Beverley Folk Festival has announced a trio of acts to close the festival on Sunday June 22nd with Chas & Dave, showcasing the award-winning festival’s diverse cross-generational appeal at its best. 

Chas & Dave’s half century in music is augmented by another 40 years’ experience from Barbara Dickson & Rab Noakes, who began performing together as teenagers after a chance meeting in an Edinburgh pub.

And at the other end of the scale, yet proving that the legacy is in good hands, award-winning young folk duo Greg Russell & Ciaran Algar complete the Sunday evening main stage line-up.

Reunited since 2011, and reinvigorated by the response to ‘That’s What Happens’ – their first album together for 27 years – Chas & Dave have tipped a hat to their musical roots in early R&B, skiffle and rock’n’roll, alongside new takes on songs of their own.

Their versatile musicianship and unmistakable vocal harmonies were joined on the album by stellar contributors including guitarists Albert Lee and Martin Taylor, Buddy Holly and The Crickets’ drummer JI Allison and, on keyboards, Jools Holland and Hugh Laurie. 

Beverley Folk Festival’s Chris Wade says: “It seems as though Chas & Dave’s appeal has never been greater or more varied … the audiences are getting younger and bands are now citing them as a major influence. You might even say that if you don’t enjoy this, there ain’t no pleasing you!” 

Barbara Dickson and Rab Noakes met one lunchtime in Sandy Bell’s pub in Edinburgh. They were both 17 and learned quickly, over a drink, of their shared love of songs and singing. Subsequently, they recorded live, sang on each other’s records and have remained friends for over 40 years. Both have diverse careers and have won awards and praise for their solo work in many fields, while occasionally playing live together in the interim.

Finalising the bill are Greg Russell & Ciaran Algar, one of the foremost young folk acts currently performing.

In three short years they’ve gone from tentative early club gigs to the 2013 BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award, then followed it up with the Horizon Awards at this year’s main Folk Awards ceremony. 

For more than 30 years, Beverley Folk Festival – winner of the Remarkable Tourism Event/Experience category at the 2014 REYTA Awards – has delivered a family-friendly event to be remembered, offering the best new performers alongside some of the greatest established acts in music, comedy, theatre, dance, drama and literature. 

The 2014 line-up also includes Billy Bragg, Home Service, Martin and Eliza Carthy, Thea Gilmore; comedy from Sean Hughes, John Hegley and more; War Horse author Michael Morpurgo reading from his original story with musical accompaniment, and acclaimed broadcaster Andy Kershaw with his one-man show. 

A weekend ticket represents the most cost effective way of seeing the whole festival programme, with concessionary and family rates available.

Individual event tickets are also on sale; for the evening of Sunday, June 22nd they are priced at £25. For more information and ticket links click here.

Beverley Folk Festival 2014 takes place at Beverley Racecourse, York Road, Beverley, East Yorkshire between Fri 20th to Sun 22nd June 2014