuthbert’s Church Hall and in pubs around the Market Place.

Festival programmes are available from the Dolphin Centre or visit www.darlingtonfolkclub.com