Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)

Subject: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: northernmunkeh
Date: 02 Jan 11 - 12:44 PM

Any fellow mudcats care to recommend a UK folk festival for 2011? I'm more after the atmosphere than the best acts. Especially ones that include sessions. Having recently taken up the acoustic bass guitar, I'd like to be able to do some playing as well as listening. Something countryside-based and summer time for reasonable camping comfort.
Regards
N

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011
From: Fidjit
Date: 02 Jan 11 - 12:54 PM

To start with

look here

Chas

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 02 Jan 11 - 01:11 PM

It seems to me that mixed sessions (with song and tunes) are scarce at the more electric festivals.

The Good Intent is always good at Sweeps (Rochester, Kent, April/May) but camping is a bugger..

Pigs Ear (the Kentish Horse, Markbeech) is usually good - sessions in the bar/restaurant with electric acts in the marquee - and some midnight sessions in the marquee too.

Ely is poor on sessions except for the Sunday night in the beer tent which makes up for the entire rest of the festival so long as you are not at work on Monday! No camping unless you buy a full ticket.

Broadstairs is poor on sessions. No camping unless you buy a full ticket. Busses have been poor int he past but were much improved 2010.

Sidmouth I am not a veteran at but I have enjoyed when I have been there - sessions almost everywhere, beware alcohol-fuelled noise in the Bedford the first couple of nights, camping a long way out and you need to pre-book (and it has had spectacular floods and swamps) but good busses.

I looked briefly in at Wheaton Aston once and it was nice but I'm not sure it's still alive.

Miskin was perfection apart from camping in Wales at Easter on a vertical cliff face but alas is defunct.

I'd suggest eschewing Faversham.

I'd also suggest eschewing Cambridge, as far as I know the informal late-night sessions around the Cherryhinton Hall campsite died out long ago, tickets are impossible to get and no camping without full ticket.

Badlesmere used to be nice - sessions in bar, electric in marquee in garden, camping with the goats but has not run for several years and is I think not coming back.

There also used to be a fest that all loved on a creek near Faversham but that too is defunct.

You being northernmunkeh and all I assume you know what's hapenning north of Watford...

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 02 Jan 11 - 01:15 PM

That's a useful list, Fidjit

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: Cats
Date: 02 Jan 11 - 01:23 PM

Folkstation on the Isle of Wight in July,fantastic comes complete with steam trains
Moira furnace .. a small and very friendly festival in August
then on to Whitby a week of excellent events with loads of fringe events and 'value' concerts

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: theleveller
Date: 02 Jan 11 - 01:30 PM

If you're looking for smaller really friendly festivals I can thoroughly recommend Ryedale Folk Weekend at the end of May and Moonbeams Wold Top Festival in the heart of the Yorkshire Wolds in mid July. Both in idyllic settings with great artists, friendly people, good sessions and perfect for kids. We'll be going to both so maybe see you there.

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: northernmunkeh
Date: 02 Jan 11 - 01:50 PM

Thanks to all. Some good suggestions and an excellent web directory from Fidjit. I will take a look through and also keep an eye out on this thread in case anyone else has any recommendations.
N

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: Fidjit
Date: 02 Jan 11 - 02:01 PM

Thanks Richard. Happy New Year to you.

Chas

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: stallion
Date: 02 Jan 11 - 02:19 PM

York - 4th & 5th of June Free festival

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 02 Jan 11 - 02:43 PM

Alcester & Arden, 17-19 June, White Horse Festival at Grove, near Wantage, 12-14 August....

Kitty

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: banjoman
Date: 03 Jan 11 - 06:29 AM

Sadly Broadstairs has become little more than a Pop Festival over the past few years with very little space, apart from the Woodshed , for just joining in. It seems that the organisers are more interested in Headline Acts which attract large numbers from outside the usual folk scene.

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 03 Jan 11 - 07:25 AM

There is a funny little one called the Sheringham (Norfolk) Pottie Festival, first weekend of July. It's Morris dancing and free-for-all singing/playing in the evenings. Lovely setting, countryside and shore. Shantymen's choir. Camping available. Also the Worstead Festival, also small but beautiful setting, near The Broads, on for three days, 29 30 31 July. Both these events have VERY friendly and welcoming clientele, and if the weather is nice, they can be idyllic. But they're not sophisticated or mind-blowing, just gentle country affairs.
(PS for Americans, The Broads are not what you may think, they're man-made lakes!)

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: Acorn4
Date: 03 Jan 11 - 07:37 AM

Moira Furnace Folk festival

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: Nick
Date: 03 Jan 11 - 07:55 AM

Whitby has lots of diversity and sessions of all sizes and sorts but is quite large and busy

I found Sidmouth lots of fun and reckon you could happily play from morning to night if you wanted. Not sure about camping as I was staying in a house (apart from the night I slept in the car which is not clever)

Beverley is also fun and has a lot going on and things you can get involved in

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: EnglishFolkfan
Date: 03 Jan 11 - 08:55 AM

northernmunkeh
For a big listing of English Scottish & Welsh Folk Festivals complete with their website links try Folk Orbits Festival section:

Folk Orbit Festivals Section

You will find there are other Sections in Folk Orbit to music sessions, dance and other Folkie delights all year round if you wish to plan on visiting places for music sessions between Festivals!

My local Big Summer festival is Shrewsbury Folk Festival in Shropshire which has sessions all day long on the main festival site (with online downloadable songbook for those tunes you may not know before arriving!) Across the river from the site in the Town are daily sessions too in the local pubs, Festival artists also join in with these as part of the plan which makes the whole town a festival friendly place.

Visitors & Artists from the US come to this event and I've heard this week of some 1st time visitors crossing the Pond who've booked their hotel & got their festival tickets already!

Shrewsbury Folk Festival

Where ever you end up northernmunkeh I hope it's a great Summer for you over here.

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: GUEST,Ticketseller
Date: 04 Jan 11 - 05:33 AM

Look at www.hardrawgathering.co.uk for a small festival in Wensleydale that has loads of sessions.....

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: OlgaJ
Date: 04 Jan 11 - 05:48 AM

Moira Furnace in August. Two pubs for sessions on all three days as well as onsite singing so there is plenty of choice. Small but friendly.

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: GUEST, Jim Hancock
Date: 04 Jan 11 - 05:54 AM

Hi There

Yorkshire Folk Arts

has extensuve information on Yorkshire Festivals

All the best

Jim Hancock

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: Old Vermin
Date: 04 Jan 11 - 07:48 AM

Seaside Swanage in Dorset of course - second weekend in September.

Song sessions in Red Lion - instrumental elsewhere.

http://www.swanagefolkfestival.co.uk/ - do look at the lower video there.

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: GUEST,MC Fat (at work)
Date: 05 Jan 11 - 06:29 AM

In planning stage but the 'resurrected' Sheffield Folk Festival at Easter Friday 22nd April till Sunday 24th April

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: Green Man
Date: 05 Jan 11 - 08:58 AM

Alcester Summer fest will be advertised here after the winter fest. Supported by a goodly number of Catters, it ticks all of your boxes.

Click Here

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: GUEST,SAILOR RON
Date: 05 Jan 11 - 09:04 AM

Fylde [Fleetwood in Lancashire], 1st weekend in Sept. has numerous music/song sessions.

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: GUEST,thebones1234
Date: 06 Jan 11 - 04:51 AM

Filey Folk Festival 2011 @ the Station Pub in Filey, on the North Yorkshire Coast. It will have a marquee covered beer garden all weekend just for open sessions/singarounds. Also in the pub itself a sectioned room for sessions again. It does have an amplified stage aswell for pre booked acts but this is merely to enhance the sound rather than blasting people heads (it will be busy). A lot going on all under one roof. Hobgoblins nice too !

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: GUEST,thebones1234
Date: 06 Jan 11 - 04:57 AM

Just to add - Filey Folk Festival is TOTALLY FREE ENTRY TOO. Public, open players, everybody. 29th april/30th april/ 1st may - double bank holiday weekend.

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 06 Jan 11 - 04:59 AM

I can recommend Moira. Wonderful compact little festival. Sadly it looks like this year's will be superseded by a family event.

Sigh.

Pigs Ear is fabulous too as is Sweeps.


Hurry up spring.

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: northernmunkeh
Date: 08 Jan 11 - 07:16 AM

My word, there's some choice out there! Good to hear that so many are thriving - and some reviving. Seems we've lost a few festivals along the way but your posts are by no means all bad news. The variety is great too. I will certainly consider town based ones (and city - sorry, Sheffield) too as my request for camping was for proximity, rather than an enthusiasm for a lumpy bed.

I think I've got my work cut out choosing. You've provided some excellent web links and I hope that others searching Mudcat for 'festivals' will find these helpful too.

Northernmunkeh

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 08 Jan 11 - 10:42 AM

what festivals are best for practical workshops (song, dance, instruments, storytelling, etc)?
In Ireland we have a number of week-long summer schools which are also partly festivals (they include concerts and sessions which are attended by both enrolled students and other people)

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Jan 11 - 12:22 PM

Whitby has a lot of workshops (£5 a time or free with a season ticket), free (collecting tin) sessions, singarounds and displays, dancing of all sorts, enough excelent concerts to keep you busy but the emphasis is on Traditional rather than the Headline names. So you don't usually need earplugs and the musicianship is superb.

The workshops cater for all levels of dancing and playing - the difficult part is chosing what to go to and what to miss (and how to run down the clif and across the habour in 2 mins).

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 08 Jan 11 - 12:37 PM

Yes, but if camping at Whitby will need to book a space early - same applies if not camping, but at least the festival won't clash with the Regatta this year!

Kitty

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: northernmunkeh
Date: 09 Jan 11 - 09:02 AM

Philippa
Folkworks, based at the Sage Music Centre Gateshead runs a summer school (not a festival) in Durham 9-14th August 2011.

http://www.thesagegateshead.org/l_and_p/joinin/adultprogramme.aspx

The application form is more informative than the brochure (which mixes up the youth and adult programmes unhelpfully).

northernmunkeh

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: GUEST,Fantum
Date: 09 Jan 11 - 08:19 PM

Saltburn Festival 12 - 14 Aug 2011
Always a singaround on somewhere, concerts, singarounds, sessions at various venues throughout the town.
Freindly and always plenty to go to.

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: Hawker
Date: 10 Jan 11 - 08:54 AM

Bude Folk Festival....seaside, good company, Fantastic sessions......
Click here

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: GUEST,uttoxeter mayfest 2011
Date: 16 Jan 11 - 07:39 AM

Uttoxeter Mayfest 2011 now confirmed on SUNDAY 1at may, tradtional dancing anf filk all day in market place and local pubs, large folk music event in evening. www.uttoxeter,ayfest.co.uk

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: mally
Date: 16 Jan 11 - 11:49 AM

I'm going over to Fareham at easter when the Gosport & Fareham festival's on.
Could anyone suggest any venues (pubs etc) where I might find informal sessions or singarounds I could try.

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: Seayaker
Date: 16 Jan 11 - 12:34 PM

Plenty of opportunities to play at Bromyard F.F. 9/10/11. September and a really nice small festival atmosphere.

Subject: RE: Summer Folk Festivals 2011 (UK)
From: Michael
Date: 16 Jan 11 - 03:11 PM

Stainsby Festival now confirmed for 22nd -24th July.

Mike