'Folk' raises £3,000
THE Folk on the Water festival has raised around £3,000 for its two charities with its festivities.
It finished the 10 days festival at Newbold Comyn Arms in Leamington Spa, with ten events, raising cash for the local charities Fallen Fusiliers and Zoe's Place through audience donations at each of the live events.
Live music
It was a celebration of live music and Warwickshire's waterways, with the ‘Folk on the Water' festival taking the Warwickshire Ring in a narrowboat provided by Kate Boats along the canal between Leamington and Rugby, stopping at venues on or near the water along the way to present specially programmed live music, from small gigs in canal side pubs to venue concerts, with co-organiser Hayley Hindle explaining:
"We've had such a great time over the festival. Donations are still coming in but indications are we have raised in the region of £3,000 for our two nominated charities, Zoe's Place and Fallen Fusiliers, which is a fantastic sum and testament to the generosity of our audiences and their enjoyment of the events we put on."
"Highlights included the gig at The Two Boats in Long Itchington, where the audience were having such a great night that they kept the headline band Bear County Band doing encores for an hour after their planned set finished! We had some memorable late night impromptu jamming sessions with the bands on board the boat.
"The family fun days at the Newbold Comyn Arms were brilliantly attended, and on Saturday night The Wutars, School of Rock and The Trinity Band, brought the house down with their energy and great dance tracks. We are already starting to plan for Folk on the Water 2012. If anyone wants to get involved, please get in touch via our Twitter or Facebook pages."
Given free
Everyone involved with Folk on the Water has given their time free of charge, with sponsorship from local businesses to loan everything from the boat, to print, web and graphic design, PR services, artists and venues, and remarks Hayley:
"We are hugely grateful to everyone involved, from musicians to those behind the scenes, who gave their time, skills and resources to making the festival happen.
"The festival also aims to encourage people to get together to enjoy live music and the peaceful magic of the waterways along the superb canal system we have in the Midlands."
The charities
The 2011 tour raised awareness and funds through collections at each of the free events, for two local charities:
Fallen Fusiliers—a charity caring for local ex service personnel and their families - supporting those suffering from physical injuries and psychological trauma. http://www.fallenfusiliers.co.uk/
Zoe's Place—the tour will raise awareness and funds for the new Children's Hospice newly opened at Exhall Grange (near Coventry) by the National Children's charity Zoe's Place. http://www.zoes-place.org.uk/coventry/