What the Folk?

So, what is Folkstock Festival all about? Or perhaps I should go further back and start from the beginning. My beginning, in my involvement with Folkstock.

My name is Kate Snowdon; media enthusiast, lover of acoustic music, ‘meeter’ of people and curious about everything. I’m straight off the back of Uni, where, amongst many other things, I was running the student magazine. It was through the publication that I met, and interviewed, Folkstock Arts Foundation Managing Director and Folkstock Festival Director Helen Meissner.

Helen explained that her foundation for budding new acoustic musicians (Folkstock) will be creating an accessible community event at Aldenham Country Park, Hertfordshire, in the form of family day out; Folkstock Festival.

The one-day festival, which will take place on the 21st September, will have four stages of artists, a pop-up tent area where artists can sign up on the day (only) and perform a two song slot, a workshop area for jamming sessions, ukuleles workshops (ukulele’s supplied) and song writing workshops, a village green area for games, a teen zone with a milk bar, a DVD area for children and teenagers, a soft play area for the under 5s and craft stalls, food and local ales and ciders on sale. (It’s ok, you can catch your breath now).

To me, it sounded pretty awesome.

As my interest in the festival grew, Helen invited me on board as a blogger, and I jumped at the chance. But joining at this stage, several months into the planning of the festival, (which began in January) I realised I had a lot to catch up on!

Folkstock has already held several events of its own and been involved in several others’. As well as having involvement with Wilkestock, and Standon Calling (more on this to come!), in May the artists of Folkstock Foundation took to the Hatfield town centre stage and the Howard Centre’s main stage in Welwyn and this month have taken part in Letchworth Street Fest and Brighton Calling, in Brighton (no shock there).

As I join the team just in time for the evening fire-side workshops and masterclasses (I may even get involved in the camping), I look forward to bringing you all the latest updates and gossip from a nosey fans perspective. Folking brilliant!