A Wolverhampton Folk Club are planning their second outdoor music festival this summer. Folk at New Horizons will be Folk at the NAC’s and Newhampton Arts Centre’s second ever summer folk festival. Back for 2022, it promises to be even bigger and better.
The festival is due to take place on Saturday 25th June 2022. The Folk at the NAC team have been working hard over the past months - adding to the line-up and creating a whole day filled with live music in NAC's outdoor covered performance area.
The New Horizons Stage was the arts centre's response to COVID in 2021, allowing live music to resume in the city. The big-top style tent stage will once again be situated in NAC's central courtyard – allowing for 100% external ventilation and events to be presented ‘as outside’ but under canvas.
Headlining the festival with her band, we are excited to announce Eddi Reader. In 2021, she celebrated her 40th year on stage with a ‘40 Years Live’ concert tour and now she is heading to Wolverhampton.
From her earliest years playing the folk clubs of western Scotland and learning how to street sing across Europe. Eddi’s path soon lead her to a professional career in music as a backing singer for Eurythmics. Her band Fairground Attraction had huge international success and number one hits with ‘Perfect’ and debut album ‘First of a Million Kisses’ which stormed the charts in the late 1980’s.
Throughout her successful solo career, Eddi has released consistently great works, including highly acclaimed albums such as The Songs of Robert Burns and last years’ Cavalier. She has won Brit Awards, been awarded four honorary degrees, an MBE, sung to millions on some of the world’s greatest concert and festival stages and collaborated with a host of stars across a myriad of genres including Folk, Jazz, Pop, World, Punk and even Classical work with various orchestras.
In 2019 Eddi was invited to be a special guest with Jools Holland’s Rhythm & Blues Orchestra for an extensive tour, she released her ‘Starlight’ EP, played sold out headline shows and recorded a programme for BBC Radio 3; Classic Scottish Album series about her Robert Burns recordings and appeared on BBC Television’s Songs of Praise and as part of Billy Connolly’s ‘Made In Scotland’ series.
Trevelyan Wright, CEO of Newhampton Arts Centre said:
“Eddi Reader has been a shining presence on the music scene for over thirty years and we’re thrilled she’s headlining our second Folk at NAC Festival in Wolverhampton this summer. She’s someone whose music we’ve admired for a long time and we’re delighted to be able to bring her to the city for what should be a very special night in our New Horizons tent”
The festival will also feature Midnight Skyracer, an all-female 5 piece bluegrass band playing traditional and modern classics. Since forming in 2017, the Anglo-Irish all female quintet have become festival sensations across the UK and Europe. They also carry the distinction of being the first British act nominated for an award by the International Bluegrass Music Association.
Tom McConville and Dave Newey will also play. Tom is one of the leading fiddle players in the British Isles, performing at most of the leading festivals. His live performance combines a rollercoaster of musical delights, great singing and dry Geordie wit. Tom will be joined on stage by guitarist, singer and songwriter, David Newey. Having been taught by John Renbourn and Martin Carthy, he has played all over the world, and is now ready to launch his latest album ‘Unfold’.
Excited attendees should expect a party atmosphere, real ale and hot food to accompany some of the finest folk musicians playing today, all in Wolverhampton’s outdoor covered performance space.
Please note that booking your tickets early is highly recommended, where you can also take advantage of NAC’s early bird ticketing offer. Admission: Early Bird (the first 90 tickets only): £29.50, Advance: £35.50, both available from www.newhamptonarts.co.uk
