Last updated at 20:17, Thursday, 31 May 2012

Ireby Festival, which started as a small gathering of music enthusiasts, will celebrate its 10th anniversary tomorrow.

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The festival was thought up by Charles Devlin and Susan Grey at Susan’s birthday party.

The first event was held in her garden in 2002 where more than 100 local people enjoyed performances from musicians such as John Spiers and Jon Boden.

A decade later, the festival is run by a team of 12 from the village, including Charles and Susan, and attracts around 600 people.

Charles, 70, festival director, said: “When we first came up with the idea it was during the foot and mouth outbreak, when there were no local events happening. We thought ‘what can we do to involve the village?’

“We have grown, but we still want to keep the festival relatively small so it doesn’t swamp the village.

“This year we have people coming from Devon, Cornwall and we even have a couple coming from Baltimore, USA.

“I hope that people support the event so we have enough money to put back into it next year.”

Headliners Altan, Ireland’s leading traditional music group, will play their only UK festival this year at Ireby tomorrow, from 9.30pm, on Skiddaw View Main Stage.

Other acts include Time Gentleman Please! featuring the Demon Barber Roadshow, Kieran Goss, Tarras, Ewan McLennan, Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts, Henry Priestman, Polly and the Billets Doux, James Findlay, Mochara, Rob Heron and The Tea Pad Orchestra, Les Barker, Lucy Ward, Tinderbox, Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin, Ribbon Road, Red Shoe Diaries, Jessica Lawson, Annemarie Quinn, Thrice Brewed, Hadrian’s Union and Belfagen.

Today’s music will start at the village square from 3pm to 12.30am and will start on the Skiddaw View Main Stage from 7.15pm.

Tomorrow, there will be a one-mile walk to Ireby’s 12th century Chancel, the original Ireby church, which will start in the car park and there will be performances at the Chancel from 11am to 12.15pm.

A fiddle workshop will be held at Woodlands Country Guest House from 11am and there will be teas, cakes and refreshments in the WI Hall from noon.

Music runs at the Globe Hotel from 12.10pm to 6.45pm, at St James’s Church from 12.45pm to 6.30pm, and at Skiddaw View Main Stage from noon to 4.15pm and from 7.15pm to 11pm.

On Sunday, there will be festival celebrations in St James’s Church from 11am, followed by a gallery lunchtime session at Mae’s Tea Room from 12.45pm.

First published at 19:22, Thursday, 31 May 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk