“BY THE moonray's shaft of silver power, by the green leaf breaking from the bud, by the seed that springeth into flower, by the life that courses in the blood ...”
The Clun Green Man Festival, is this bank holiday weekend’s festival with something for everyone when history fuses with fun, and tradition and entertainment blend into one great event.
First up is a musical treat this Saturday, April 30, at Clun Memorial Hall when Sheelanagig will be playing live. Voted ‘Best Live Gig’ by The Independent, they have been honing their eclectic blend of folk, jazz and world music since 2005.
Blistering live performances have made them festival favourites across the UK and Europe.
Sheelanagig are renowned for their fearless melodies and musical virtuosity, have been storming the South-West scene and far beyond since 2005 with their eclectic blend of folk, jazz and world music.
All this is built on some seriously accomplished musicianship. Violinist Aaron Catlow has played in countless bands encompassing a vast variety of styles.
Heavily influenced by folk and jazz fusion, his unique playing also draws from Eastern European and Indian music. Flute and tabla player Adrian Sykes has (as well as Sheelanagig) performed and toured with Elephant Talk for 12 years and written music for several theatre companies.
Dave Archer is a folk, blues and jazz guitarist and composer and John Blakeley has been playing drums for 15 years, starting with rock and blues, before moving on to jazz fusion. Dorian Sutton was immersed in the folk scene of the North East from a very young age – playing in Ceilidh bands and Irish sessions from the age of 10.
Throwing themselves around the stage, their unrivalled exuberance combined with their outrageous mix of chutzpah, Klezmer and Celtic kick, guarantees an awesome gig.
Support is from local folk trio Flaxenby and tickets, £12.50, are available from the Green Man website or with cash/cheque only from the White Horse Inn, Clun, call 01588 640305; or from Enterprise House, Bishops Castle, call 01588 638038.
Sunday’s informal, free show in Clun Square, noon to 5.30pm, features award-winning children’s entertainer Dingle Fingle, live music from Parti Gungrog, plus Morris Dancing, the Swords of Chivalry and the Clun Mummers play.
Afterwards there is a chance to learn all about ‘Green Men, Grotesques and Uglies’ with Dr Colin Harris (tickets available at the White Horse Inn).
On Sunday evening there is Eddie Gartry and Bluesstate UK in the White Horse Inn and the Rhythm Thieves at the Sun Inn.
The spectacular clash between the Green Man and Frost Queen on Clun Bridge is at noon on Monday, May 2. The Green Man, armed with just his stout staff, must beat fearsome, sword-wielding Frosty in order to banish winter from the Clun Valley.
Afterwards, the May Fair in the meadow below Clun Castle offers a fabulous range of stalls, plenty of good food, real ale and more entertainment than ever this year, including the new kids’ fun Ecoplay Waterwalkers, the enchanting wandering characters Hodman and Sally, medieval sword fighting, Morris and maypole dancing, duck racing, folk music from Whalebone plus fire and drumming on the Castle Bailey.
Entry to the May Fair is £3 for adults, accompanied children £1, under fives free. Visit www.clungreenman.org.uk