Teesside's Festival of Thrift runs from 24-25 September 2022 and is preparing to move onto pastures new next year from its recent Kirkleatham home. However before it does, Mike McGrother wanted to pay homage to one of Redcar & Cleveland’s greatest sons, Vin Garbutt. Mike and his choir, Infant Hercules, will be performing some of Vin's songs at 4pm on the 24th September at the festival.
A proud, principled and even prophetic artist, Vin travelled the world sharing songs and stories about his home with unrivalled wit and wisdom. During the lockdown, Vin’s family collaborated with ‘Wildcat’ Mike McGrother to create a ‘virtual’ festival celebrating the life and times of our Teesside Troubadour. As well as a weekend of musical tributes, Vin’s son Tim and film maker / biographer Craig Hornby plotted a two-part route across Vin’s home Borough, called Vin's Way.
Mike will also be walking elements of the first part of Vin’s Way following the route from South Bank to the Thrift festival site near Redcar, before ending the Saturday with a set of songs from Vin’s repertoire.
All are welcome to join him! Please note the route becomes more of a climb as we head to Eston Nab
NB Timings approximate, (we advise you to arrive at least 15 minutes before the time stated):
10:00 @ St Peter’s Church (South Bank, Middlesbrough)
10:45 @ Eston Cemetery
11:15 @ Eston & California Social Club
12:30 @ Eston Nab and on to The Festival of Thrift
16:00 @ Main Stage - Festival of Thrift, ‘Vin : A Tribute to the Teesside Troubadour’