Important Message about September

Now that the Festival is happening twice a year people will get bored if we have all the same artists May & September. We will always need a core who hold the Festival together – and have contributed for many years – but we are now actively trying to make the September Festival different from May.   Sorry if this means that we don’t book you for September if you have appeared in May. It’s not that we don’t value you, it’s just that we need to have  variety  –  and hope you will come back again soon!

Maureen & Dave.

 

May Festival May.11-12-13  2012

Details fom Mik

A Brief History  And so it came to pass that, in 1990, some Old and Peculiar people were sitting around Neil's fire in the Old Dungeon Ghyll  Bar drinking beer that was not so old but just as peculiar and playing instruments to keep warm. One had a bright idea. "Wouldn't it be good if we did this for a whole weekend, got people to throw money in a bucket and then give it away to Charity!". All nodded wisely made a date to do it, got another round in and promptly forgot about it. The following September people with instruments turned up in the Valley -"Where's this 'ere Festival then?" We threw one together in ten minutes.  Who would have thought all those years ago that we would have attracted so many musicians, raised so much cash, and with the blessing of the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel now have a Festival weekend twice a year! And nobody gets paid!!! Amazing or wot!

Organizer Stuff.  Massive thanks. Firstly to Neil and Jane Walmsley and the Staff of the Old Dungeon Ghyll . Without your help, support and sometimes tolerance there would not be such a unique event. To the performers who have come from all over Britain(and Lancashire!) to entertain us and to all those that have delighted us over the years. One or two have played at EVERY Festival!. To Anne who was an integral part of the event in the early days. Last but certainly not least Dave and Maureen Reid who are now as much a part of the organisation as I have ever been. To our Sponsors who's generosity never ceases to amaze and to all who come to the weekends, stand and listen and donate to help. To the Rescue Teams, SARDA Dogs and Handlers, Air Ambulance Personnel, Footpath Workers and Conservation Teams. Many are volunteers and all make Langdale the special place that we all know it to be.

Unique? – It certainly is. If it were an ordinary Folk Festival it would be very special. The fact that it is free - no fees are paid to any Festival Staff or Performers make it doubly so. They all organize and pay for their own transport and accommodation .

No entry fees are charged it's all by donation. No tickets, first come first served for seats. – that’s what I call unique!! All the money that you donate will go to Search and Rescue Dog Association (SARDA Lakes) and Great North  Air Ambulance(see Charities). There is information over the weekend on both charities at the ‘Festival Desk’ - It has been a privilege to be associated with this event for so long and to have met so many wonderful, slightly crazy people.

A full list of sponsors can be seen on the sponsors page.

Now enough of this sentimental drivel and lets get on with the ‘meat and spuds’ sexy bits, like who’s on and what is the cheapest beer and ‘can I play if I’m not booked’ all that fun stuff.

Where? The weekend is held at the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel (see sponsors) in Great Langdale. The valley runs roughly 8 miles west of Ambleside and is easily accessible. (See Info).

When? We run two weekend Festivals every year. One in Spring, one in Autumn we try to avoid peak times where possible. The next weekends will be the Spring on  11-12-13 May 2012  & Autumn 14 15 16 Sept 1012

 For information regarding the 2012 Festival  please flip around the rest of the site or get in touch with us via the 'Contacts' section.