The Tooting Folk & Blues Festival­­­ is coming to Tooting Common on Saturday 8th August 2015, 12 noon to 7pm!

The Breathing Room, in conjunction with The Antelope and Tooting Daily PRSS, launches their first music festival on Tooting Common, showcasing the very best folk and blues acts in South London! FREE for all to attend, there will be a live music stage and fantastic pop-up food and drink stalls! Come along!

Follow The Breathing Room on Twitter and Facebook.

Musicians

	Wizz Jones Godfather of British folk and true guitar playing local legend, Wizz Jones learnt his guitar licks from the likes of Davy Graham and Long John Baldry whilst playing in the coffee bars of London's Soho in the late 1950's. After more than 50 years on the road, Wizz continues to tour on the Acoustic Folk and Blues circuit, usually solo but sometimes with his son Simeon on sax, flute and harmonica.
	Chaz Thorogood  Based in Dartmouth, Devon, Chaz is an up and coming, talented young singer songwriter who gigs in clubs throughout London and the UK. “He has a mesmerising voice which instantly grabs hold of you, his guitar playing sounds as though it is the most natural thing in the world to him. This is an artist whose purpose in life was to create beautiful songs.” AMP – A Musical Priority, Independent Online Music Magazine Twitter
	Steve Morrison blends the driving rhythms of John Lee Hooker with the sweet slide-guitar of Ry Cooder to create a sound all his own. "In a better world this man would already by a legend" – Musician Magazine. Steve performs regularly in venues big and small in and around London and the south-east of England. He is always working with new musicians and involved in recording projects. Facebook
	Whom By Fire Heavy haunting fairytale blues. Inspired by dreams, Lynch, Herzog, Cobain and Cohen they usher you into a world of dark romantic tragedy. "Tunes for escapism: a unique fusion of styles drawn together with some intelligent songwriting and a stripped back sound that lays bare more than many artists care to reveal" – NME Twitter | Facebook
	Gabriel Mesh Gabriel Mesh is currently performing in and around the London acoustic scene purveying a wholesome set that will satisfy anyone witith a hunger for virtuosity and authenticity. Gabriel takes inspiration from the folk and blues tradition and sprinkles it with a generous handful of reinvention. Twitter
	Niall Kelly & Band Originally from Derry, Northern Ireland, Niall has lived and worked as a professional musician in London for eleven years. After releasing two critically acclaimed albums and receiving a 4 star review in Q Magazine ("Balm for the soul") Niall is now ready to bring the songs out into the live circuit with his killer band. Twitter
	Garry Smith Garry Smith’s mission is to go boldly taking slide guitar out of the blues ghetto, leaving behind the usual Delta repertoire and concentrating on his own instrumentals and songs of longing, middle-aged lust and English Social History. All this on a National Tricone, the shiniest guitar you’ll ever see. “A genius on the guitar…” – Brian Player, Folk and Roots, Acoustic Radio Twitter
	Case Hardin Case Hardin, fronted by enigmatic songwriter Pete Gow, released their third studio album, 'PM', on Clubhouse Records in 2014. It delivers nine highly original tracks that focus on the lives of dark, troubled souls, whose aspirations have been compromised, either by their own choices or by circumstance. ' Their live show truly is a fearsome beast' – Radio 2 Twitter
	The Bara Bara Band A London-based folk quartet playing a mix of their own songs, traditional British folk songs and old time American tunes. On their EP ‘Not The Last Act’, they deliver an eclectic mix, meandering through the convoluted paths of alternative folk, some less well-trodden routes of unorthodox country music, taking in the dark alleyways of psychedelia along the way. Twitter

More Acts to be announced...

Food and Drink Traders

	Bun Kabab Pakistani Street Food for the soul. Find out more on Facebook and Twitter.
	Simmons Creperie Traditional Brittany sweet and savoury crepes. Follow them on Twitter.
	Dookie’s Grill BBQ and jerk food, spiced, flavoured, inspired by British and Caribbean culture.
	The Chickpea Sisters Tooting based social enterprise run by refugee and migrant women, serving a selection of bakawa, bambousa, and Somali donuts. Follow them on Twitter.
	The Toasted Pip Based in Mitcham, offers up the best local produce, washed down with East Dulwich's finest gourmet coffee from Volcano Coffee Works. Twitter | Facebook
	Surrey Ices Family run traditional ice-cream van.
	My Pie Freshly baked pies, award winning sausage rolls, and awesome sides served with real gravy, served hot from a vintage bedford van. Twitter
	Sticky Beaks Street food stall specialising in international flavours like Asian pulled pork and Moroccan meatball sandwiches. Twitter
	Get Juiced Slow Pressed Juices, Smoothies, Fresh Coconut Water, Salads and Alternative Cakes. Twitter | Instagram
	Yami Authentic Korean barbecue

More food traders to be announced...

Bars

	The Antelope Pub, Tooting  This building at 76 Mitcham Road has been a mainstay for Tootingites for generations. Talk to the locals and they will regale you with tales of times past, of local characters and of life on the Broadway. Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
	Slap x Tipple Cocktail Bar Pop-up Cocktail Bar serving delicious bespoke cocktails. Follow them on Twitter.

Sponsors

Massive thanks to the following Tooting sponsors!

​	The Antelope Pub, Tooting Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
	Daniel James Estate Agents Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
	Pearl Chemist Group Twitter

Volunteers needed!

Can you volunteer on the day? You’ll be given a free meal of your choice from one of the food stalls and a drink from one of the drink stalls. This is an excellent opportunity for local volunteers to engage with and enjoy local musical talent.

Volunteers will be enthusiastic, observant, adaptable, responsive and most of all friendly!

Previous experience of helping at an outdoor event would be great but certainly not essential! Local knowledge is helpful too. A love of music is essential!

 Visit here to sign up!

How to get there

• Address: Tooting Bec Common Event Site, Tooting Bec Road, SW16 1RT.
• Closest underground station is Tooting Bec. It is then a 15 minute walk down Tooting Bec Road (the A214) or you can take the 249 or 319 buses from Bus Stop F (St Anselm's Church).
• Closest overground station is Streatham. It is then a 15 minute walk or you can take the 249 bus from Bus Stop SK (Streatham St Leonard's Church).