Manchester Folk Festival is a major new festival celebrating the best of English folk and acoustic roots music. It is an urban festival. A gathering of all kinds of folk.
The festival takes place in one area of the city over one weekend. HOME will be at the heart of the festival. We’re hosting indoor gigs and an outdoor stage, creating a festival hub where you can enjoy the atmosphere whilst catching up with friends. Gorilla, The Ritz and The Anthony Burgess Centre also host gigs and you can get involved too, with workshops and sing-arounds nearby. It will have the spirit of a festival in a field, right in the core of the city.
From true folk tradition to contemporary unions, protest songs to haunting ballads, the festival will present familiar names alongside exciting new voices.
Contemporary folk straddles genres, embraces different cultures and absorbs new influences. With over 16 concerts featuring over 30 artists in a mix of intimate, large scale, indoor and outdoor gigs, Manchester Folk Festival is dedicated to bringing you new discoveries and profiling the incredible range of music that the current English folk and acoustic scene has to offer.
Manchester Folk Festival is the legacy of the successful Homegrown Festival in Bury. The festival is produced by David Agnew, Artistic Director of The Met and Ramsbottom Festival. Manchester Folk Festival works in collaboration with the music industry event English Folk Expo. English Folk Expo is the music industry showcase for English folk, roots and acoustic music attracting around two hundred festival and venue representatives from across the world.
In this festival
News
Jon Boden: Magical Things Can Happen
Manchester Folk Festival 2017 is a major new festival of English folk and acoustic roots music which showcases everything from the traditional to the experimental,…
Previously in this Festival
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Manchester Folk Festival presents: Tom Robinson Plus Guests
Legendary musician and songwriter Tom Robinson brings his band to Manchester Folk Festival for an incendiary live performance. Tom Robinson’s success crosses the generations -…
Cinema
The Ballad of Shirley Collins
Rob Curry and Tim Plester's documentary sets out to explore the story behind English folk icon Shirley Collins.
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Manchester Folk Festival Presents: Forever Young ‘Uns: An hour with The Young ‘Uns
Forever Young ‘Uns offers a unique opportunity to catch the Young Uns in the middle of their national tour in an intimate setting.
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Manchester Folk Festival Presents: Spoon Carving: SingleMaltteapot
Join Vic Phillips of SingleMaltTeapot and discover the creative wonders of hand carving a wooden utensil.
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Manchester Folk Festival Presents: Modern Calligraphy: By Moon And Tide
Join By Moon And Tide’s Claire Gould and learn how to write a gorgeously quirky modern calligraphy script with a dip pen and copperplate nib.
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Manchester Folk Festival Presents: Glad to be Grey: Tom Robinson in Conversation
Join British songwriter and broadcaster Tom Robinson in conversation as part of Manchester Folk Festival.
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Manchester Folk Festival presents: John Smith
John has opened shows for Iron and Wine, John Martyn, Tinariwen and Gil Scott-Heron, and has performed alongside the likes of Jackson Browne, Jerry Douglas,…
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Manchester Folk Festival presents: Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker
This duo inhabit songs that are sometimes centuries old, making them personal and pre-sent again.
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Manchester Folk Festival presents: Keston Cobblers With Jinnwoo and Jack Rutter
The music of Keston Cobblers’ Club isn’t just uplifting; it’s a full-on celebration.
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Manchester Folk Festival Presents: Lino Printing: Jenna Clark
Master the basics of lino-printing in this workshop with printmaker and professional illustrator Jenna Clark. In this 2.5 hour workshop, Jenna will take you step-by-step…
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Manchester Folk Festival presents: Jig Doll
JigDoll is a new project created by Hannah James.
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Manchester Folk Festival presents: Vishten
Vishtèn dazzle audiences with their fiery blend of traditional French songs and original instrumentals, fusing Celtic and Acadian genres with a modern rock sensibility and…
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Manchester Folk Festival presents: Quiet Loner
In a show combining songs and images, People's History Museum 'songwriter in residence' Matt Hill (Quiet Loner) tells the story of the men and women…
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Manchester Folk Festival presents: The Young ‘uns
The Young ’uns have proved themselves a unique proposition – writing and performing a cappella or subtly accompanied songs that tell it how it is,…
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Manchester Folk Festival presents: Jon Boden and The Remnant Kings
For Manchester Folk Festival Jon will bring a freshly launched and extended big band version of The Remnant Kings back to the stage. Featuring the great…
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Manchester Folk Festival presents: False Lights
An explosion of loud, electric, folk-rock, False Lights is a collaboration between multi-award winning singers and guitarists Jim Moray and Sam Carter. This is a…
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Manchester Folk Festival presents: Afro Celt Sound System
Afro Celt Sound System are a European and African based collective who’ve been a ground-breaking force in music ever since they started. Expect an energetic…
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Manchester Folk Festival presents: Kathryn Tickell & David Almond with Amy Thatcher
A thrilling musical event, bringing together folk and classical worlds with an irresistible combination of players and instruments
Theatre
Manchester Folk Festival presentsThe Theatre Ballads: Horse + Bamboo
Horse + Bamboo depict songs of a great fight, a broken contract and a female smuggler. Each is a historic ballad arranged and performed live…
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Manchester Folk Festival presents: Stick in the Wheel
Stick In The Wheel's sound is a raw, fresh take on English Folk music.
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Manchester Folk Festival Presents: Chunky Knitting: SoSatsuma
Manchester makers SoSatsuma create gorgeous big bold knits in indulgent yarns. In this 3 hour workshop you’ll learn contemporary chunky knitting, under the expert guidance…