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TOP FOLK ACTS FOR THE APEX

 

 

Multi-awarding winning singing star, Kate Rusby, chosen as one of the top ten folk voices of the twentieth century, is the first headline act coming to Bury St. Edmunds as a result of an exciting new musical partnership.

 

St. Edmundsbury Borough Council are teaming up with the town’s Milkmaid Folk Club to bring the very best of folk to the new state of the art, apex, music venue.

 

Kate, who sings the theme song to the BBC television sitcom Jam and Jerusalem and who rode high in the UK singles charts with Ronan Keating with their duet, All Over Again back in 2006, will be appearing at the apex on Friday, December 3.

 

Terry Walden, who runs the Milkmaid, said: ‘This all came from a meeting I had with St. Edmundbury’s CEO, Geoff Rivers and corporate director, Alex Wilson when I was looking to lease the Corn Exchange as a folk arts centre.

 

‘Eventually we all decided that the Corn Exchange wasn’t right for us, but Geoff and Alex encouraged me to look at the apex as a possible base. It’s a fantastic space with so much potential.’

 

Terry’s original plan for the Corn Exchange was to use the venue as a centre for people with disabilities to access folk arts and for the space to be open to all in the evenings and at weekends.

 

‘There were too many problems with things like access with the Corn Exchange,’ Terry added. ‘But at some time in the not too distant future I will have access to an area of the apex for use for our Folk Arts Centre for people with disabilities. I’m also looking for premises in the centre of town to use as an office and centre for small events but for bigger projects it will be the apex.’

 

The added bonus from all this discussion was that the council officials were very happy to bring in Terry’s knowledge and expertise of the folk world to bring in the very top names.

Following Rusby (whose concert is very nearly sold out) and subject to final negotiations will be the duo Show of Hands, who regularly sell out venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, the legendary Fairport Convention and the fascinating duo of folk singer Roy Bailey with former cabinet minister Tony Benn with their show called, The writing On The Wall.

 

Terry added: ‘I’ve been asked to co-promote ten top folk concerts per year and to help arrange other folk activities on a regular basis. I’m particularly grateful to the apex director, Tony Doherty and to festival manager, Nick Wells for welcoming me and the Milkmaid into the fold.

 

‘This is an exciting stage in our development and we are delighted to be associated with such a beautiful and wonderful centre for music. Long may it continue.’

 

The Milkmaid Board of Directors consists of Terry Walden, Steve Martin, Brian Kew and Dave Bartlett.