The Barbican’s FOLK BRITANNIA festival (Thursday 2 February - Saturday 4 February) has been programmed to co-incide with BBC Four’s 3-part documentary of the same name due to be broadcast in early February 2006. Following on from the success of JAZZ BRITANNIA in February 2005, BBC Four presents a landmark three-part documentary series that traces the development of the folk music revival in Britain from the end of the Second World War right up to the present day. As with JAZZ BRITANNIA, the Barbican responds to the series with a live event featuring three especially themed concerts in the Barbican Hall, free music, films and talks.

Friday 2 February ‘Which Side Are You On?’ Billy Bragg presents Martin Carthy and Dick Gaughan with Robb Johnson.

Saturday 3 February ‘Daughters of Albion’
June Tabor, Norma Waterson, Eliza Carthy, Kathryn Williams, Sheila Chandra and Lou Rhodes.

Sunday 4 February ‘Into The Mystic’
Bert Jansch, Vashti Bunyan, Mike Heron, Adem, King Creosote (more artists tbc).

On Thursday 3 February, Billy Bragg hosts ‘Which Side Are You On?’ a night that features two of the biggest names in folk music of the British Isles. The mighty Scottish firebrand singer-songwriter Dick Gaughan, will take to the Barbican Hall stage alongside Martin Carthy, mainstay of the English folk scene since the folk revival of the mid 60s.

‘Daughters of Albion’ (Friday 3 February) is a themed concert that brings together some of England’s finest female folk artists and singer-songwriters to perform a set list that places ancient folk ballads alongside West Country trip hop and 21st Century R’n’B. Artists, who will be accompanied by an acoustic ensemble led and arranged by Kate St. John, include June Tabor, Norma Waterson, Eliza Carthy, Kathryn Williams, Sheila Chandra and ex-Lamb vocalist Lou Rhodes.

The final night, ‘Into The Mystic’ (Saturday 4 February) celebrates the current resurgence of interest in the psychedelic, mystical, neo-folk of the late 1960s and early 1970s pioneered by such artists as Pentangle, Incredible String Band and Donovan. Artists confirmed so far include legendary guitarist and Pentangle mainstay Bert Jansch, ex Incredible String Band’s Mike Heron, rising stars King Creosote and Adem, and the wonderful Vashti Bunyan.

Accompanied by a films series, free pre and post show performances, and talks with key players in British folk music, such as Joe Boyd, FOLK BRITANNIA provides an imaginative snapshot of the multi-faceted British folk scene in the 21st Century.

Thursday 2 February - Saturday 4 February
Box Office: 0845 120 7550 www.barbican.org.uk

Coinciding with BBC Four’s 3-part documentary FOLK BRITANNIA, this weekend festival focuses on the rich and compelling history of the traditional music of the UK

Also look out for a compilation called Strange Folk coming out on the Albion label