The sun is out as I type, and in just three weeks’ time the festival gates will be open and we’ll be embarking on what is set to be one of the best weekends of the year. Many of your tickets have already been dispatched and the rest will be finding their way to you over the next 10 days or so, so panic not if yours haven’t yet arrived! The beer is brewing, the bands are rehearsing, the storytellers are writing away, and next week we start building the site. All systems go!

WARM UP GIGS TO GET YOU IN THE MOOD!!

If three weeks is just too long to wait, and you live in the York area, why not check out a couple of Galtres warm-up gigs? The first is this Tuesday at The Basement below York’s City Screen, and features Edwina Hayes, who numbers Michael Parkinson and Bob Harris among her fans. Her beautifully written songs, charming stage presence and voice of an angel have won her a reputation as a true natural talent of gentle folk-americana. She has opened numerous shows for Jools Holland and Van Morrison and the title track of her album Pour Me A Drink was covered by Nanci Griffith who calls her ‘the sweetest voice in England’.
Her cover of Randy Newman’s Feels Like Home was featured in the Cameron Diaz film My Sister’s Keeper and has since had over two million plays on You Tube.
Also on the bill is legendary York musician David Ward Maclean is one of the true veterans of York’s thriving music scene. Beautiful, emotive songs and flawless guitar playing – mesmerising would be an understatement. Performing songs from his newest release ‘The Wreckers’, expect the very best.
Then there’s Boss Caine, AKA Dan Lucas or Gt Turbo – a shining beacon and tireless standard bearer for musicians new and old, he writes and performs earthy, bitter sweet songs that have a great sense of story and true appreciation of the human spirit.
And not forgetting Galtres favourite Holly Taymar, whose songs are touching, captivating and always delivered with perfection.
Then on Friday 19 August it’s the turn of The Duchess to host a Galtres warm-up show which features four fine Galtres bands – Littlemores + The Buccaneers + The Blueprints + These City Walls.

GROOVY T SHIRTS NOW ON SALE

Now’s your chance to reserve a high quality 185gsm Gildan shirt with Galtres Festival logo printed on the front in black and red and festival bands on the back. Order now to be sure of getting your preferred size and colour, and save £2 off the festival price. Collect from the merchandise stall on arrival. Choose from navy blue, bottle green or sunflower yellow.

Chris Helme will re-appear with an intimate Sunday slot

One of the sets we’re really looking forward to this year (and aren’t there so many to choose from) will be Chris Helme’s Saturday night performance immediately before The Charlatans. He’s got a full band behind him and will no doubt be performing some Seahorses numbers as well as his more recent brilliant songs. And, we hear, he’s invited a few very special guests to join him …

But if you miss that – and we know quite a few of you have bought day tickets for the Sunday – you’ll be able to catch him doing a more intimate acoustic set on the Firkin stage with Christian Topman and Chris Johnson early on Sunday afternoon.

Follow the link below to check out the full line-up – times and stages are now all pretty much finalised.

AND MORE VAN SPACE!!!

That’s not the most exciting headline I’ve ever written, but it will no doubt delight those people wanting to book their caravan or campervan into our Mosswood site next to the arena. Our lovely farmer Andrew has said we can use an adjacent stubble field, so spaces are now available with or without electric plug-ins. Lots of space still up at Peel Park for tents, caravans and campervans if you prefer to get away from it all at the end of the day’s festivities – just two miles up the road and connected by a shuttle minibus which runs from 9.30am to 2.30am.

FOR DETAILS ON ALL THE ABOVE AND TO GET YOUR TICKETS

VISIT

www.galtresfestival.org.uk NOW!!!!!!!!!

By Andy on August 8, 2011