Manchester Folk Festival, a major new annual festival in Manchester celebrating the best of English folk and acoustic roots music, has just announced its first six concerts ahead of the full programme launch this April. From protest song to ballads, familiar names alongside exciting new talent it takes place across the city with a festival hub including an outdoor stage here at HOME.
With over 16 concerts, featuring over 30 artists in a mix of intimate, large-scale, indoor and outdoor gigs, Manchester Folk Festival is the only festival dedicated to promoting and supporting new English folk and acoustic music. It will also host the English Folk Expo music showcase, attracting delegates from across the world, and is set to become a solid addition to the thriving Manchester and UK festival scene.
The first concerts announced include Jon Boden and the Remnant Kings, Afro Celt Sound System, The Young ‘Uns, Tom Robinson, Kathryn Tickell & The Side and False Lights.
Manchester Folk Festival is produced by David Agnew, director of So It Is and artistic director for The Met in Bury and Ramsbottom Festival. David says “I am thrilled to bring this exciting new festival to Manchester to present great folk found from throughout England. We have fantastic venues and to add a city based music festival to the global folk industry is really exciting. This festival is all about profiling and celebrating the range of great music described as folk or acoustic – offering audiences new artists and supporting emerging artists who deserve to be on the world stage”.
Manchester Folk Festival is a legacy of the successful Homegrown folk music festival which has previously taken place in Bury each autumn. The festival takes place from Thu 19 – Sat 21 October. Find out more about the programme here.
