UK Folk Festivals - Coming Soon

In the streets and in venues all around the town the best of local performers bring you folk, jazz, blues and world music, colourful dance displays and children's entertainment.

The Beggars Fair has been running since 1993 and is living up to its aims of showcasing local talent in a friendly environment. From big bands on the Cornmarket stage to intimate acoustic music in tranquil gardens, cheerful pub sessions and spellbinding storytelling, the day has a great atmosphere that keeps bringing people (and performers!) back year after year.

Competitions, concerts, workshops, street entertainment, ceili, sessions, singing.
What do you expect? It's Ireland.

Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan is the largest provincial Fleadh in Ireland as thousands of musicians, singers, dancers, storytellers and visitors from the six counties of Munster and beyond gather for an annual celebration of our Irish cultural traditions. The town of Tralee is steeped in tradition and previously has hosted Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan in 1978.

An abundance of music, song and dance at the many impromptu sessions as well as dancing venues around the town.

Includes a wide selection of outdoor and indoor concerts, workshops, competitions, and street sessions.

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Something just a bit different.

An explosion of bands and performers combining brass with folk, opera, dance and spectacular outdoor theatre descends on County Durham to fill some stunning venues and City streets with music and fantastic visual effects. With new, cutting edge collaborations, digital trails and established and emerging bands trumping brass in every genre imaginable, it's a feast of international cultures and sounds.

Summer School of Traditional Irish Music, Song & Dance. Our programme includes a broad range of classes, workshops, interactive talks and masterclasses as well as nightly ceilis, concerts and informal music sessions.

This is not a single venue event so you cannot buy one ticket that covers all events. Please choose carefully to make sure you make the most of your festival experience.
There will be a weekend ticket covering the events in the main arena
Features Hebridean music galore

Bromsgrove is so much more than a series of concerts with headline artists. Club singers and budding artists are encouraged to add to the Bromsgrove Experience with singarounds, open mics, and the like including, of course, the legendary sessions in the pub bar....then there is the Ukulele Workshop (BUMS) and the Festival Choir (BOTOMS)

Bromsgrove Folk Festival has been described as small and friendly, bijou even, but it is so much more than that......it is enormous in heart and aspiration. We have a pub for sessions (and beer of course), a large camping field (open from 2.00pm on Thursday), a 350 capacity Main Marquee for "up close and personal" concerts, a MiniMarquee (seating about 125) for smaller concerts, singarounds, etc., and excellent toilet facilities.

From small beginnings in 2013 the Folk on the Farm festival has quickly established itself as one of the highlights of the folk festival calendar, attracting hundreds each year and featuring some of the best folk artists from around the UK.

Includes Quality Real Ale (from The Great Orme Brewery Company), Festival Food, Stalls, Fringe Festival in Cafe, Singarounds & Sessions.

On a new site, check website.

It's about people coming together to eat, drink and make music. It is not a traditional music festival.

Lots of ales and concerts, open mike and sessions in the bar. Even some morris dancing. Small craft fair.

Also known as Folklincs Humberfest

This annual event has become a cornerstone of North Lincolnshire's cultural calendar.
this annual event has become a cornerstone of North Lincolnshire's cultural calendar.

Feature an eclectic mix of performances, workshops, and community activities.

Attendees can look forward to live music from both established and emerging folk artists, offering a diverse range of traditional and contemporary sounds. In addition to the musical lineup, the festival will offer interactive workshops, providing opportunities for participants to engage with various aspects of folk arts and roots music.

A Welsh festival of, well, Welsh folk music. One of the biggest Welsh Festivals.

If you have a guitar in the attic, or a bodhran in the cupboard, or maybe a fiddle under the bed, then bring them along! There is sure to be a jamming session in a pub or two.

If you're a musician who would like to play in front of an audience, there will be a busking stage on the Square where you could perform in front of the crowd.

A well-established, intimate and family friendly event in a beautiful rural setting, held in large marquees on a greenfield site in the picturesque hamlet of Stainsby.

Great folk and world music in traditional marquees, crafts stalls, childrens entertainment, music workshops of every kind, storytelling, a singers competition and walkabout events throughout the weekend with camping thrown in.

A village-based festival in the Forest of Dean with concerts, Morris dancing, village fete, busking, poetry and storytelling, ceilidh dance, song writing competition, live comedy, and a folk walk on the Sunday. Happens every year, third Saturday in July.

Tapestry is a free festival that takes place in Southampton’s Westquay on the weekend of July 19 and 20. The line-up includes an impressive array of A-List artists with a distinct bent towards folk and ‘global’.

In addition to its mix of world-class artists, Tapestry presents a programme of exceptional local talent and family-friendly workshops that include African drumming and ceilidh dancing - promising a fun and vibrant summer experience.

Also, selected performances will be recorded by BBC Radio 3’s Music Planet for broadcast in August 2025 and the weekend hosted by Music Planet presenter, Lopa Kothari.

Folk by the Oak is just outside of London but it feels a million miles away, surrounded by the leafy green parkland of Hatfield Park, where you will be immersed in music, history, ancient oaks, bunting, fun and laughter.

With the music alternating between 2 stages in one arena there's no FOMO at Folk by the Oak - From the intimacy of their Acorn Stage to the open-air festival buzz of the Main Stage, you can enjoy all the award-winning musicians and inspiring new talent in one memorable day.

The festival supports a local charity - Willow Foundation. They work to provide special days out for seriously ill young adults.

Vintage Tent :: Craft Tent :: Family Friendly atmosphere with Children's Activities :: Music Stalls :: Recycled Gifts :: Delicious Food :: Real Ale bar

Many big names come to this one day event, which in 2024 will be headlined by Levellers, plus Sekou Keita's Homeland Band, The Young'uns, Furrow Collective, Beans on Toast, Malin Lewis Trio, Grace Smith Trio and more.

This is a roadshow, that occurs in several locations.

We've included a few of them, but if you want to see the whole list, remove the location in the url, and you go to the roadshow's own website.

Festival of the Year in the British Blues Awards 2015 and 2016. Best Blues Festival in UK Blues Awards in 2018 and 2023

Since the formation of the Blues Committee in 2001 there has been two aims, to produce a festival to promote Blues Music in Upton Upon Severn, and to support the local community. To achieve these aims the Upton Blues Festival has always, and will always be free from any admission charge.

What more can you want than the blues for free? 60 or 70 bands perhaps?

Yn Chruinnaght Celtic Gathering.

48th year!

Based in Peel, Yn Chruinnaght Celtic Gathering is a celebration of Manx
culture and the relationship between the Isle of Man and the other five
Celtic countries (Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany).

Musicians, singers and dancers!! Concerts, ceilis, sessions, free events and workshops.

As in previous years we are posting this under Scotland and Ireland due to its Celtic theme, as we don't have a separate Isle of Man page.

Yn Chruinnaght Celtic Gathering.

48th year!

Based in Peel, Yn Chruinnaght Celtic Gathering is a celebration of Manx
culture and the relationship between the Isle of Man and the other five
Celtic countries (Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany).

Musicians, singers and dancers!! Concerts, ceilis, sessions, free events and workshops.

As in previous years we are posting this under Scotland and Ireland due to its Celtic theme, as we don't have a separate Isle of Man page.

Singers and musicians, street entertainers and Morris dancers - it seems that anybody and everybody who enjoys folk music heads for Warwick in July each year.

Since its humble beginnings in 1979, the annual Warwick Folk Festival has developed into one of the most highly regarded folk events on the national and international scene, attracting fans from all over Britain and as far afield as the USA and Australia

The festival supports several charities.

A fair number of morris related sides, workshops, music sessions, headline gigs, ceilidhs and barn dances, performance and story telling, artisans, a children's area and loads more are already booked.

A newish three day festival of music, food and fun that is going from strength to strength. This accessible and hugely friendly family festival all takes places a mere thirty-five miles as the crow flies from Glasgow.
Lots of great bands.
Plus a great variety of foods for you to try.

This is a boutique folk festival, organised by a volunteer committee - musicians, artists, craftspeople, hard-workers - whose ambition is simply to put on a memorable weekend to shine a spotlight on local culture.

Main days are Friday and Saturday, with Sunday a relax and chill day with a few performances around lunchtime , and impromptu fireside sessions in the evening.

EDF is working in conjunction with charitable and educational bodies to identify emerging talent on the island and to give them a platform to perform. There will also be opportunities to learn about digital media, the Gaelic language and to listen to local and visiting musicians.

EDF is about a lot more than just the music. We will also be showcasing "Made in the Hebrides" products.

For half a century the Guiting Music Festival has been a highlight of the Cotswolds summer calendar, bringing an exciting variety of highly talented performances of Classical, Jazz, Blues and Folk music by artists from around the world. In that time it has built up a strong band of very loyal supporters.

Check through their programme to see what parts you like.

At the end of July, the playing fields on East Street in the Moray town of Fochabers will be home to the 23rd annual Speyfest, three days of the best in traditional and contemporary Celtic music.

Concerts, Ceilidhs and Stomps. Free to enter Craft Fair and Festival Clubs. Some of the biggest names from the world of traditional and contemporary Celtic music.

The Festival is a unique celebration, bringing together outstanding traditional singers from Scotland, England, and Ireland. The event is especially for those who like to hear, enjoy, and join in unaccompanied traditional singing. Essentially informal, friendly and non-competitive, it will be just the place to encourage the young and less experienced as well as the old hands. The weekend includes ceilidhs featuring the guest singers, singarounds for everyone who can join in, workshops, craft demonstrations and a talk.

For the 35thtime!

Every July Drumshanbo plays host to the award-winning Joe Mooney Summer School, a week-long festival of traditional Irish music, song and dance named after the man who did so much to promote the cause of Leitrim and his beloved town. The committee continues to emulate his high ideals, endeavouring to promote Leitrim's heritage of traditional music while handing on the best traditions of the past to future generations.

Belfast TradFest, the pinnacle of world-class traditional music concerts, fiery pub sessions and Ireland's fastest growing summer school of traditional music, is set to celebrate its 5th edition this July across Belfast UNESCO City of Music.
Featuring a week long programme of workshops and a full programme of concerts, talks, lectures, sessions, ceilis and festival clubs.

The Summer School’s team of tutors is made up of internationally renowned performers with proven track records as teachers and educationalists. Beginner instrument classes, Whistle & Sing, Traditional Singing, Amhránaíocht, Sean-Nós Dancing and Set Dancing are suitable for all levels, including beginners. All other classes are designed for intermediate to advanced (minimum 2 years instrument experience) adults and children over 6 years of age.

Masterclass places are available to book now, visit belfasttradfest.com for the full list of classes and confirmed tutors.

Describes itself as quirky. Has quite a variety of styles of music, some of which may appeal to you. Large number of acts, including folk groups.
Vote the UK's most popular summer music festival at TripAdvisor, so it's clearly doing something right.

Cambridge Folk Festival has decided it is having a year off and will return in 2026.

Boutique Festival with only 3000 tickets available. Headline Acts - often some of the biggest names!

Set in beautiful Kent just 5 mins from J5 on M2.

Camping opens Thursday 31st July 2025 with entertainment and sing-a-rounds in the bar from 5pm.

All genres of music but have a particular passion for Folk Rock, Folk, Roots and Acoustic music, which is the main genre of the Acts booked, but Folk as you may not expect!

Based in beautiful Kent country, but just 5 minutes from J5 of the M2, Chickstock Festival is building on previous years' 'magical' festival of folk, roots and acoustic music, with even more bands booked for this year!

Advertises many Irish events as well as this 11 day festival.

Variety of music styles, includes some top folk acts.

Concerts, workshop, dance displays, craft fairs, sessions. Lots of things to keep you entertained.

There will be a good selection of food and drink including a great choice of real ales at the main venue. Some excellent village pubs, wine bars, restaurants, shops and bistros, all within easy walking distance of the main venue. There are also some lovely village and riverside walks around Wickham plus the historic Chesapeake Mill and Water Gardens that are well worth a visit

A place where art, intellectualism and fantastic gastronomy share equal billing with music.

A festival covering many different media - music, film, talks - all on a variety of genres. The London Folk Guild brings the very best in folk, blues, acoustic, Americana, bluegrass, roots and country from the UK and around the world.

Winner of several Festival awards.

This will be the 28th Event!

The Festival has entertained locals and visitors every August Bank Holiday Weekend. This year will be one of the biggest and best festivals to date. We have music for all generations from Folk to Country. There will be loads of street entertainment through out the days with lots of activities for all the family.

Site not fully updated on our last visit.

A variety of music styles, including folk music and an acoustic stage. Three big stages.

Folk music. Shanty singing. Pirates. Food and drink.

That should keep a lot of people happy!

For the 71ST Time !

Sidmouth Folk Festival is a unique week-long seaside celebration of music, dance and song taking place in the charming East Devon regency coastal resort. A must in every festival goer's annual diary. There has been a folk festival in Sidmouth in the first week of August every year since 1955, attracting tens of thousands of visitors to over 700 diverse events with a promise of something for everyone, from major league concerts to small intimate sessions, from ceilidh dancing to lively roots parties, from family entertainment to youth-centred masterclasses, from social dance to colourful dance displays.

A week long residential event, so not quite a festival, but a long folk event.

Residential and non-residential tickets at a variety of prices.

A festival set in the ancient market town of Melton Mowbray. With Craft fair, local market, Morris Dancing, sing-arounds, music session, outdoor market stage and 13 venues collected around its atmospheric center. Two days of music and mayhem so if you fancy playing or just want to eat the pie - come to Melton Folk Festival.

The BIG one!
The National Eisteddfod of Wales is one of the great festivals of the world, attracting over 160,000 visitors every year. An eclectic mixture of culture, music, visual arts and all kinds of activities for people of all ages, there's something for everyone on the Maes during the first week of August every year.

The Eisteddfod is a travelling festival which belongs to the people of Wales.

This is a big fringe, over four evenings. Featuring a great line up, and it's all free!

All events in McBuzz's Barn.

The Fringe Sessions feature a mix of the most exciting emerging talent along with some established heavyweight favourites from across the UK and internationally. Entry is FREE to all music lovers but we have a donations bucket for the artists.

The music is an eclectic mix of many genres - and has included folk/roots, bluegrass, stomp, blues, acoustic, jazzfusion, world and indie rock/pop - plus everything in-between.

Now in its 15th year.

Featuring Music, Dance Song, Poetry, Story telling

The price is right - it's free.

A week long event, featuring concerts, competitions, singing, walking tours, and lots more. There's even FleadhTV which will broadcast live from 8.30pm to 11.30pm over four nights from Thursday to Sunday on TG4 as well as live on tg4.tv and here on fleadhcheoil.ie

This is a roadshow, that occurs in several locations.

We've included a few of them, but if you want to see the whole list, remove the location in the url, and you go to the roadshow's own website.

A large event covering a large variety of music styles, in it's 11th year. The event is spread over several stages, and there is a folk section . Research it and make your own decision on whether it suits you. The line-up includes many well-known acts.

For the 38th Time!!

Visitors from all over the world come to a festival that now has international recognition.

Variety of events over a week-long festival.

Famous reunion festival taking place in Oxfordshire, for the legendary Fairport Convention. And lots of guests.

There aren't many acts that run their own famous festival! And for over 50 years, so lookout for special surprize guests.

Tickets tend to sell out fast, so don't miss out.

An 11 day feast of visual art, classical music, theatre and dance, jazz world and traditional Irish music, literature, film, architecture, indie music, craft and children's events.

60th Anniversary in 2025

During Folk Week, life in Broadstairs really is set to music. In the parks, pubs, gardens and on the beaches and promenade- there really is a festival vibe in the town - nobody who arrives in Broadstairs during Folk Week wonders whether there is an event taking place - it's inescapable - in the best possible way!

The Dartmoor Folk Festival is a friendly traditional festival, with highlights including Ceilidh, Song & Music Sessions, Dartmoor Stepdance and Broomdance Championships, Dartmoor Fayre, Craft Displays, Dances, Music Hall, Sunday Ramble, Folk Service, Pub Sessions & Children's Events.PLUS - Craft tent, Sideshows, Demonstrations, Dance Displays, Children's Entertainers and much more...The festival continues to attract some of the top national and local artists as guests, maintaining its reputation as one of the top events in the folk calendar.

A new one for our lists.

It will bring established artists in the Folk, World and Roots scene to perform alongside new and emerging acts, both locally and from around the country.

Not only will the festival have some of Scotland’s finest artists, it will showcase some of the best acts from the rest of the UK and overseas.

This year will see the 26th Saltburn Folk Festival take place in the historic, Victorian town of Saltburn.

An annual town based traditional and contemporary folk festival for all ages, with concerts, Street Entertainment, Singarounds, Music Sessions, Ceilidhs, Choirs, Maritime, Craft Stalls, Kids Events, Dance Teams, Workshops, Music Hall, Camping, Free Fringe Events.

2022 was the first such event, and it was successful enough to stage its third event, for 2024.

Transatlantic folk trio, The Magpies, have announced that they will be hosting their first festival - in the stunning parkland of York's stately home, Sutton Park. The line-up is set to include the likes of Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys, Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra, Blair Dunlop and Katherine Priddy, with more exciting names to be announced.

The HowthRootsandBluesFestival is a free music festival in Howth showcasing the best in Irish roots and blues artists.

While many of the artists are blues based the festival caters for fans of Country, Rhythm and Blues, Bluegrass, Americanna and reggae. Basically anything rootsy!!

The festival will take place across 6 local venues.

This is a roadshow, that occurs in several locations.

We've included a few of them, but if you want to see the whole list, remove the location in the url, and you go to the roadshow's own website.

A very focused festival, on piping.

Glasgow become the heart of the Piping world with events happening around the clock.

Lots of individual events spread over 7 days and 14 venues.

A large independant event, with a wide range of artists, and genres, more than 100 acts playing indie, psychedelia, Americana, and folk across 5 stages. Food stalls and a bar will be open in the evening. Many different themes.

Check to see if it matches your tastes.

Supports the Bevan Foundation as well.

Purbeck Folk Festival in the rolling hills of Dorset.

Located on a little sheep farm and in its fifth year, it's "how festivals used to be" - friendly, great for kids and adults alike, and small enough to be able to wander around and not lose your friends. Purbeck Folk Festival covers the broader definition of folk music and you can hear music from all around the world; some deep and meaningful, some get up and jump around.

Not to be confused with the nearby Swanage festivals

Beautiful Days is the Levellers' annual 15,000 capacity family-friendly weekend camping festival at Escot Park, which started in 2003. It has a huge children's area in the centre of the festival, comedy, theatre, family camping, a healing area, licensed real ale bars from Otter Brewery & carefully selected food and craft stalls.

Chosen as one of the Best Family Festivals in 2013 by the Guardian

A joyous celebration of Cajun, Creole and Louisiana roots music, dance and culture set in the heart of the beautiful North Shropshire Lakelands!

Note the NEW LOCATION for this, the 13th event.

This event has been going for around ten years now, in East Anglia (hence the name).

A fresh approach to a timeless tradition with an eclectic mix of contemporary and traditional music. Re-kindling the Eastfolk folkmoots on the Sotterley Hall Estate, where, for three days of the year, the folk of the East bring their families & gather for a bit of a to-do.

The festival features some well known and talented main acts, plus local and national, up and coming artists.

A small, intimate, relaxed festival where there is an emphasis on creating an inclusive atmosphere and encouraging everyone to play a part in the weekend's events. There is plenty of opportunity to sing, play or tell a story with singarounds and music sessions every day.