MAYfest gets them dancing in the streets

3:13pm Saturday 17th May 2008

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THEY were dancing in the Streets in Winchester today (Saturday May 17).

Throughout the city centre all kinds of morris dancing groups were entertaining crowds as part of MAYfest.

The event is a celebration of the start of summer and the British traditions of morris dancing and folk music.

Although it was a bit chilly for the middle of May, crowds still enjoyed the bright colours, dancing and the music of the morris dancers who performed in the High Street, The Square and outside the cathedral.

Market stalls in the cathedral grounds and The Square sold all sorts of bits and bobs, including fairy outfits and jewellery.

Most events during MAYfest are free and take place in the Guildhall, St Lawrence's Church, the High Street, The Square, and Cathedral Green.

The folk feast kicked off on Thursday May 15 with the Bash on the Bridge, which celebrated the wealth of local folk, roots and acoustic music.

The event climaxes tonight at the Guildhall with a big party, a ceilidh and concert, featuring Steamchicken,a five-piece ceilidh band.

Meanwhile upstairs in the Guildhall, concert artists including Tom Bliss and Jackie Oates, James Dumbleton and Craig:Morgan:Robson, will be performing.

Artists played live music in some of Winchester's city pubs such as the Old Vine, Eclipse, Old Market Inn,Bakers Arms, El Sabio (formerly known as the Mash Tun) and Bishop on the Bridge.

Styles include contemporary and traditional English, Irish and European folk, blues, Celtic rock, hot club jazz, gipsy swing and acoustic guitar.

Dancing styles included those from Europe and across the British Isles.

Virtuoso folk artists, comedians and clowns mingled with craftsmen, and international musicians mixed with their audiences.

Ian Nichols, from Fair Oak, is a member of Wickham Morris.

He said: "Wickham Morris formed in 1981 to dance at the church fete and for a laugh and has been going strong ever since. I joined around 10 years ago. We practice every Thursday evening during the winter and dance out every Thursday in the Summer and do festivals. We dance a mix of Cotswald and Board morris. We have been doing MAYfest since it was the Winchester Folk Festival. If it is sunny you always get more people. It is a bit cold this year but there is still quite a few people about."

Yvonne Wheeler, also a member of Wickham Morris, added: "This event is very important because morris dancing is one of the few English traditions we have left, the other is bell ringing. English things are being squashed out and it is high time all our roots are celebrated. Winchester is a lovely city to dance in and it has some good venues."

Director of Mayfest Clive Burgess, said: "I think we are going from strength to strength. I think we have got the formula right now and we can see the pub side of things developing based around the Saturday, which traditionally hosts the dancing. People understand what to expect and I don't think they are disappointed."