For the people of South Yorkshire, May bank holiday doesn’t just mean time off work, its festival time.

Wath Festival 2011 took place from 27th April – 2nd May and brought a range of community events and concerts for all ages to the town.

Throughout the week, the Montgomery Hall hosted the five main stage concerts with a range of national and international touring artists including: Frances Black, the Tannahill Weavers, festival patron John Tams with Barry Coope, Drever McCusker & Woomble, Chris Wood, Jez Lowe, Anna Shannon, Uiscedwr, Elbow Jane, Bernard Wrigley, Kieran Halpin, Charlie Barker & Harriet Bartlett, Holly Taymar and Flaxenby.

Following a hard financial year, the festival was once again reassured of its popularity and hosted near to full and sold out concerts over the weekend.

Montgomery Square was bursting full of colour and music for the Saturday community events where the Wath Morris Team and Barnsley Samba Band lead the traditional procession through the town. Vuka Africa Arts, Taboo, Maltby Phoenix Sword Dancers, the Frances Cassidy Irish Dancers and many more provided entertainment for all festival-goers.

The festival was officially opened by MP John Healey and took part in the reading of local man, Thomas Tuke’s Will followed by the traditional bun-throwing from All Saint’s Parish Church tower.

The Moonarooni, a large inflatable colourful dome, new to the festival this year, gave all who entered an exciting audio visual experience as people made their way through the multi-coloured maze, meeting mime artists and musicians on their way.

Also new to the festival this year was the Wath Young Performers Award, organised by The Partnership Media. The festival aims to support and nurture young talent and gave one act the chance to perform on the festival’s main stage and was presented with a trophy and cash prize.

Congratulations go to Norfolk based duo, Luke Hirst and Sarah Smout who were chosen by judges John McCusker, Kris Drever and Dave Eyre to take first prize. Yorkshire based singer songwriters Joby Hardwick and Phil Sinclair were runners up and also received a cash prize.

Wath Festival will be celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2012 and are already starting plans for a bigger event. We’re looking for volunteers to join the festival committee. To take part please email us here.

Thanks go to our sponsors: Arts Council England, Next, Yorkshire & Clydesdale Bank Foundation,  Ringway, Woodgrove Surgery, Market Surgery, Braisby Construction and Bramall Trust in association with the Park Inn Rotherham and The Partnership Media. Media Partner: Mercury Newspaper.

 For more information please contact:

CHARLIE @ The Partnership Media
Tel: 0114 2361040 or Email: info@thepartnershipmedia.co.uk