gurdyfest

The Second Annual UK Hurdy-gurdy Festival
25th, 26th & 27nd April 2008
An Unmissable Celebration of the Hurdy-gurdy in Great Britain
To be held in the Historic City of Lancaster
See www.hurdy-gurdy.org for full programme and on-line ticket sales, and (especially if you are a player) join HurdyGurdyFoum at Yahoo Groups for details of all the workshops on offer.
Britain’s best ever Hurdy-gurdy music festival is due to take place in Lancaster 25th-27th April.
The city, which has a thriving folk and traditional music scene, will host an exciting weekend dedicated to the unique and rare instrument that is the Hurdy-gurdy.
Hundreds of musicians, enthusiasts and music lovers will be gathering to celebrate their passion for this almost mythical musical instrument at the UK’s one and only Hurdy-gurdy Festival.
In case you don't know, the Hurdy-gurdy is a stringed musical instrument, a sort of mechanical violin, where the strings are sounded by a rotating wheel turned with a crank. It has keyboard, drone strings, and a strange buzzing string which allows rhythms to be played. The sound from what has become dubbed 'the medieval synthesiser' is entrancing and delightful.
The festival is centred around the talents of some of Britian's foremost exponents of the instrument including Red Dog Green Dog, Cliff Stapleton, Steve Tyler, Mike Eaton, Michael Muskett, Cyser, Nuada, Drohne, Chris Allen, Neil Brook, Philip Martin. We also have Balazs Nagy travelling from Hungary to teach and perform. This year we are also featuring the music of Sweden (Carol Turner/Sarah Cheffins duo) and eastern Europe (the Balkanics).
Concerts, dances, workshops, street performances, talks and sessions are planned for the weekend. With music as diverse as Medieval, Baroque, French, Swedish, Hungarian and more from Britain's leading players. Some of the UK's finest Hurdy-gurdy Makers will also be in attendance for those interested in buying or commissioning an instrument.
Friday evening's events are based at the Gregson Centre on Moorgate. The Friends Meeting House will host the Saturday daytime activities with a friendly fayre-like atmosphere to interest the whole family.
During the day on Saturday the Friends Meeting House on Meeting House Lane will be home to ‘The Lancaster Hurdy-Gurdy Fayre’, featuring workshops, performances and talks. In addition to tuition, and an opportunity to meet the instrument makers there will be French dance workshops, proper old fashioned Punch and Judy, music making activities and storytelling entertainment for children.
There will be a festival stall in the Market Square (where there will be musical and theatrical performances) and Hurdy-gurdy musicians will also be out taking their music onto the streets of Lancaster playing in the a around the town, in gurdy friendly pubs and at the Judges’ Lodgings Museum, Church Street.
The Gregson Centre will host the Friday evening concert and dance in it's main hall with informal playing sessions in the bar and upstairs rooms. On Saturday night the an early evening Twilight concert will be held at the Friends Meeting House (18:00) with a concert and Dance at the Gregson from 21:00. The Gregson will also host the Saturday evening Sessions. On Sunday we return to The Gregson for fab breakfasts more workshops, performances and dancing.
The ticket price is £50 for the weekend (£55 after 11/4/08). Entry to the Gurdy Fair on Saturday is just £2 (children free). Tickets for individual concerts are priced at £4- £10 (see Upcoming Shows) subject to availability.
For more information, mail festival (at) gurdy.co.uk , or call Lancaster TIC on 01524 32878.To book accommodation please phone the Tourism Accommodation Booking Hotline on 01524 582393.
Enchanting Music French Dancing Superb Performances Friendly Sessions Exciting Workshops for All and Much More from the finest UK Hurdy-gurdy Players