TRAFFIC will give way to music and dancing on Wednesday (July 4) when St Michael’s Street, St Albans, will be closed from 8pm to 10pm for the 25th St Michael’s Street Folk evening.

After the street re-opens, music and singing will continue until closing time in the street’s four pubs and dancing will continue informally in the Blue Anchor car park.

Ten dance groups, representing traditions from all over England plus Spain and the Appalachian mountains of the United States, will be dancing in St Michael’s Street. This year they will be joined by pupils from St Michael’s School doing maypole dances in their playground.

Wicket Brood from Bricket Wood perform dances from the Welsh borders. Traditionally the dancers used soot or burnt cork to paint their faces black to disguise themselves but to both avoid misunderstanding and add colour, the Wicket Brood dancers use green and purple face paints.

St Albans Morris Men and Woodside Morris Men from Watford perform dances from the Cotswolds while Ramrugge Morris and Whitethorn Morris take their dances from the North West of England.

Stevenage Sword dancers will perform rapper dances from the north east of England inside the pubs as well as in the street. Flamenco Grande performs dances from Spain while Tappalachian, will feature the dances from the Appalachians, performed in tap shoes as the name implies. T

Representing Scotland will be the the Hiel and Toe Club while English Miscellany will dance in a variety of styles.

St Michael’s Street’s four pubs will be filled with music all evening with Comhalthas Ceolteori Eireann joining the musicians who play on Wednesday nights in the White Lion in an informal session in the Rose and Crown.

The emphasis in the Blue Anchor will be on singing, led by duo Run of the Mill and fellow members of Redbourn Folk Club. The Allstars from the local contemporary folk music scene will play in the Six Bells while the Swan Vesta Social Club will be performing music from Cuba and beyond in the Black Lion car park.