What’s New

Opening Times on Friday 1 June

• The Campsites will open at 10am
• The Box Office will open on site at 12 noon
• The Main Festival Site will open at 4pm
• The Jools Concert in Marquee 1 commences at 8pm with Hat Fitz and Cara
• The Concert in Marquee 2 are 6pm – 10.15pm and then a further session 11pm – 00.30 with Manière des Bohémiens and The Bonny Men
• Music on the Barleycorn Stage in the Bar Marquee will commence at 5pm.

Ticket Validity

Weekend Ticket holders please note that although your tickets state Sat/Sun/Mon – they do include access to everything on Friday evening except the  Jools concert in marquee 1.

Artist Update

With over 60 artists now confirmed, this year’s festival really does promise to be the best ever with music from all over the UK, Europe and beyond. The full spectrum of ’folk music’ will be  explored in four days of stunning entertainment. You can just listen and  watch or you can participate and learn but above all you will enjoy yourself and have a great time.

Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra featuring Gilson Lavis and guest vocalists Ruby Turner & Louise Marshall will launch the Festival on Friday 1 June 2012. Chris Difford, Squeeze front man and co-writer of all their hits is confirmed as the special guest vocalist for the show. They will be supported by one of last year’s favourite duos Hat Fitz and Cara Robinson. Please visit the Line up page for more details. A limited number of half price Jools tickets are available for people who purchase weekend festival tickets.

If Jools is not for you on the Friday night there will still be a full programme of folk and roots music on site with Welsh band Calan headlining the concert in Marquee 2 along with Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman, Lucy Ward and Harry Bird and the Rubber Wellies.

Recently confirmed artists include The Bonny Men from Ireland, guitarist Jacques Stotzem on tour from Belgium, Troy Faid from N Yorks, David Gibb and Elly Lucas, Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar, Cornish bluegrass band Blue Horyzon, ‘twisted’ folk performer Luke Barton, Old Timey skiffle band The Broom Hill String Band, the energetic Northern Monkeywith their ace new Dutch fiddle player, sensational 17 yr old singer/guitarist Georgie Rose How, Stephen Langstaff, Jed Grimes, Philip Cockerham, Kate Denny with Simon Routh, the Sherwood Lads, Ian Roberts & Trevor McMaster, Eastern European band Muha and Portuguese string group Grupo de Cordas da Secção de Fado.

Already confirmed are Dougie MacLean, Breabach, Jon Boden and the Remnant Kings, Martyn Joseph, Brass Monkey, Beoga, Le Vent du Nord (Canada),  Calan,The Melrose Quartet – Nancy Kerr and James Fagan + Richard and Jess Arrowsmith, Karine Polwart Trio, The Toy Hearts, Fay Hield Trio, Lucy Ward, The Wilson Family, GloryStrokes, Steamchicken and Becky Wolff, The QP, Sciorr:Staged, Isla St Clair, Morris On with Ashley Hutchings, Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman, Trí, Blair Dunlop, The Go Set, Anna Elias and the Forlorn Hope, Harry Bird and the Rubber Wellies, Groanbox, Manière des Bohémiens, Keith Donnelly L’il Ian Goodsman and Fay Brotherhood. See the Line up page for further information on  all the artists.

Where to Buy Tickets

Tickets are available either:

• online
• by downloading the festival flyer and completing the booking form
• by phoning 01636 812933 or
… by visiting one of these outlets:
• the Minster Shop or Woodlanders in Southwell
• RST Music in Newark or
• Dave Mann Music Shop, Mansfield Road in Nottingham or
• the Nottingham Tourism Centre in the Council House Building.

Festival Dates

Please note that this year’s festival will take place from Friday 1 June – Monday 4 June 2012. This is a week earlier than normal to take advantage of the long Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend. The format will stay largely the same with events starting on Friday evening and then 3 full days of activities finishing on Monday evening.

In the Spotlight

Still more stewards required

We’ve had a fantastic response to our request for stewards this year – but we still need a few more! A FREE weekend ticket is yours in return for doing 4 hours of stewarding duties each day. So there’s plenty of free time to enjoy the festival.  Click here to go to our stewards page for further information.

Amazing fire dancers Mr Fox to perform outside on Friday night

To round off a spectacular first night – Mr Fox, the masked dancers from Derbyshire will perform their spectacular unique show with fire brands at 11pm

Festival favourites two years ago, Granny Turismo are back with their special Olympic Show.

Since appearing at Southwell in 2010 Granny Turismo has been delighting audiences wherever they go and is one of the most talked-about acts around. The show has universal appeal and is part walkabout, part circle show and wholly engaging. When Doris, Mary and Marge arrive on their souped-up shopping trolleys, everyone takes notice. www.grannyturismo.net

New Video – A quick snapshot of 3 hours in the life of the Festival

Never been to a Folk Festival? Wondering what it’s all about? Watch the 7 minute video here to get a flavour of all the exciting things that go on and to view our fantastic location in and around the lovely market town of Southwell in Nottinghamshire.

Last year revisited – YouTube videos

In addition to the Snapshot video filmed by James Erskine of Iris Videos click here to view 3 YouTube videos of the 2011 festival filmed by Pete Simmonds

Winner of last year’s Open Mic Competition

Last year’s open mic compeition was won by Fay Brotherhood, a wildlife conservation student from Leicestershire who is currently studying at Nottingham Trent University.

Fay sang the traditional song ‘Captain Ward’ and her own composition ’All There Can Be’ both from her debut album ‘ Follow the Falcon’. An excited Fay said ‘This is my first festival but I’ve done a lot of spots at Folk Clubs in the area. The Festival is the best thing to happen to Southwell and I feel marvellous about winning’.

Fay will be on the guest list for this year’s festival.

Folk & Acoustic Music Diary

The Festival only happens once a year but live folk and acoustic music is available all year round at many great venues in the area. Here is our new diary of folk events in the area. If you are a promoter or club organiser and want to feature your events in the diary please email your details.