A two week-long event featuring Ukrainian and British artists, dancers, musicians and singers. Something for everybody.
Includes
Artur Orlyonov paintings: Natalia Bilyk paintings: Ludmyla Smolyakova Trypillian ceramics: Roman Bonchuk satirical art: Ruslan Ganushchak war photography: Doll Making: Sunflower Wales Ukrainian Dancers: Sorrel Wilde Choir Workshop: Dance workshops: Miserden Morris: Charlies Angels: Kalinova Sisters: “Untold Stories” Youth Show: Tetiana Frey Artillery Art: Roger Jackson Choir Workshop: Anna Pyshniuk Choir Workshop: Pysanka Egg Painting: Display of Art and Crafts: Gloucester Strings: History Talk: Kosachky Choir: Fiona Channon Band: Cryptids Choir: Unearthed: Swing Rioters: Olha Hornych Opera Singer: Khrystyna Zaitsev Piano; Zoia Kobzarenko Youth Band: Yuri and Maxim Band
The exhibition is free to enter as are many of the concerts. Workshops and some concerts and talks are ticketed. Look here for individual events and ticketing links: The Folk of Gloucester | Facebook
Something for everyone, young and old alike.
Many of those taking part, and giving their time and talents to this festival, have been relocated to England from Ukraine. Come along and show your support.
Ukrainian Art Frontier CIC presents an exhibition "Ancient Ukraine - Britanii: Common Heritage" a project that has been created as a collaboration of Ukrainian artists, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine and BristlAid4Ukraine.
We want to introduce our rich history and culture and show our Ukrainian spirit to the international community. We are also looking for possibly to hold a charitable concert presenting Ukrainian classical and contemporary artists. INFO ART FRONTIER invites public and volunteer organizations to cooperate in helping to hold further exhibitions to promote Ukrainian history and culture. This exhibition features landscape art, portraiture and some unique artworks.
It is free to enter at any time that the Folk of Gloucester is open. Donations are gratefully accepted.
Artur Orlyonov was born in 1973 in Tashkent, he studied at the Tashkent Art Collage (now P.P. Benkova Collage) from 1988 to 1992.
In 1999 he graduated from the Ukrainian Academy of Fine Arts and in 2003 mastered his aptitude in battle painting.
He was awarded the following honours; the Medal of St. Vladimir, the Medal of Cyril and Methodius, the Medal of Herodotus Halikarnassky, the Medal of Clio, and the Medal of Nestor, the Chronicler.
His paintings the story of Yaroslav the Wise and his princess daughters. One of them, Agatha of Kyiv, became English Queen and gave birth to Edgar Atheling - King of England. Agatha's eldest daughter Margaret married the Scottish king. Margaret's four sons became kings of Scotland in their time. Margarita - Queen of Scotland, the granddaughter of Yaroslavthe Wise, became the first Scottish saint. Agatha's daughter Matilda was the Queen of England, the great-grandmother of the legendary King Richard the Lionheart.
Natalia Bilyk was born in 1974 in the picturesque Carpathian region. She developed a love for drawing while still at school and continued her studies at Carpathian University. Her more than 2,300 talented paintings are presented at 20 personal exhibitions around the world.
Her art reflects the life of nature and objects, passed through the prism of the artist's vision and with an admixture of her emotions and feelings. Ms. Natalia's paintings are full of rich colours and emotions.
Ludmyla Smolyakova Ukrainian artist who researches the Trypillian cultural heritage, reconstructs and popularizes it in Ukraine and other countries of the world.
Since 2000, she began working on the reconstruction of Trypillian ceramics using the technology of masters of the Trypillian civilization in cooperation with archaeologists, to participate in archaeological excavations, to study the composition of clays, ornaments and symbols.
Since 2005, Ludmila Smoyakova exhibitions of reconstructions of Trypillian ceramics have been held in Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Scotland, Greece, Japan, United, People's Repblic of China
Roman Bonchuk - an experienced artist (over 20 years), designer, restorer, art director. Was born on November 11, 1980 in the city of Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine. He works in the style of impressionism, realism, surrealism and abstractionism. Uses a variety of materials: oil, acrylic, watercolour, ink, pastel, gouache, tempera, etc. He loves experiments.
The artist often in his works refers to recognized masterpieces of world art. He also uses satire and irony to convey all the absurdity of the current circumstances.
Ruslan Ganushchak is a serviceman of the 92nd Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Ataman Ivan Sirko, a documentary filmmaker and a military reporter.
Since 2014 Ruslan has shifted his focus to documenting events that changed our country and defined its path into the future. He started documenting Maidan and the fight for freedom that followed. Over the following years, through his work, the defenders of freedom of the Azov Regiment became his second family, his brotherhood. During the current invasion, Ruslan has been embracing the tasks faced by Ukrainian press members to document events in Irpin, Bucha, Kyiv, Chernihiv, in the southern and eastern regions.
Ukrainian artist Tetina Fey has created a unique set of artworks made from the remains of exploded munitions from the war in Ukraine. Some highlight the horror of the conflict whilst other feature images of sylvan scenes.
The Motanka Doll is a charming family amulet that has been decorating Ukrainian homes for more than 5000 years. It symbolises tradition and is believed to provide protection to the home.
In this 3 hour workshop led by Vera Stadon you will learn how to make one… and take it home. The class is suitable for all. No sewing or stitching is required. All materials are provided.
We want this workshop to be accessible to all, especially Ukrainians who have been displaced to the UK because of the war, so we are pricing this workshop at just £5 to cover the cost of materials. However, we believe that this workshop is worth much more than that. So, if you can, we suggest an additional donation of £10 should be given on the day to the workshop leader. Get tickets here:
Motanka Doll Making Workshop at The Folk of Gloucester event tickets from TicketSource
Sorrel Wilde will be teaching songs from across the British Isles. She has a wealth of experience teaching all ages and abilities, she runs Gloucester’s own folk choir and also “The Island Folk Choir” in Bristol. She is a natural voice leader, which means that she believes anyone can sing and all are welcome to this workshop. She is a playful and accessible song leader. Songs will be simple and in a variety of British languages.
As a member of her choir says: "Sorrel holds space for singing and sound in a way that instantly puts you at ease and connects the whole group. I come away from every session with a warm heart, a big smile and beautiful song arrangements floating through my mind and off my tongue all week. It's magic!"
Tickets are priced at just £5 so that this workshop can be as accessible to as many people as possible. Please make an additional donation if you can when you visit the Folk of Gloucester. For tickets:
Sing with Sorrel Wilde at The Folk of Gloucester event tickets from TicketSource
The duo Sisters Kalianova from Pavlograd which is in central east Ukraine, located within the Dnipropetrovsk region. Two sisters came to the UK in the summer of 2022. In November, they formed a band to promote Ukrainian culture and support the Ukrainian military.
The instrument on which they will play is the Ukrainian folk instrument bandura, which has a long history and is known for its unique sound. The instrument can have 55 to 68 strings. You can play the bandura with both fingers and special plastic "nails", which allows you to evoke a variety of sounds and melodies. Bandura is an integral part of the Ukrainian musical tradition and is distinguished by its sophistication and emotional sound
In their program you can hear folk melodies, as well as works by Ukrainian authors.
The Kalianova Sisters will be playing in between the dances from Miserden Morris and Sunflowers Wales
Miserden Morris (Formerly Gloucestershire Mixed Morris) was established in October 2016 by a few members of the Gloucestershire Morris Men and some enthusiastic new recruits!
This side is a mixed side, meaning that we have male and female dancers. We dance in the Cotswold tradition with dances from Gloucestershire, we do stick dances, hanky dances and corner dances – with dances from the villages of Oddington, Sherborne, Bledington & Longborough!
Miserden will be dancing alternately with Sunflowers Wales
Ruslana will be teaching how to do some Ukrainian dances. No need to book, and is suitable for adults and children.
She says:
Dance is my life!
I am a folk dance teacher/trainer. Folk dances - depicts the nation's character, shows emotions, feelings, Dance helps to live through all the emotions and has a healing effect, I will be happy to share my knowledge and skills.
Katrin is from Kyiv, Ukraine. She arrived to England in May 2022 to gather with her mother and younger sister. She is doing her GCSE now.
Katrin started singing at the age of 5 and never stopped. Ukrainian folk songs are something that reminds her about Ukraine, its culture and tradition. The folk songs express the common experience of the Ukrainian people: all the important events in life from the cradle to the grave are accompanied by song.
Charlie's Angels' came together in 2021 after Janice Anderson and Anne Cunningham met at Minchinhampton Folk Club. They both have vast experience singing in bands and music venues particularly in the South West. Janice sings and plays uke and adds percussion. Anne sings and plays guitar. They are joined on stage by Jane Whaley on whistle & clarinet, and Christina Snell on violin.
Their repertoire is varied but always features strong vocals and harmonies. They sing traditional folk, country, pop and have dipped their toe in the water of writing and arranging a few of their own songs.
Come and sing with Roger Jackson… one of two choir sessions on this day.
Folk and bluegrass musician Roger Jackson is one of the country’s top choir leaders. He teaches and directs at festivals and workshops up and down the land, often bringing his own new songs into the community choral repertoire.
Roger’s verve and enthusiasm are infectious. When you're not singing you'll probably be either concentrating or laughing: he combines fun and purpose in just the right balance.
Whether you’re an expert or just someone who likes singing, Roger will quickly have you harmonising and making a great sound.
What a previous workshop participant said : “I was on another planet -I had the best time!”
SR, London
Tickets are priced at just £5 so that this workshop can be as accessible to as many people as possible. Please make an additional donation if you can when you visit the Folk of Gloucester. Tickets:
Sing with Roger Jackson at The Folk of Gloucester event tickets from TicketSource
Come and learn to sing traditional Ukrainian folk songs with choirmaster Anna Pyshniuk. Anna is the leader of the wonderful Kozachky choir who will be performing later on both the 20th and 27th April. The songs will include the classic Ukrainian folk song “Oh u luzi chervona kalyna” which will also be sung at the final concert on 27th April.
Anna a professional musician, conductor and choirmaster. She received her higher musical education and master's degree from the National Music Academy of Ukraine. She has been working with choirs for over 25 years. She has worked with children and student, professional and church choirs.
To hear her choir Kozachky follow this link: Укр.нар. пісня 'Розпрягайте хлопці коней' хор-Козачки/Ukr.Trad. Song 'Unharness Horse Boys' KOZACHKY (youtube.com)
Tickets are priced at just £5 so that this workshop can be as accessible to as many people as possible. Please make an additional donation if you can when you visit the Folk of Gloucester. Tickets: Sing with Anna Pyshnik at The Folk of Gloucester event tickets from TicketSource
Pysanky are traditional Ukrainian Easter Eggs decorated with wax symbols and dipped in coloured dye. They represent rebirth and resurrection. Ex colour and symbol holds meaning and significance. Traditionally 13 eggs would be made: one for Christ and for each of the disciples.
This workshop is suitable for all. All materials are provided.
Because we want everyone to be able to take part, especially Ukrainians who have been displaced by war, we are selling tickets at just £5. This covers materials. However we believe that this workshop is worth much more than that, so we encourage you, if you can, to make a donation of at least £10 to the workshop leader on arrival.
Get tickets here: Pysanky Easter Egg Decorating Workshop at The Folk of Gloucester event tickets from TicketSource
Steve and Julia are from Sheffield and are connected to Cheltenham by son Robert, his partner Olya (from Ukraine) and family. We have enjoyed all aspects of folk music, singing and dancing since our teenage years. Steve plays melodeon, most notably for Handsworth Traditional Sword Dancers, who are one of the 2 traditional longsword teams in Sheffield. Julia has danced step clog, northwest Morris and rapper dancing and will call some country dances for you to join in today.
Throughout the day there will be an opportunity to buy a variety of Ukrainian craft items. All are produced by Ukrainians living in Britain.
These include:
Come and enjoy your lunch in the courtyard of the Folk to the happy sounds of the Gloucester Strings Uke Experience. Do sing along!
Double Measure features two local singer-songwriters:
Sue Skinner (vocals, guitar, tenor guitar) from the Forest of Dean and
Trevor Valentine (vocals, guitars) from over the water in Thornbury.
Prepare for a heady mix of self-penned songs, traditional and contemporary
British and American folk songs with a shot or two of
Country music thrown in for good measure.
The resulting cocktail of Sue’s pure vocal tones and Trevor’s deep velvet voice and dynamic, sensitive guitar accompaniment
will leave you wanting more.
Murder, mayhem, mirth and magic - it’s all in the mix!
Carnival of Cryptids is a community singing project based in Gloucester. Musically it draws heavily on the folk tradition. Much of our material is easy to join in with, so come and add your voice to the choruses. The team includes both experienced, professional musicians and singers who who very new to all of this.
Do sing along.
The Cryptids are led by the well known local singer, Nimue Brown.
One of the highlights of our festival.
The Ukrainian vocal ensemble "Kozachky" was created in October 2022 from a group of women who were forced to leave their homes and relocate to Bristol because of the war. The group hails from different parts of Ukraine: Kyiv, Odesa, Lviv, Melitopol, Kharkiv, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia. It includes musicians, singers, managers, scientists, doctors and beauticians.
To hear her choir Kozachky follow this link: Укр.нар. пісня 'Розпрягайте хлопці коней' хор-Козачки/Ukr.Trad. Song 'Unharness Horse Boys' KOZACHKY (youtube.com)
Tickets are priced at just £5 so that this workshop can be as accessible to as many people as possible. Please make an additional donation if you can when you visit the Folk of Gloucester. Tickets: Kozachky at The Folk of Gloucester event tickets from TicketSource
Galyna Grigoriadi is a professional bandura player and singer from Ukraine. She came to Hereford with her family to seek safety. And one thing she brought with her from war torn country was her instrument. Bandura represents a soul of Ukraine.
Galyna runs bandura classes for adults in Hereford and for adults and children in Gloucester.
If you would like to try something new or learn to play bandura, join bandura workshop, no previous experience needed.
.We want this workshop to be accessible to all, especially Ukrainians who have been displaced to the UK because of the war, so we are pricing this workshop at just £5 to cover the cost of materials. However, we believe that this workshop is worth much more than that. So, if you can, we suggest an additional donation of £10 should be given on the day to the workshop leader. Tickets: Play the Bandura with Galyna at The Folk of Gloucester event tickets from TicketSource
Featuring Fi Channon on vocals & guitar, Mike Parkin (cajon), Pawel Filipiak (guitar/ bass). Playing a selection of songs written by Fi who has a wealth of experience in the studio and live. Her songwriting prowess along with her beautiful singing voice has been captivating audiences across the UK and Europe. As a singer/songwriter in her own right, Fi has supported The Korgis and Charlie Dore as well as opening ‘Guilfest’ in its final year in a folk/pop trio. She wrote songs with Chris Neil (Celine Dion), Bill Padley (Shayne Ward, Atomic Kitten, Holly Valance & Ivor Novello winner) and Martin Sutton (Leanne Rimes, Roachford).
Unearthed are an instrumental folk duo based in Gloucestershire, the Cotswolds and the Forest of Dean.
We perform a mixture of traditional, contemporary and original folk music on recorder and guitar.
"A reminder of what a versatile and enjoyable instrument the recorder can be in the right hands!" Shipfest '23
We take classic, mainly English, traditional folk songs and "punk them up". We also take more modern songs and "folk them up". We aim to give everyone something that they will recognise...
We are loud.
The original Swing Riots were a series of disturbances in the rural counties of England in 1830. Increasing mechanisation was threatening the livelihoods and agricultural workers. The workers responded with protest and, in some cases, violent actions including the burning of hay ricks and the smashing of threshing machines.
Live at the Churchdown Club on March 2nd 2024: Live at the Churchdown Club (youtube.com)
The Everyman Theatre was approached in November 2023 to support a group of young people who are Ukrainian refugees. These young people wanted to dramatize written accounts of their experiences. With the help of Everyman Theatre practitioner, Kerry Boorman these children have created a poignant piece of theatre to bring their stories to life.
Tickets are priced at just £5 so that this performance can be as accessible to as many people as possible. Please make an additional donation if you can when you visit the Folk of Gloucester.
It was a privilege to be let in, briefly, to these brave young lives.
Jamie Jamieson
Katrin is from Kyiv, Ukraine. She arrived to England in May 2022 to gather with her mother and younger sister. She is doing her GCSE now.
Katrin started singing at the age of 5 and never stopped. Ukrainian folk songs are something that reminds her about Ukraine, its culture and tradition. The folk songs express the common experience of the Ukrainian people: all the important events in life from the cradle to the grave are accompanied by song.
Master class on making and decorating candles from natural coloured honey wax.
Making honey candles with your own hands is a great activity and in some ways is a meditation. The smell of honey cheers you up and calms your nerves. You also can decorate them in whatever way you choose to create a unique gift.
This workshop is suitable for all. All materials are provided.
Because we want everyone to be able to take part, especially Ukrainians who have been displaced by war, we are selling tickets at just £5. This covers materials. However we believe that this workshop is worth much more than that, so we encourage you, if you can, to make a donation of at least £5 to the workshop leader on arrival.
Making Candles with Oksana Veremeyenko at The Folk of Gloucester event tickets from TicketSource
Shepherd’s Crook Folk Choir based in Winchcombe specialise in traditional songs, many from Gloucestershire, e specially arranged and sung in unaccompanied four-part harmony. This popular choir have sung at successful events at the National Trust’s Croome Court, Sudeley Castle, Hailes Church, Adam Hensons’ Cotswold Farm Park, various festivals in Winchcombe and elsewhere, and are always well received at concerts and workshops.
They are currently working on songs collected at Winchcombe workhouse by Percy Grainger and Cecil Sharp, also performing songs based around wool, the backbone of the Cotswolds.
Jurij Fedynskyj presents the lost, national
instruments of Ukraine, the traditional torban,
bandura, and kobza.
For the past 12 years, Jurij Fedynskyj has worked to resurrect the traditional Ukrainian torban, bandura and kobza, after Soviet attempts to erase all memory of the instruments, players, and traditions related thereof. Since very little information has been passed on to present generations, the task of reviving traditions of instrument making, playing, and professions of propagating such music, has been significant, to say the least. Many years have gone into researching existing instruments from a handful of instruments in museums, and historic photographs. Jurij has had to study instrument making, as well as experimentation, to create professional examples of the instruments. Much research has been done as to what repertoire to play, and where to find authentic repertoire. There's also the question of the proper manner of authentic performance and technique. Lastly, the task of learning to play the instruments, and vocal technique required for historic accuracy. The final task, is the presentation of that work to the public, in the form of worldwide tours.
Amateur group «Співуче Коло»-"Singing Circle" was formed as an initiative of Ukrainians who temporary moved to Wales following the invasion. Its participations are from different parts of Ukraine that came together to promote Ukrainian heritage through the song and help Ukraine.
For past 2 years, the group was a participant of many district festivals and other events
Discovery are Jeff and Elaine Gillett.
They sing traditional and modern folk songs which they present with warmth and humour and with the accent on story-telling. Their richly varied repertoire includes songs that will make the audience laugh, cry – or sing along. A unique element is Jeff’s settings of poems from William Blake’s ‘Songs of Innocence and of Experience’.
They perform in unaccompanied vocal harmony or with the songs enhanced by Jeff’s supremely tasteful, restrained yet inventive accompaniments on guitar, English concertina, Appalachian dulcimer and mandola.
A concert by Ukrainian musicians and singers who have been displaced from Ukraine and are now living in the UK. It features several world class artists.
A two hour concert featuring pop, folk and classical music from some of the best Ukrainian musicians and singers in the UK. The finale will feature the well-known song “Oh u luzi chervona kalyna”.
Tickets are priced at just £5 to make them affordable to all. However we do encourage you to make an additional donation if you can
Tickets:
Ukrainian Concert in St Nicholas Church at The Folk of Gloucester event tickets from TicketSource
The Folk of Gloucester is a project situated within a 16th century Tudor building with the City community at its heart. Honouring and learning about our past, by bringing people together from the present, our aim is to keep the history of Gloucester city alive through the telling of stories. All events take place within the buildings that make up the Folk of Gloucester, in it's courtyard or in St Nicholas's Church which is directly across the road.
Bishop Hooper House
99-103 Westgate Street
Gloucester
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Directions: Folk of Gloucester - Google Maps
(44) 07843 241371
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