FolkEast, the UK’s fastest-growing folk festival, today announces Teesside-based The Young’uns as its first-ever patrons. The Young’uns will be actively involved with FolkEast, working with the organisers to promote folk music as a living tradition. The trio will also perform an exclusive patrons’ set at each FolkEast festival from this year onwards.

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John Marshall-Potter, producer and co-founder of FolkEast, said: “The Young’uns are energetic, full of personality and immensely talented. I first saw them at the Maritime Festival in Great Yarmouth singing a sea-shanty set and was immediately struck by how they are able to engage with an audience through sheer talent and humour. To continue in the nautical vein, we are delighted to welcome The Young’uns on board as our first patrons.”

The Young’uns were formed in 2004, when the then 17 year old members, Sean Cooney, David Eagle and Michael Hughes, discovered a folk club in their native Stockton-on-Tees. Over the course of ten years performing together, the trio has gained a reputation as being one of the most entertaining live acts on the folk scene and has released four albums, the most recent “Never Forget” in March 2014.

2014 is proving to be a landmark year for the trio, they will come to FolkEast in August following a main stage performance at the 50th Cambridge Folk Festival and have been invited to play the Leftfield stage at Glastonbury by curator Billy Bragg. The Young’uns are also actively involved in educating young people about the genre and the part it continues to play in English history and heritage.

Commenting on The Young’uns appointment as FolkEast patrons, Michael Hughes said: “We are thrilled to become FolkEast’s first patrons. Other than being very flattered, we had no hesitation in accepting the role because FolkEast is such a young and exciting festival. It’s already got a very distinct and extremely welcoming personality and we look forward to helping shape how FolkEast develops over the years.”

FolkEast 2014 will be held in the grounds of Glemham Hall in Suffolk from 15th to 17th August. The Young’uns will perform on the Broad Roots Stage on Saturday 16th August.