|
Folk legends and a TV soap actor are raising their voices and funds to help a Norfolk lifeboat crew.
Some of the nation's biggest names in the folk music world have recorded tracks for a new CD whose sales will boost the crew fund at the Cromer lifesaving station.
And some of them, along with comic actor Geoffrey Hughes, will also appear live at the resort to launch the disk at concert on the eve of a major folk festival celebrating its 10th year in the town.
Thousands of pounds have already been raised over the years through Cromer's folk connections, said organiser of its Folk on the Pier event Scott Butler.
Four years ago a Someone Was Calling CD of festival acts, and last year a Special Catch disk of five Fairport Convention tracks, have helped the lifeboat station.
The link was a natural one as "folk musicians in general and Fairport in particular are big supporters of the lifeboats, and many folk songs are linked to the sea," he added.
The latest 30-track two-CD set, called Never Chance Your Luck Against the Sea, features music by Fairport,
Show of Hands and John Tams, who sings the title track.
It will be launched at concert on Cromer Pier on Thursday May 8, due to be compered by actor Geoffrey Hughes, who is a big Fairport fan, but is better-known for his roles as Eddie Yeats in Coronation Street, Twiggy in the Royale Family, Vernon Scripps in Heartbeat and Onslow in Keeping Up Appearances.
Other artists appearing will be Meet on the Ledge, Liz Simcock and Hayley Moyses and the Bluegrass Forum.
The cover of the £15 CD features a photo of the pier, with a guitar being raised from the waves by an arm, like in the Arthurian legend of the Excalibur sword. The picture was taken by members of the inshore lifeboat crew.
Folk on the Pier runs from May 9-11, with details on www.folkonthepier.co.uk. Tickets costing £10 for the Never Chance Your Luck Against the Sea concert, at 7.30pm on May 8, are available through the Pavilion Theatre box office on 01263 512495.
|