Preparations are well under way now for the festival to open on the Tuesday 20 February, with a CAMRA members preview from 5.30pm, and will run from Tues 20 to Sat 24 February. The winter beer festival takes place in the medieval halls, known as St Andrew’s and Blackfriars’ Halls and is organised by the local branch of CAMRA, who also organise the ever-popular Norwich Beer Festival.
A music-free session is on Wednesday and on the busy weekend nights, visitors can still enjoy a quiet conversation in the marquee, cloisters and Blackfriars’ Hall.
Thursday evening will feature Sam Coe & The Long Shadows - a UK Country/Americana band from Norwich. Their debut EP, “Santa Fe”, was released in 2017 to critical acclaim, followed by their first UK tour and support slot with The Shires. They have played C2C (Country 2 Country) Festival this year and last year and are currently recording their first full-length album, alongside GingerDog records, due for release in Spring 2018. You can grab a copy of their EP when they appear on Thursday evening.
Friday evening sees The Collective. Established in 2007, this professional outfit are guaranteed to turn any event into something unique. A collection of permanent, highly professional musicians, who have performed with many top artists and have over 25 years’ experience, they are a band like no other. Classic soul, funk, disco and rock are seamlessly blended with the most up to date tracks. A real party band for a seriously fun night!
Saturday afternoon The Shackleton Trio (formerly The Georgia Shackleton Trio) will be delighting visitors to the festival with an exciting blend of Americana, folk and self-written material. Georgia writes and performs ‘wordy songs about other people’, instrumentally influenced by British, American, and Scandinavian folk traditions, with a regional twist from her native East Anglia. The trio sees Georgia teamed up with guitar powerhouse, Aaren Bennett, and mandolin ace, Nic Zuppardi. Together they have toured the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands, appeared at the Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival, Cambridge Folk Festival, Towersey Festival, Broadstairs Folk Week, Folk East and concert halls and folk clubs across the UK.
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| The Vagaband |
Live music has always played an important part of Norwich’s CAMRA beer festivals and the Great British Beer Festival Winter is no exception. The festival starts on Tuesday, 20 February, at The Halls, Norwich, opening with a CAMRA members-only preview from 5.30pm. It is then open to everyone from 12noon until 10.30pm every day including Saturday 24 February.
For more information about The Festival and The Fringe visit winter.gbbf.org.uk.
