UK Folk Festivals - Coming Soon

A multi-award winning creative and performing arts festival set in the beautiful grounds of Catton Hall in the heart of the National Forest.
The Midlands largest performing and creative arts festival.

Includes some folk bands.

Winner of several festival awards over recent years.

Concerts, ceilidhs, dances, clubs and sessions.

The Orkney Folk Festival is widely regarded as one of the most prolific and special throughout Scotland, the UK and further afield.

The three venues that are used the most are the Stromness Town Hall, the Stromness Academy Lecture Theatre and the Stromness Hotel's function room. Other events take place in local community centres/village halls.

Sticking with their normal dates, even though the bank holiday is moving.

Concerts, Ceilidhs, workshops, singarounds, sessions, displays, craft fair, family events, children's entertainment.

This is a very popular long-running event.

Also has an event in February

his is combined with the Chester Festival this year, so should be a great event. Even though the events are normally 175 miles apart

A festival that still retains its 'village' atmosphere, providing three and a half days packed with song, dance, workshops and dance displays.
Described as "one of the friendliest festivals" with "a superb town setting" and "a great line up", we think it really is the best way to start your summers folk activities.

THis year it says live and hybrid - so we assume there are some virtual events as well, after last year's virtual event.

Galway Early Music celebrates its 23rd birthday with an exciting international programme, exploring women as composers, musicians, patrons, and inspiration in medieval, renaissance and baroque European Music.

Bringing Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque Music and Dance to Galway.


Yes, you're right, this is not your normal sort of festival.

A diverse programme featuring traditional music, ceilidhs, Gaelic lessons, golf, bowling and whisky tasting.

For the last number of years all of the Islay distilleries have held open days throughout the week of the festival, adding to the mix!

I've linked to the island website, so you can see how beautiful this part of Scotland is (the website developer is keen on photography). The festival link is in the menu, under Islay Festival, of course.

An annual celebration of music and arts in the beautiful landscape of the three northernmost Yorkshire Dales - Swaledale, Wensleydale and Arkengarthdale.

A music festival that brings a heady mix of concerts to chapels and churches, village halls and pubs, castles and barns in the glorious northern Yorkshire Dales. And talks; and exhibitions; and guided walks...

A mixture of music styles, includes acoustic and folk.

There are many Irish traditional festivals organised throughout the summer months but there are few people who will dispute that Fleadh Nua which started in Dublin in 1970, is the forerunner of them all.

Bringing together concerts, music, song and dancing workshops, street entertainment, pageants/parades and much more.

Spurred on by their love of folk music and outdoor activity, and seeing potential in a farm not used to it's full potential, 20 - 30 vounteers came together on the farm to begin the journey of a big tidy up and clear out.

Through the efforts of countless volunteers and 5 festivals, we can safely say that our aims to renovate and maintain the farm have been a success. There is still work to be done, and still ideas to be brought to fruitition. It's an annual small gathering of the finest folk musicians in the world.

After three years, the world's largest Music and Philosophy Festival returns home to the idyllic embankment of the River Wye for a bank holiday weekend of revelry, reflection, and parties.

At HowTheLightGetsIn Hay 2022 you can join a debate about the nature of the universe with the world's top scientists, laugh until your sides hurt with the UK's best comedians, dance by the river to the finest beats, dine with our speakers at Inner Circle events or indulge in sumptuous long table banquets.

HowTheLightGetsIn Hay 2022 is set in a magical location on the edge of the Black Mountains, alongside the river Wye in the famed book town of Hay.

A free family festival celebrating the best in English and World folk music and dance plus poetry, street theatre, art and family fun!

Headline acts as well as exciting folk acts to be announced shortly!
Music, dance and craft workshops
Crafters and stalls
Delicious street food
Festival locations include:

Gathering on the Green
Abbey Ruins Live
Shindig on the Square
The Broadway Circus

A festival for fans of piping.

With concerts, dances and workshops, manufacturers, and sessions. Everything the bagpipe fan would want, in one place.

Site not fully updated for this year.

A small but popular festival.

Celebrating its 12th year

Folk at the Salmon Bothy will be celebrating our 11th Haal festival. A weekend of Sessions, Concert, Memories etc.. Great guests lined up and, hopefully, many of you, from whom we haven't heard for a while. Details on site not fully updated yet.

CANCELLED for 2022

All-on-one-Site festival of folk & acoustic music, dance, poetry, and storytelling.

A festival of music and dance which has been held on the Wirral peninsula for several years.

Many performers booked. Includes a singer-songwriter competition. And fringe events that are free.

A multi-media festival, covering a variety of styles, includes several groups popular at folk festivals. Take a look at the band list as there are a variety of genres at this festival.

Over 100 bands on four stages, and real ale festival too.

New this year, Blazin' Fiddles are running an event in Biggar.

A sister fiddle school to the well established Blazin’ in Beauly. This summer the band will launch 'Blazin' in Biggar' - bringing together fiddlers, guitarists and piano players for a weekend of great workshops and music making.

Includes dance, sessions, celidh, workshops, and music, all set in the delightful surroundings of Weymouth's old harbour

With over 30 live stage performances throughout Saturday and Sunday this is without doubt not one to be missed!
Kicking off on Friday afternoon and evening with singalong folk music sessions in the harbourside pubs, the main festival lasts the whole of Saturday and Sunday with around 30 Morris sides dancing in the streets along the harbourside, fabulous trade stalls, eating, drinking, laughing singing and dancing all weekend long. When the harbour lights go on, the fun and music carries on in the harbourside pubs, way into the night. The challenge is to do the whole weekend and make it to the Survivors' Night on Sunday night at the Sailor's Return!

This is very much a mixture of everything you might find at a festival of some sort - circus, jazz, rockabilly, acoustic, dance, folk. brass, swing.

Spread over four days, you might find something you like. Not your standard folk festival, but family friendly fun.

The folk festival on Scotland's lovely little island.

The festival will feature a weekend of open sessions, concerts and Ceilidhs.

Site not fully updated yet.

www.arranevents.com/ used to be the place to look for this event, but now they seem to have just the Facebook page

Steadily gaining a following.

A great lineup over four days with lots of Irish music.

Come for the music, the local brew and the stunning location. Come for a good time!

The festival is run by volunteers, and money raised is used to improve facilities /features in the venue (the church is no longer used for worship but used by the community for events and music).

Fabulous music every June on the stunning Gower peninsula.

Tickets limited usually to 350 - 400, so get your soon.

Look at their fabulous location!

Bringing you the best in local music together with friends from further afield.
Set in the Pennine town of Hebden Bridge full of cosy cafes, pretty pubs, vivacious venues, we bring you an intimate music festival full of great sounds, with great beer and even greater countryside.

A folk and roots festival covering a wide variety of roots music, from folk and blues to ska and americana. Ceilidh, workshops, sessions, street performers, spoken word. Lots of variety.

Site not fully updated yet.

They always seem to leave it until closer to the event to tell you what is happening.

Ticket prices will be known in March.

40th Birthday event!
A new group of Wimborne residents and business folk have come together to proceed with the mammoth task of organising the next festival, and so far it is full steam ahead with plans to continue the legendary festival!
Traditional English and Celtic music and dance. Celidhs, Dance displays, children's entertainers, Market stalls.

Three days of folk, family & fun last weekend in the summer sunshine!

From humble beginnings, Strawberry Fair has grown to be the most popular free, entirely volunteer run, one day music & arts event in Cambridge (and probably across Europe!), attracting over 30,000 visitors throughout the day. On the first Saturday of June and now passed our 40th year, residents and visitors have gathered together on Midsummer Common to celebrate their vibrant and creative city.

Quite a mixture here, films, talks, and a variety of music styles.

And a name everyone has heard of!

Takes place in several locations in RochdaleI couldn't find many details on the website, just the link above.

Parts of the site are still under development for 2022.

A free event where donations will be used to support the St Catherine's Hospice in Scarborough.

This event has been around for over 40 years!

Now as it's free and as it supports a charity, you simply have to go and support them!

It's a week-long fair, so check with them when the music you like is on.

There are concerts, a dance, competitions, informal sessions and various other events during the weekend. This page will provide more details as events are finalised.
(Site incomplete just now.

Beardy Folk Festival is a new, beautifully crafted, Midsummer music weekend boasting a brilliant line up of contemporary, traditional & acoustic indie folk music.

here's so much to see and do around the festival site with children's entertainment, a fabulous food court, real ale, cider & cocktail bars, circus workshops, traditional rides, climbing wall, yoga & a small trade village. We also have a woodland walk & some enchanted woods hosting children's activities & storytelling.

The Grand Northern Ukulele Festival is a festival with a bit of a difference.
A team of dedicated ukulele-playing music enthusiasts who volunteer our time to produce a festival that is truly like no other. Every year we try to find new talent to showcase, we develop new activities to get people playing and sharing music with each other.

There's a range of workshops (including one where you build your own diddly bow), events for all ages and a chance to do something a bit unique.

Celebrating over 30 years of the Middlewich Folk & Boat Festival a fabulous weekend of folk & roots music.

Up to 15 venues host music and dance from lunchtime on Friday through to Sunday night. On the canalside and in the town centre, artists from around the UK - and beyond.

Also ticketed concerts each day.

Note the new website address.

Country music in Yorkshire.

We often include somoething that isn't your traditional folk festival, and country music is sort of folky. So here it is.

Large variety of acts, this replaces the Beverley Folk Festival.

This weekend many of the pubs host various sessions and the streets are alight with various performances including morris dancers, children's entertainers, musicians and mummers entertaining locals and visitors alike.

Sadly, no website can be traced just a facebook page at this location

Has three main aims in life

To create an enjoyable event for all involved

To raise money for the RNLI

To preserve and promote the maritime heritage of Falmouth and Cornwall

An international festival based in the picturesque village of Ballydehob, West Cork, featuring maritime and other folk music.
Sea songs, shanties, dance, craft market, maritime food stalls, workshops, sea songwriting competition, busking, music in the pubs and main stage on Ballydehob pier. There will also be an Art Expo throughout the weekend.

A weekend of dance and music
in this lovely cathedral city.

Dances - Displays - Workshops - Morris Tours

Formally known as Whitby Spring Session. This is a small event so book soon.

The format of the event is as follows:

- Live music is scheduled on the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings.

- Camping is available from the Thursday. Showers and toilets are available.

- A Friday night Fish & Chip Supper is included as well as breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

- The wonderful town of Whitby is a short walk or taxi ride away, there is lots to discover during the day.

A 3 day festival for our global community with the stated objective as the expansion of consciousness from the material to the ethereal.

Mixed genre, with a fair bit of acoustic and folk music. Check the line up to see if it suits you.

Portsoy's annual celebration of our rich maritime and cultural heritage. . . beautiful boats . . . exhilarating skiff races on the open seas . . . maritime and rural craft demonstrations . . . non-stop song and dance . . .mouth-watering food and drink and adventure at the Sports Village (not just for kids!). Not stop song and dance, with an acoustic and Scottish flavour.

An acoustic festival for indie and contemporary music.
Shortlisted for Best Independent Festival 2015. Best Small Festival.

The UK's biggest free festival.

Across a swathe of indoor and outdoor venues in public spaces around Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, our much-loved event is now widely recognised as the largest free folk festival in the country.
Two ticketed concerts, the rest is free.

Provisional when we looked.

There will be around 50 events taking place in the village of Lymm including dance, drama, music, comedy and literature. During the Festival, Lymm celebrates the wealth and diversity of talents to be found amongst the members of the community, and provides plenty of opportunities for exploring and enjoying the local environment.

With music of all kinds, dance, drama, spoken word, comedy, visual arts and crafts

A weekend event showcasing 15 to 20 local and independent music's best bands. Our goal is to create a reasonably priced, small summer music festival that provides an overwhelmingly positive, comfortable and fun, family experience for both attendees and musicians in a beautiful countryside setting for around 500 people. We also aim to support local young musicians by providing a stage for them.

The main events are on the Saturday. These will consist of a day of dance in the City Centre, a day of music with free showcase performances in local pubs and other venues, sessions and singarounds and a festival concert in the Maltings Arts Theatre.

Full details not yet available.

Trip to Verwood was a chance for a small number of musicians to meet up in a stunning field and share some music and laughter.

We hope to welcome back more people to sing, play laugh and have a relaxing weekend.

Building on the success of previous years' festivals we’ll be having our usual music sessions tent, plus a song session tent and adding workshops and musician/singer led sessions to the programme.

Down where the cider apples grow lives a small friendly festival.
With a very friend ticket price!

Singalongs, Workshops, Concerts.

This year we will be repeating the independent Real Ale bar.

Music-lovers can look forward to a great day out this summer, as the 8th Bury St Edmunds Folk Festival once again brings its own brand of magic to the town.
The one-day event will be on Saturday 30th June in the walled garden at Nowton Park. With craft stalls, children's activities, music workshops, hot food and a bar with local real ales, this promises to be a wonderful day for the whole family.
The festival is organised by Bury Folk Collective, a not-for-profit group which promotes a diverse range of excellent local folk acts at events throughout the year.

As well as the main stage acts, there will be an Acoustic Tent with beginners' music workshops, informal sessions and a competition for newcomers to folk performance. This is a great space to try making music yourself in a relaxed and friendly way.

Full disabled access to site, reserved viewing area and toilet facilities

A small event, new to our lists.
Top names, beer festival and great food.

New website now live.
Note how inexpensive this one is.

2020 line will be announced shortly.

With four outdoor music stages, two ceilidh dances and over twenty teams of morris dancers in the streets overlooking Poole's lovely Harbour.

With colourful displays of dance and outdoor stages for concerts and ceilidh and lovely views across the stunning harbour.