Sidmouth favourites return for our 2024 Pre-Festival Concerts at the Ham Marquee!
FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS
Thursday 1st August, 3.00pm (The Ham)
Sold out
Back by public demand! Cornwall’s best-known musical export, a decade ago The Fisherman’s Friends were persuaded to sign the million-pound record deal that saw their album Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends go Gold as they became the first ever traditional folk act to land a UK top ten album. Since then they’ve sang at HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, played Glastonbury festival and been honoured with the Good Tradition Award at the prestigious BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. They’ve also been the subject of an ITV documentary, released the hit albums One and All (2013), Proper Job (2015) and Sole Mates (2018) and continued play to tens of thousands of fans at home and abroad.
GEORGE HINCHLIFFE’S UKULELE ORCHESTRA OF GREAT BRITAIN
Thursday 1st August, 8pm (The Ham)
First out of the blocks are the mighty plucking institution that is Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. Among their numerous international concerts and festival appearances, they have sold out twice at Carnegie Hall in New York, twice at The Royal Albert Hall in London, and also at Sydney Opera House in Australia…and we are delighted to welcome them back to the Sidmouth stage. Best known for performing musically faithful but often tongue-in-cheek covers of popular songs and musical pieces from a wide variety of music genres, their light hearted deadpan humour and outstanding musicianship make for a hugely entertaining show!
STEELEYE SPAN
Friday 2nd August, 3.00pm (The Ham)
Steeleye Span remain one of the most influential names in British roots music. Pioneers of folk-rock, the band changed the face of folk music forever, taking it out of small clubs and into the world of gold discs and international tours. Members have come and gone over the years, but Steeleye has always remained at the forefront of the genre they helped to define, and, 38 years later the bandhas become an institution in British music. Fronted by original member and instantly recognizable voice of Maddy Prior, their stellar 2024 line-up offers an evergreen/ever-fresh folk rock sound which Sidmouth audiences adore!