Despite a certain amount of doom and gloom in certain areas of the events industry, Cromer’s ‘Folk on the Pier’ festival is bucking the trend and enjoying the best advance ticket sales ever in the twenty seven years since it first started.
Occupying the usual spot on the second weekend of May, the Pavilion Theatre on Cromer Pier will host another eighteen acoustic-roots and electric folk-rock acts over three days. Though the festival was started twenty-seven years ago, this year will actually see in real terms a twenty-fifth production, given the two years taken out due to the pandemic.
The programme includes performances from English Folk-Rock heavy weights such as Home Service, Merry Hell and a final Cromer performance from the Oysterband as part of their ‘Long Goodbye Tour’ before they retire. There’s also Blues and Americana from Saints and Sinners and Brooks Williams, spellbinding songs and music from newcomer to the event Dorie Jackson, as well as top draw acoustic performances from the likes of Urban Folk Quartet, Jez Lowe, Bob Fox, Jacqui McShee and Kevin Dempsey, Megson, Huw Williams and the festival’s very own and brand new patron, Richard Digance.
East Anglian support acts at the Pavilion Theatre include KEGS, Joe and Mary, Eric
Sedge, King’s Gambit and a farewell performance from the Bounty Hounds. As well as the main action on the pier, there are once again many fringe events around town, organised by 1.3 East, and also a new series of formal concerts and events under the banner of ‘Second Venue’, produced by Cromer Community Centre and starting from the Thursday night with Attila the Stockbroker. Other artists for these shows will include Luke Jackson, Ella Spencer and local acts Rattlebox, North Norfolk Ukeleles and the Browns.
Further news and information on all events can be sourced at: www.folkonthepier.co.uk
