Middlewich Boat & Folk Festival secures major new sponsor

The Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival will return between June 16 and June 19 bigger and better than ever after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid pandemic.

For its 30th anniversary, organisers have put together a line-up of star performers and a host of family attractions spread around the town, including fringe festival pubs.

And it is now been announced retirement housebuilder McCarthy Stone - currently building new retirement living apartments off Wheelock Street - has thrown its support behind the much-loved event.

Deputy town clerk Nicola Antoney said: “We are getting pretty excited about this year’s event which is shaping up into something really special with a fantastic new sponsor onboard.

“We are very proud to attract this high-profile support from a company well-known to Middlewich.

Declan Fishwick (left), of McCarthy Stone, with members of the Roman Court sales team and Stephanie Cheadle, of The Heart of Cheshire festival marketing team, and members of its working group

“With so much going on - the music, market, boats, fringe venues and more - the whole town and many visitors will have a wonderful event to look forward to this June.”

Headlining on the main stage on Market Field on the Friday will be the hugely-popular The Whole of the Moon band The Waterboys while Liverpool indie/rock favourites Cast have been announced as top act on Saturday, supported by The Boo Radleys, also with their own cult fan base.

A dedicated folk stage in the Victoria Hall, Civic Way, will offer a wide-variety of performers as organisers take the festival back to its folk roots.

Among them are Oysterband, massive on the folk/rock scene, and Eliza Carthy, famed for her singing and fiddle-playing genius.

Liverpool band Cast

Folk stage organiser Liz Rosenfield, whose connections go back to the early festival years, said: “The festival has an amazing reputation, and I am proud to bring back many past performers as well as a mix of fresh musical talent. This will be a festival to remember.”

Elsewhere, narrowboat owners are keen to display their boats while selling their crafts as part of a floating market.

Meanwhile enquiries are coming in thick and fast from narrowboat owners keen to display their colourful boats while selling their crafts as part of a floating market.

The Boo Radleys

Boats will be seen along the Trent and Mersey canal below Big Lock and above Kings Lock and the Shropshire Union above Wardle.

New for 2022 are street markets where festival-goers can feast on artisan foods and browse a variety of stalls on Wheelock Street and Civic Way car-park.

There will also be tasty tipples at gin, prosecco and cocktail bars located on Market Field next to the main stage.

A street procession will add to the party atmosphere as community groups head out in style on colourful floats alongside morris dancers and children’s troupes.

Fiona Brooks, sales & marketing director for McCarthy Stone, said: "For three decades Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival has been a much-loved event on the social calendar for people from across the country and we are delighted to be main sponsor in its special anniversary year.

Mike Scott of The Waterboys (Paul Mac Manus)

"Organisers are going all out to make this one to remember and showcase Middlewich as the lovely welcoming town we know it to be.

"We look forward to the festival being a huge success."

Tickets for the main stage and folk stage gigs are selling well, while bookings are being taken via the festival website for camping on Harbutts Field.

For more information on the festival programme, its ticketed events and host of free attractions head to middlewichfabfestival.co.uk.