Folk music, cider and rural living in Dunton

Simon Bailes and Andy Barwell, who have lived in Dunton for 10 years are bringing villagers together through folk music, cider and community events.

Andy and Simon are keen for cider lovers to enjoy tipple made from apples grown in the area and they organised an apple tree wassail at Church Farm earlier this month. Around 80 people gathered in the farmyard and enjoyed performances by two morris dancing groups.

Villagers then hung cider-soaked toast in the apple trees and sang songs, before banging saucepan lids with wooden spoons to wake the spirits of the trees.

The group then made its way to The March Hare pub where a mummers’ play was performed by the Brafront Guizers.

Musician Simon, 44, who sings and plays the guitar and accordion and Andy, 49, also share a love of folk music.

They want to encourage the enjoyment of folk in the area. Open mic nights take place at the March Hare pub on the first Tuesday of the month, where punters can join in or just sit back and listen.

Occasional concerts also take place at the village hall and at St Mary’s Church. Simon believes the accessibility of folk makes it a perfect kind of music for rural enjoyment.

He said: “It has a friendly and all-inclusive sound which means that people who play all different kinds of instruments can get involved.”

Simon and Andy, who are both married with two children also make their own drink, Dunton Cider which is on sale at The March Hare.

Simon said: “We first started making the cider back in 2010 during a special cider-making day, where we used apples that were kindly given to us by people in the village.

“We were very pleased with the results so we have continued ever since.”

For more information about forthcoming events and activities see www.duntonfolk.co.uk and www.duntoncider.co.uk