Folk on the pier - and beyond

Big names from the international folk and roots scene flood to Cromer this weekend for the main three days of the seventh Folk on the Pier festival.

Appearing at Pavilion Theatre concerts will be acts as diverse as folk dance band Whapweasel, social comment harmony trio Coope, Boyes and Simpson, folk-rockers Little Johnny England, Scottish electro dance group Shooglenifty, Ashley Hutchings' latest Morris On band and top singer-songwriter Ralph McTell.

Several leading local acts, including Lisa Redford, Mooncoin, the Skylarks and Red Oktober, are among those with valuable support slots on the Pavilion stage.

As usual the well-established beer tent on the pier offers free entertainment to festival-goers and casual visitors from noon until late each day featuring Celtic music, comedy, singer-songwriter and hillbilly artists – to name just a few.

And, after the expansion of the Pavilion Theatre to 500 capacity, this year's festival is also growing with fringe events at more venues in the town centre than before.

These include “quiet concerts” at the WI Hall in Garden Street featuring respected duos Kevin Dempsey and Joe Broughton (Saturday) and Tom Napper and Tom Bliss (Sunday).

Festival highlights are likely to be Breton group Loar Gann in concert and playing for dancing, West Country duo Tom and Barbara Brown with concert and workshop sets and the return of US singer and banjo-player Mike West with Katy.

Various other sessions and workshops will be spread around pubs, hotels and other venues and Norfolk music, step-dance and song will feature at a Rig-a-Jig-Jig session at the Albion, Brook Street, from 2pm on Sunday.

See our listings search for full programme of gigs.

Subject to availability, daily tickets are £15.50 (Friday), £16.50 (Saturday) and £17.50 (Sunday) from the Pavilion Theatre box office on 01263 512495.

Festival details at www.folkonthepier.co.uk or www.deckchairproductions.co.uk