Sweeps Festival
Medway Council celebrates this traditional, colourful and lively festival each year. Local chimney sweeps, Morris sides and folk groups froPhoto of Sweeps Festivalm all over the UK join in the fun.
Medway’s annual Sweeps Festival recreates the joy and laughter enjoyed by the chimney sweeps at their traditional holiday: the one time of the year the sweeps could leave the soot behind and have some fun. The sweeps’ holiday was traditionally held on 1 May each year. Locally, they used to mark the occasion by staging a procession through the streets of Rochester.
It takes a special kind of event to last more than a quarter of a century. Medway's Sweeps Festival, with its incredible selection of musical entertainment, an ever-expanding range of activities and worldwide popularity, goes from strength to strength each year.
This year's Sweep Festival is being held on 30 April, 1 and 2 May.
Festival highlights include:
* more than 50 Morris dancing sides;
* free music in pubs and bars;
* fun children’s activities;
* Jack-in-the-Green and much more.
Sweeps Festival concerts
Eliza Carthy and Band with special guest Martin Carthy
Saturday, 30 April, 7.30pm
Musician, singer, producer, curator, multi-prize winner, scion of a UK folk royal family, Eliza is one of the UK’s pre-eminent modern musicians. She is well known for not just her 20 years performing folk, but her numerous innovative boundary-crossing projects and collaborations. Special guest Martin Carthy has been one of folk music's greatest innovators. His skill, stage presence and natural charm have won him many admirers, not only from within the folk scene, but also far beyond it. Tickets: £18
Show of Hands
Sunday, 1 May, 7.30pm
After a busy 2010 touring major concert venues, churches and Cathedrals, hot property band Show of Hands - 2010 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards double winners - come to the Sweeps Festival, showing just why they have been showered with accolades. Tickets: £18
Gigs take place in Rochester Castle Gardens marquee.
Buy tickets online for the concerts or phone 01634 338338.
http://www.medway.gov.uk/leisureandculture/events/sweepsfestival.aspx
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