foot-stomping

With special permission from Northern Rail, and organised by ‘Visit New Mills’ for New Mills Carnival, the Gally Canters will depart on a folk train from Manchester Piccadilly to New Mills Central at 11.45am on Saturday, to arrive in time for the carnival, which starts at 1pm.

Upon alighting from the train, the music and frivolity will continue at The Pride of The Peaks pub, situated in the centre of town.

The Gally Canters play a lively mix of folk music from Ireland and elsewhere. Occasional forays into other genres have been known, but always in their inimitable Gally Canter style. They are usually to be found in pubs in and around New Mills and Hayfield.

The band began in 2010 when bodhrán players Lyn and Russell, and fiddle player Ursula were introduced by a mutual friend.

Members have come and gone, but with the addition of guitarists Jamie, Karl (also lead vocalist) and Dave in 2011, and more recently bassist Eddie and whistle player Paul, the line-up has solidified to eight regular players.

This is the first in a series of folk train events specially arranged to tie-in with other popular yearly events in the former mill town, including the One World Festival and New Mills Community Festival, and part of a drive to raise the profile of the town.

New Mills’ carnival day will be rounded off on Saturday with an after-parade party from 7.30pm in the historic Torr Vale Mill.

Dates of forthcoming Gally Canter gigs can be found at www.facebook.com/GallyCanters.