Now in it’s sixth year the Priddy Rising project has moved up a gear with over 20 students from Wells School ready to start their folk music journey which will culminate in a Priddy Rising performance at this year’s 2017 festival.
The project, which was launched by Priddy Folk Festival in conjunction with Wells Blue School in 2012 started out as a one-off event but its success has meant it has become a permanent, ever-growing fixture.
Under the mentorship of British musician, composer and producer Will Lang, the students explore the folk traditions with the help of some of the country’s top folk talent.
This year the students recently took a research trip to The Kennedy-Grant memorial library at Halsway Manor, the National Centre for the Folk Arts. The Kennedy-Grant memorial library is the second largest collection of printed and recorded material of folk and traditional music, song and dance.
Another addition to this year’s Priddy Rising are monthly Skype sessions led by leading folk and roots artists with Wells Blue School’s folk group on the lead up to the Priddy Folk Festival appearance.
Last month Laura-Beth Salter from The Shee – who are playing this year’s Priddy – Skyped into Wells Blue School to and this month Archie Churchill-Moss is going into the school to run a session.
Will said: “The first rehearsal weekend will be May 6th and I’m very much looking forward to seeing the young people with their inspiration from their trip to Halsway Manor!”