As we remember, and commemorate, the bi-centenary of the shameful and notorious Peterloo massacre in Manchester on August 16, 1819, we also look ahead to one of the popular events on the North Wales borders, a festival that has become a firm favourite in the August folk calendar.

Many moons ago I remember going to Shrewsbury Folk Festival, a small event in those days, to support and see Wrexham band Yardarm. Also, on the bill that day was, at the time a comparatively little-known singer songwriter from Durham, Jez Lowe. I also remember attending a songwriting workshop by Jez and being utterly mesmerised by his songs as I had equally been decades earlier by a certain American gentleman called Tom Paxton. It was, as you have guessed, one of those weekends that stick long in the memory so it was, with interest, that I viewed the publicity and the line-up for the 2019 version of The Shrewsbury Folk Festival that takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend (23-26). Little acorns had become mighty oak trees in the intervening years with a guest list that includes Oysterband, Urban Folk Quartet, Granny's Attic, Merry Hell, Steve Knightly (solo), Blair Dunlop, Boxwood Chessmen, Charlie Dore, Eddi Reader, Martyn Joseph, Paul Downes, Phil Beer Band, While & Matthews Big Band, Kate Rusby, Winter Wilson, Capercaille, Jim Moray, Skerryvore, Reg Meuross, Daphne's Flight, Exmouth Shanty Men and many others.

I have not even touched on the dance and ceilidh groups but suffice it to say that it is a very different event now to the one that I visited all those years ago. If you need a more comprehensive breakdown of the programme and ticket details, please go to the website

www.shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk

Those holidaying on the East coast may wish to know that the Whitby Folk Week (August 17-23) starts this Saturday. However, if next week's reasonably local gigs are of more interest to you I can recommend a trip to The Hungry Horse Acoustic, The Whitby Club, Chester Road, Ellesmere Port next Thursday (August 22) to see the veteran Wirral band, Fiddlestone, playing the Big Spot at 8pm. A good, all round and entertaining band of singers and musicians whose longevity is due, in no small measure, to their ability to keep their audience singing and listening to their eclectic mix of material. Admission, as usual, is free.

On this side of the border another club whose promise is to entertain and, at the same time, provide a platform for the many local singers and musicians who, otherwise, would be deprived of the opportunity to hone their skills before a live audience, is Llandegla All Styles Music Club. They hold a Free Singers Session on Monday (August 19) at 8pm in Llandegla Memorial Hall. It is unlicensed but they do make a lovely cup of tea! All power to Barry and Kath Evans who organise the club with Barry also performing the often-onerous task of resident, a job that he does with such aplomb.

Now to the remembrance of that dark day 200 years ago that, ironically, took its name after one of the landmark battles in British history that, arguably, became Wellington's greatest victory, Waterloo. It took place on August 16, 1819 in St Peter's Field in Manchester just four years after its famous namesake. It came about when a peaceful crowd of women and children had assembled in protest against poverty, and their deteriorating living conditions, and to demand improved democratic representation in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars. Sixty cavalrymen were charged with restoring order and that is exactly what they did - "charge"! The assault by the troops resulted in 15 dead and 500-700 injured and was led by a local factory owner, representing the Tory establishment.

Peterloo, the film by Mike Leigh, released in 2018, is a graphic reminder of that grim day. However, form our point of view, the musical interest lies in a show put together by the well-respected trio of Pete Coe, Brian Peters and Laura Smyth entitled, The Road to Peterloo. It consists of broadsides and other material put together from Alison Morgan's 2018 book, Ballads and Songs of Peterloo, and the trio will be performing the show around the UK this year. Events like Peterloo should always serve to remind us what our ancestors did to gain our freedom, be it freedom of speech, freedom to protest or, in their case, just the freedom to live a slightly better life than the poverty and disease ridden one they had endured for so long.

If you visit the website at

www.theroadtopeterloo.com

you can find out when and where you can see this show, with its sad story, often told through the words of the very people who were there at the time.

I have news that the Brighton singer songwriter, Allan Taylor, one of the finest songwriters of his generation, had had to cancel all gigs for the foreseeable future due to illness. These include appearances at The Hungry Horse Acoustic (November 21) and Rhyl Folk Club (November 22) so, please make a note in your diaries. Meanwhile, we wish Allan a speedy recovery and may he soon be "back on the road" again.

Finally, as you know, I always try to keep you informed of any programmes that may be of interest to you and, although this is a retrospective notice rather than a pre-emptive strike, it could still work for those of you who are devotees of Catch Up. Good old Auntie Beeb slipped a BBC Radio 4 programme into the schedules at 9am (yes - am!) on Wednesday (August 7) called, A Singers' Guide to Britain. Although headlined by the baritone, Roderick Williams, looking at how national and regional identity is established through song, it also includes Billy Bragg and others trying to define what a 'song' is. The said Rod Williams also meets up with singers keeping the tradition alive and it sounds like a fascinating listen!

Don't forget, whatever you do and wherever you go, enjoy your music.

By D.C.M.