Adrian Edmondson is the big name at Wath Festival 2010
WATH Festival committee is already making plans for the 2010 event taking place from April 28 to May 3 this year.
Festival headliners this year include Adrian Edmondson and The Bad Shepherds.
The actor and comedian – famous for his roles with Rik Mayall in The Young Ones and Bottom – has turned his talents to playing folked-up, punk songs with fellow band members Troy Donockley and Andy Dinan.
The group released their first album in April 2009 and have earned themselves a BBC Folk Award 2010 nomination in the "Best Live Act" category.
Adrian's daughter, Ella Edmondson – a talented young singer/songwriter – will also be appearing on the bill over the weekend.
No stranger to South Yorkshire, last year Ella recorded an album at a studio in Doncaster.
Other acts appearing over the weekend include the Heidi Talbot Trio featuring Boo Hewerdine and John McCusker, Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart from the USA, Chris Sherburn and Denny Bartley, Sarah MacDougall and Tim Tweedale from Canada, John Tams and Barry Coope, Steve Tilston and Dave Bowie and the Lonnie Donegan Band.
This year's festival also marks the 200th anniversary of Thomas Tuke's death in 1810.
Among the bequests to the poor of Wath in his will, was the wish that: "Forty dozen penny buns will be thrown from church tower at 12 o'clock on Christmas Day, forever".
It seemed more appropriate that this be done in May, so his wishes are now carried out on, or around, May Day.
He also left in his will, a penny to every child who attended his funeral. As a result, 600-700 children attended and collected their money!
Last year saw Wath Festival branch out into three venues for concerts and workshops – at the Montgomery Hall and marquee, Sandygate House Hotel and Wath Rugby Club.
A host of performers also took to the stage in 2009, including the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, The Demon Barbers, Karine Polwart and Chris & Kellie While.
As well as the big names, Wath Festival has a reputation for supporting local performers and the up -and-coming names like Ray Hearne, Katriona Gilmore & Jamie Roberts, Charlie Barker, Jon Gomm, Roger Davies, WW.Combo and Holly Taymar.
Local school children, morris teams and musicians provided colourful street parades in the town centre and 2009 saw the new "Wath's Got Talent" competition… and we can tell you it certainly has!
The young people of Wath dazzled the crowds with their various skills and will be hard acts to follow in future competition.
This year's Wath festival is set to be even bigger than ever – but the organisers have put its growing reputation and increasing national recognition down to its grassroots support from the Wath community.
Now the organisers are looking for outside sponsors to back the project, and carry it to the next level in 2010.
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Weather for South Yorkshire
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
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