Thursday, 1 May, 5.32am
The traditional Jack-in-the-Green Awakening Ceremony takes place at the Blue Bell Hill picnic area. Dance teams and sweeps will bring Jack to life at the crack of dawn. Everybody is invited to this traditional welcome of May Day.
Friday, 2 May, 8.45–11pm
* Ye Arrow – a pre-festival music session.
* Prince of Wales, Strood – Sur Les Docks.
* Good Intent – singaround session with Simon Barlow.
* King's Head (pool room) – Singaround with Bob and Kathy Drage.
* Man of Kent alehouse - The Groanbox Boys.
* Gordon Hotel - a pre-festival music session.
Saturday, 3 May
* 10.45am
Guildhall Museum forecourt, High Street - the Mayor of Medway will officially open the festival. This will be followed by a dance showcase.
* 11am–4.30pm
City Wall Wine Bar, stage - music hosted by Pigs Ear, accompanied by guests.
* 12.30-1.30pm
Castle Gardens concert marquee - music from The Dawgs.
* 12.30-2.30pm
The Crown Inn - The Dealers.
The Eagle Tavern - JD and the Longfellows.
Gordon House Hotel - Truckstop Honeymoon.
Royal Victoria and Bull Hotel (Rochester Bar) - Longstone.
Two Brewers - Norcsalordie.
Prince of Wales, Strood - Phoenix.
Expectations - Junk and Disorderly.
Man of Kent alehouse - Prague Castle Orchestra.
King's Head - Skinners Rats.
Good Intent - singaround session with John Barden.
Ye Arrow - Ian Petrie Band.
* 1–1.20pm
Boley Hill Stage - McManigan Academy of Irish Dancers.
* 1.30-2pm
Boley Hill Stage - The Fabulous Fezheads.
* 2.15pm
Medway Visitor Information Centre - guided walking tour of Rochester led by the City of Rochester Society. The tour will last for about 90minutes and is free. Donations to the society are welcome.
* 3–5pm
Medway Visitor Information Centre - The Folk Factor - search for a folk star. Now in its third year, we are pleased to be holding this competition again in 2008. Singers, duos and bands are invited to come forward for a five-minute performance in front of a panel of judges: Joe Stead (singer, ex-folk agent and record company owner), Richard Bridge (folk singer), Avril Cameron (folk singer and folk club organiser). 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. Register for your five-minute acoustic spot at [email protected] or phone 01843 868757.
* 3-5pm
Royal Victoria and Bull Hotel (Rochester Bar) - Chris Taylor (Irish music session).
Gordon House Hotel - McManigan Academy of Irish Dancers (until 3.30pm).
* 3–7pm
King's Head (pool room) - singaround with Bob and Kathy Drage.
Expectations - Roy Golding.
* 4-6pm
The Crown Inn - The Groanbox Boys.
Eagle Tavern - Norcsalordie.
* 4.15-5pm
Boley Hill Stage - Prague Castle Orchestra.
* 8.45–11pm
King's Head - Selchie.
Gordon House Hotel - Wheeler Street and The Fabulous Fezheads.
Expectations - Truckstop Honeymoon.
Ye Arrow - JD and the Longfellows.
Man of Kent alehouse - Sur Les Docks.
Prince of Wales, Strood - Bishop Gundulf.
Good Intent - singaround session with John Barden (bar) plus music session with PJ (garden).
Two Brewers - Phoenix.
* 10pm-1am
The Corn Exchange - Festival Ceilidh with The Climax Ceilidh Band. Tickets are £6.
Sunday, 4 May
* 11am–4.30pm
City Wall Wine Bar, stage - music hosted by Pigs Ear, accompanied by guests.
* 12.30-1.30pm
Castle Gardens concert marquee - a tribute to the Sweetheart of the Rodeo.
A collection of Medway musicians perform a unique tribute to the Byrds' 1968 country rock classic.
* 12.30–2.30pm
The Crown Inn – The Machine Breakers.
The Eagle Tavern – Sur Les Docks.
Gordon Hotel – Hartley Singers.
Royal Victoria and Bull Hotel (Rochester Bar) – Redeye.
Two Brewers – The Dealers.
Prince of Wales, Strood – Prague Castle Orchestra.
Expectations – Jumbo Gumbo.
Man of Kent alehouse - Triality.
King's Head – Junk and Disorderly.
Good Intent – singaround with John Barden.
Ye Arrow – Moveable Feast.
* 1–1.30pm
Boley Hill stage – The Singing Loins.
* 2.15pm
Outside Medway Visitor Information Centre
Guided walking tour of Rochester led by the City of Rochester Society. The tour will last about 90minutes and is free. Donations to the society are welcome.
* 2.30-4.30pm
Castle Gardens concert marquee - concert with Truckstop Honeymoon and The Groanbox Boys (free).
* 3–5pm
Royal Victoria and Bull Hotel (Rochester Bar) – Irish music session with Chris Taylor.
Ye Arrow - an afternoon with Tom Palmer.
* 3–7pm
King's Head (pool room) - singaround with Bob and Kathy Drage.
Expectations – Roy Golding.
Good Intent - Gastove Special (bands).
* 4.15-5pm
Boley Hill stage – The Hot Rats.
* 5-7pm
Gordon House Hotel – retro folk concert with Vulcan's Hammer, Hot Potato and Fairisle, compered by Martin Harris (free).
* 8.45–11pm
Gordon House Hotel - Sur Les Docks and the Singing Loins.
Two Brewers – Moveable Feast.
Prince of Wales, Strood – Jumbo Gumbo.
Expectations – Phoenix.
Man of Kent alehouse – The Machine Breakers.
Ye Arrow – Waterhouse.
King's Head – Sally Ironmonger Band.
Good Intent – singaround session with John Barden (bar) plus music session with PJ (garden).
* 10pm - 1am
The Corn Exchange - Sweeps Ball with the Bursledon Village Band. Tickets are £6.
Monday, 5 May
* 12noon
Medway Visitor Information Centre - murder and mystery reading by Sue Rule of Pig's Ear. Free.
* 12.30 – 2.30pm
The Crown Inn – Prague Castle Orchestra.
Gordon House Hotel – The Hot Rats.
Royal Victoria and Bull Hotel – The Groanbox Boys.
Expectations – Sally Ironmonger Band.
Man of Kent alehouse – Open Harp Surgery.
King's Head – Phoenix.
Eagle Tavern – Ted Can't Hear Ya.
Prince of Wales, Strood – Perfect Strangers.
Good Intent – singaround session with Simon Barlow.
* 2.15pm
Medway Visitor Information Centre - guided walking tour of Rochester led by the City of Rochester Society. The tour will last about 90minutes and is free. Donations to the society are welcome.
* 2.45pm
Rochester Sweeps Festival traditional bank holiday procession -the finale to the Sweeps Festival 2008 will involve many Morris sides, chimney sweeps and Jack-in-the-Green. The procession will start in Rochester Castle Gardens and move through The Esplanade, Rochester High Street, Crow Lane, Vines Lane, St. Margaret’s Street, Boley Hill, Epaul Lane and back into the castle gardens.
* 3–7pm
Expectations – Roy Golding.
Sweeps programme
Photo of Morris dancers
The festival will take place from Saturday, 3 May through to Monday, 5 May, 2008.
Throughout the festival
* High Street - Morris sides from around the country will perform throughout each day.
* Princes Hall, Corn Exchange - traditional musical instrument fair.
* Rochester Castle Gardens - children’s traditional funfair, real ale tent stalls and festival concert marquee.
Festival highlights
Friday, 2 May
* Rochester Castle Gardens concert marquee, 7.30pm
An evening with Denny Laine with support from Ruby. One of the best singer-songwriters of the 1960s and 1970s, Denny has played with most of the greats of the music business and released a dozen solo albums. Tickets are £16.50.
Saturday, 3 May
* Rochester Castle Gardens concert marquee, 7.30pm
The Battlefield Band, supported by The Dealers - winners of The Folk Factor, 2006. The Battlefield Band, inspired by Celtic music, was founded in 1969 and now performs throughout the world. Tickets are £16.50.
* Corn Exchange, Rochester, 10pm-1am
Festival Ceilidh with The Climax Ceilidh Band. Tickets are £6.
Sunday, 4 May
* Rochester Castle Gardens concert marquee, 7.30pm
Show of Hands supported by Wheeler Street. One of the finest acoustic roots duos in England, Show of Hands have sold out the Albert Hall twice and headlined at the Glastonbury and WOMAD festivals. Tickets are £16.50.
* The Corn Exchange, Rochester, 10pm-1am
Sweeps Ball with The Bursledon Village Band. Tickets are £6.
St. Margaret’s Church, St. Margaret’s Street, Rochester
Saturday, 3 May: 10am-5pm and Sunday, 4 May: 1-5pm
The church will be open to visitors who wish to look around. Refreshments will be available, as well as photographs of local historical interest.
http://www.medway.gov.uk/index/leisure/events/sweepsfestival.htm
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