IF THERE'S A FIRE IN YOUR HEART

 

Manchester Folk Festival, along with English Folk Expo, ONE Festival of Homeless Arts, With One Voice and Big Issue North are thrilled to announce the release of charity single ‘If There’s A Fire in Your Heart’ by Grace Petrie featuring Liam Jordan, Paula Wichall and ben greenland.

Every listen and download raises much needed funds for Big Issue North Trust.                                      LISTEN HERE

About the project:

Back in November 2018 English Folk Expo CEO, Tom Besford, attended the With One Voice International Arts and Homelessness Summit where delegates from fifteen countries came together in Manchester to explore and celebrate the role the arts can play in tackling homelessness.

It was there that an idea was born to showcase three artists that had experienced homelessness to the audience and industry delegates at Manchester Folk Festival and English Folk Expo - not only to help raise awareness of the subject, but to also give the artists an opportunity to progress in their field.

English Folk Expo, Manchester Folk Festival, With One Voice and ONE Festival of Homeless Arts joined forces to make that idea a reality and after an advertised recruitment process Paula Wichall, Liam Jordan and ben greenland were selected as the artists to take part.

In October 2019 Paula, Liam and ben spent three days in Manchester where they not only presented an unforgettable showcase, but also attended an industry training day designed to give a practical guide to building a long-term career within the music business and finally, spent a day in a recording studio with protest singer and social justice activist, Grace Petrie.

Grace was the perfect choice to join up with these artists and create something to raise awareness and tackle the subject of homelessness. What came out of that day was a rerecording of ‘If There’s a Fire Your Heart’ – a defiant song for troubled times.

With thanks to Big Issue North the song is now widely available and every listen and download raises much need funds so that the trust can continue to  help the people who sell the magazine on the streets to meet their goals and change their lives.

2019 Festival Line-up
Tuesday 15 - Sunday 20 October

BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards • BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award  

Belinda O’Hooley • Ben Greenland • Blackbeard’s Tea Party

Brìghde Chaimbeul • David Gibb

The Demon Barbers • The Drystones • Ferocious Dog

 Folk on Foot on film • Gnoss • Grace Petrie

Ian Stephenson • John Bramwell • Kate Rusby 
Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman • Kathryn Williams

 Katie Doherty and the Navigators • Kitty MacFarlane

Liam Jordan • Marry Waterson & emily barker

Maz O'Connor • MIDNIGHT Skyracer • Nick Hart

Noble Jacks • Paula Wichall

Rising Up: Peterloo 2019

Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton • Rowan Rheingans

Sam Kelly and The Lost Boys • ​The Servants’ Ball

She Shanties • Talisk • Thomas PLiszka

 Tankus The Henge • The Unthanks

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Fringe Events

 

Singing & Songwriting workshops

Sacred Harp singing workshop • Family songwriting workshop

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Craft workshops

Candle Shade Making • Ceramic mug & Tile making 

DryPoint Etching • porcelain plant Pot making

natural printmaking & foraging walk • willow weaving

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“Some star venues and some star acts ... the list is endless.
It’s good to have Manchester back on the map with a whopping great big festival

and this is a whopping great big festival”

- BBC Radio 6 Music

 

“This is some folk festival, Manchester!” 

- Billy Bragg

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"Leave your preconceptions at home"

- I love Manchester