“A little bit of heaven”… Mark Radcliffe, Six Music / BBC Radio 2
“Everyone is so friendly. It is like a big family really” – festivalgoer
“Amazingly friendly festival. Great atmosphere” – festivalgoer
Shrewsbury Folk Festival is one of the few major UK folk festivals that will be taking place this year following the cancellation of other leading events like WOMAD, Cambridge and Cropredy.
The festival is renowned for combining a stellar line-up and slick production with a relaxed and friendly vibe that makes it one of the most sought-after tickets for August Bank Holiday weekend (August 27-30).
This year’s bill includes Kate Rusby, Oysterband, Show of Hands, Afro Celt Sound System, Seth Lakeman, The Christians, Dervish, Lindisfarne and The Young’uns.
Shrewsbury will host the only festival appearance of the acclaimed Lost Words: Spell Songs project and shanty sensations The Longest Johns will also perform. Other acts include leading kora musician Sona Jobarteh, Joji Hirota and the London Taiko Drummers, Band of Burns, Seckou Keita Quartet, BBC Folk Award winners The Trials of Cato, Calan and James Yorkston.
Festival organisers have opted for open air stages instead of the usual enclosed marquees to ensure plenty of space for the thousands of festivalgoers that will descend on the riverside site near the centre of medieval Shrewsbury.
Other than that, it will be business as usual with kids and teens catered for with their own children and youth festivals with packed programmes of music, song, crafts, circus skills, drama and fun. There are also ceilidhs, dance shows and workshops including yoga, music and more.
An artisan craft fair focuses on handmade and ethical products and there’s a food village featuring international cuisine and vegan and veggie dishes, on-site camping and glamping and real ale & cocktail bars including Olive, the eye catching double decker cocktail bus!
Festival Director Sandra Surtees said the festival was expecting an influx of visitors this year who are opting for UK based holidays and looking to try something new.
“With so many other festivals having cancelled, Shrewsbury is a beacon of light in the festival calendar! Many people come to the festival as a holiday in itself as there’s so much to do.
“Music stages and venues are surrounded by camping and glamping so everything is within easy reach. With onsite showers, a festival shop and our team of friendly stewards ready to help, all people need to do is pitch up, relax and enjoy the weekend!
“It’s been a really tough time for everyone, including event organisers, over the past 16 months and we can’t to wait to put that all behind us over the August Bank Holiday weekend.”
Weekend and day tickets can be booked at shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk/booktickets/ with onsite camping and glamping available for weekend ticket holders.
