Footloose Festival 1997 Artists

Alphabetical List

Bedlam

The exciting new young ceilidh band.

Chequered Flag

Chequered Flag's reputation for step dancing had already spread up North before their very impressive displays at Sidmouth last year.

Coalesce

A young band from Highfields School, the venue of the Footloose Festivals.

Craobh Rua

Mark Donnelly : Uilleann Pipes, Whistle
Jim Byrne : Guitar, Vocals, Mandola, Bodhran
Michael Cassidy : Fiddles
Brian Connolly : Banjo, Mandolin, Mandola, Bodhran
Craobh Rua have a sound reminiscent of the early Planxty days, as they sing and play a masterful mix of Scottish, Irish, and American tunes. Not often seen in England, this is a band we have wanted to bring to the Festival ever since seeing them at Towersey several years ago. They avoid the frenetic style of the Celtic Rock bands but provide a solid and inspired set that builds through the evening. The instrumental mix is slightly unusual and provides a distinctive and extremely listenable sound, but as the tempo quickens the urge to Dance gets stronger. The ideal band to start the '97 Footloose Festival.

DanceAV

New for 1997 is Ross Allen's Male Percussive Step Dance Ensemble. DanceAV are a fresh new group blending music, song and dance into an innovative performance which crosses boundaries both real and imaginary. The five dynamic male dancers come from different backgrounds (Appalachian, Irish, English Clog, Jazz Dance and Rhythm Tap) and are teamed with six accomplished musicians to deliver an ever changing kaleidoscope of rhythms. Remember you'll experience it first at Matlock.

Four Feet from Feet First

Paul and Leon This year is the turn of the MEN, and who better to work alongside DanceAV than two of the characters from Feet First. Leon, the longest standing male dancer in Feet First, instantly recognised throughout the country from performances not only with Feet First but various Morris sides including Winster, and Paul who not only flashes the taps but is equally at home in the band playing Mandolin.

Phil Hodson and Barbara Coppock

Experts at Cajun workshops, they could even teach a herd of elephants to dance the Louisiana way.

Julie James

Founder of Feet First , Little Big Feet, and other dance teams.

The Kimbara Brothers

Neil Stacey's Hottest 30s Band playing Reinhardt and Grappelli style Hot Club Jazz and featuring Chris Haigh, Bernard O'Neill and Frank Kilkelly.

Little Big Feet

Julie James' new dance team.

La Cucina

We do not apologise for bringing La Cucina back to the Festival this year. On their last visit in 1994 they provided one of the best Dance Concerts we can remember but the new line- up promises to achieve even greater accolade following a highly successful first year with the highlight at Womad. Now featuring accordion, double bass, congas, drums, Spanish and electric guitars, piano and a fine new vocalist La Cucina will ensure that the Sunday workshops will require a long slow warm-up.

Prego

A band well renowned for European music and dance.

Same Train Different Teapot

This band produces one of the most distinctive sounds in Old Time music on either side of the Atlantic using a Mountain Dulcimer in place of the usual guitar. Visit their Web site.

Jock Tyldesley and Gavin Lewry's New Cajun Band

Jock and Gavin are always welcome at Matlock and so it was no surprise that we accepted the offer to feature the new band's premier Festival performance. It is difficult to describe a new band without having seen it, but we are certain that with the pedigree of Jock and Gavin this venture will become one of the highlights of 1997.

Chris Wood and Andy Cutting

The genuine article - Dirty Linen

Introduced to Sidmouth as one of the finest acts around with their sizzling concert and dance performances combining fiddle and accordion to produce the unique sound of French Canadian Quebecois music, Chris Wood and Andy Cutting should be resident at Footloose, and this year are the ideal compliment to Chequered Flag. It's difficult to explain why they have not been to Matlock before, but at last both are available to headline the Saturday Night Concert.

For more information see Chris and Andy's WEB page.