What’s New

The Festival Committee is delighted to announce that 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 in Marquee 1. Additionally, 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.

Ticket sales  are  phenomenal – well up on last year.  So don’t delay. Early Bird Adult Weekend tickets   are on sale at £69  until  29 Feb.   Early Bird  Adult Day tickets are also on sale at £30 until the end Feb.
Tickets are available online, by downloading the festival flyer and completing the booking form, by phoning 01636 812933  or by visiting the Minster Shop or Woodlanders in Southwell, RST Music in Newark or Dave Mann Music in Nottingham

If Jools is not for you 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  The Wilson Family 

Calan, Isla St Clair and 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 and Manière des Bohémiens are the latest artists to be confirmed for this year. They join over 20 artists to offer an amazing line up offering a very broad spectrum of folk and acoustic music from around Great Britain and beyond – Dougie MacLean, Breabach, Jon Boden and the Remnant Kings, Martyn Joseph, Brass Monkey, Beoga, Le Vent du Nord (Canada), 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 and Fay Brotherhood. There’s more to come… watch this space. See the Line up page for further information on the artists.

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

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.