The Rochester Sweeps Festival has some very interesting looking events this year :


Sweeps Festival - New for 2006 :



The Folk Factor

Folk is definitely the new ‘cool’ and at this year's Rochester Sweeps Festival and we are looking for some new talent.
Singers, duos and bands are invited to come forward for a five-minute performance in front of a panel of three judges: Joe Stead (ex-recording company and folk agent), Simon Evans (BBC Radio Kent/Radio 4) and Jo Tuffs (Director of Broadstairs Folk Week).
The winner will receive a day’s recording at Ranscombe Studios in Rochester, a slot on Simon’s Folk programme and a concert appearance at Broadstairs Folk Week in August.
Saturday 29 April - Medway Visitor Information Centre - 3-5pm
Register for your five-minute acoustic spot with julie_dot_doherty_at_medway_dot_gov_dot_uk or call Doug Hudson on 01634 574837

The Julia

The Julia is a topsail schooner boat which is currently moored at Chatham Maritime. It will be host to acoustic maritime music throughout the festival.
Saturday 29 April: 12.30pm - 2.30pm: Gastove
Sunday 30 April: 12.30pm - 2.30pm: Kimber’s Men; John Barden
Monday 1 May: 12.30pm - 2.30pm: Chiens D’Mer; Gastove

Festival concerts - Rochester Castle gardens entertainment marquee


The Miranda Sykes Band and Martin Simpson
Friday 28 April (Tickets £14)
Miranda Sykes, the acclaimed young vocalist and instrumentalist is touring with her own band, the band members of Maartin Allcock, Gareth Turner, Pete Zorn, Martin Fitzgibbon ensures that this is a band not to be missed. Martin Simpson
Martin Simpson is rated as one of the world’s leading guitarists. "His guitar playing, tempered by years of accompanying vocalists, has an eloquence that need recognise few peers." Folk Roots

Lazarus and Shooglenifty
Saturday 29 April (Tickets £14)
Lazarus is a new trio featuring the legendary English fiddler Dave Swarbrick, known affectionately as Swarb, ace guitarist Kevin Dempsey and multi-instrumentalist Maartin Allcock. Shooglenifty
Shooglenifty are one of the best live bands around. They are universally well-received, despite the fact that the band's influences are much wider than the average Celtic revivalists, this has all led to some amusing self-descriptions of their sound - including "hypnofolkadelia" and "acid croft”.

Fairport Convention
Sunday 30 April (Tickets £14)
The current line-up of Fairport Convention was recently described by Radio 2's Mike Harding as 'the greatest folk/rock band ever'. Fairport Convention and formergroup members have won no fewer than three categories at the annual BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

All concerts start at 7.30pm in the entertainment marquee in Rochester Castle grounds. Tickets cost £14 each or buy a combined ticket for all three concerts for £35. Tickets available from Medway Visitor Information Centre below or from the box office on the day.

Late Night Extra Concerts - Corn Exchange, Rochester


Steamchicken with caller Fee Locke
Saturday 29 April : 10.00pm - 1.00am (Tickets £8)
A bustling bluesy five/six piece, harmonica and mandolin swapping leads/improvising melodies, bass/piano and percussion keeping the rhythm tight and tenor sax blowing over the top. Tunes from Jelly Roll Morton to Playford to Lonnie Donegan and all points in between.

The Simon Care Trio
Sunday 30 April : 7.30pm - 10.00pm (Tickets £8)
The trio comprises Guy Fletcher, Mark Hutchinson and Simon Care Their set comprises contemporary and traditional songs and tunes from artists such as Tracy Chapman, Neil Finn and Richard Thompson.

Geyers
Sunday 30 April 11.00pm - 1.00am (Tickets £5)
Variety is their concern when playing their haunting songs, be it as an acoustic quartet or a bit more electric with Michael Walter on the bass. They do not use keyboards at all, but change instruments very often during the songs, to produce an atmospheric sound. They not only recite old melodies, but skillfully mix old lyrics with their own music, or make up new lyrics for old melodies. In whatever way, it is sure that The Geyers always produce exiting sounds.
Tickets available from Medway Visitor Information Centre below or from the box office on the day.

Workshops



Guitar Workshop With Martin Simpson (Corn Exchange, Rochester) Saturday 29 April - 10.30am - 11.30am (Tickets £5)
A guitar workshop with Martin Simpson who is rated as one of the world’s leading guitarists. "His guitar playing, tempered by years of accompanying vocalists, has an eloquence that need recognise few peers." Folk Roots
Tickets available from Medway Visitor Information Centre or from the box office on the day.

- the full program is available on the web at :
www.medway.gov.uk/index/leisure/events/sweeps.htm