Manchester Folk Festival is an annual urban folk festival, a gathering of all kinds of folk.
Contemporary folk straddles genres, embraces different cultures and absorbs new influences. Manchester Folk Festival’s aim is to profile the incredible range of great music that is described as folk and bring audiences the best of the current scene.
From Wed 16 – Sun 20 October 2019 Manchester celebrates the best of English folk and acoustic roots music. The whole festival takes place in one area of the city centre, across a handful of great venues, all within a few minutes’ walk from each other. Here at HOME you’ll be at the heart of the festival, with Gorilla, The Ritz, Manchester Central, YES and The Comedy Store also hosting gigs.
This is a festival of discovery, with its roots firmly in the traditions of the past, and eyes on the future. Each year it brings some of the biggest names in folk to the city in an imaginative programme which presents familiar names alongside exciting new voices, creative workshops and relaxed sing-arounds.
Manchester Folk Festival is produced by David Agnew, Artistic Director of The Met and Head for the Hills Festival in Ramsbottom. 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 200 festival and venue representatives from across the world. This year the festival also plays host to the annual BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, welcoming audiences and the music industry to a prestigious live awards show at The Bridgewater Hall and BBC Radio 2’s Young Folk Awards will be right here at HOME.
Please note Manchester Folk Festival operate a no refunds policy on their events.
In this festival
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Manchester Folk Festival 2019: Sunday Singaround
Come and unwind with a traditional singaround in one of the oldest pubs in Manchester.
Previously in this Festival
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Manchester Folk Festival 2019: The Servants’ Ball
‘The Servants’ Ball’ will recreate the atmosphere of these events with music and dance.
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Manchester Folk Festival 2019 and One Festival of Homeless Arts Presents
Manchester Folk Festival and the One Festival of Homeless Arts are delighted to present four artists selected from a competitive application process.
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Manchester Folk Festival 2019: John Bramwell
Mercury Prize nominated singer songwriter John Bramwell comes to Manchester Folk Festival with a spellbinding solo performance.
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Manchester Folk Festival 2019: Blackbeard’s Tea Party
Blackbeard’s Tea Party’s bold and riotous modern folk rock is built for late nights and big stages.
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Manchester Folk Festival 2019: Sacred Harp Workshop
Manchester’s Sacred Harp hosts an open session for all to take part in this uplifting Ameri-can choral tradition.
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Manchester Folk Festival 2019: Kate Rusby
Kate’s unique voice and warm Yorkshire wit ensure that audiences will be treated to a truly remarkable and unforgettable concert experience.
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Manchester Folk Festival 2019: Kathryn Williams
Mercury-nominated and critically acclaimed folk artist Kathryn Williams joins us for Manchester Folk Festival.
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Manchester Folk Festival 2019: Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys
Americana and blues, beautiful original pieces, and the occasional surprise of a pop classic.
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Manchester Folk Festival 2019: The Breath
Please note: this event has been cancelled due to illness. John Bramwell will appear at Gorilla as a replacement event.
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Manchester Folk Festival 2019: Ferocious Dog
Fusing celtic folk and punk, this is fast-paced, foot-stomping, fist-in-the-air music to be danced to in a sweaty crowd.
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Manchester Folk Festival 2019: Rowan Rheingans – Dispatches on The Red Dress
Rowan Rheingans is an award-winning fiddle player, banjoist and songwriter, known for her work with Lady Maisery, The Rheingans Sisters and Songs of Separation.
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Manchester Folk Festival 2019: Rising Up – Peterloo 2019
Manchester Folk is proud to present a newly commissioned song cycle inspired by the bi-centenary of Peterloo written by Sean Cooney.
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Manchester Folk Festival 2019: Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman
This Dartmoor-based duo have fine-tuned their art into something original, captivating and totally engaging.
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Manchester Folk Festival 2019: Grace Petrie
Grace Petrie has been described as ‘Britain’s voice-of-a-generation protest singer’.
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Manchester Folk Festival 2019: The Unthanks Sing Emily Brontë
A rare live performance of this new work, this promises to be an atmospheric and unique collaboration.
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Manchester Folk Festival 2019: Belinda O’Hooley
Belinda O’Hooley is a gifted pianist and singer, and songwriter, she heads back to HOME for another Manchester Folk Festival.
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Manchester Folk Festival 2019: The Demon Barbers XL
Renowned for their subversive no-holds-barred approach to their live shows, The Demon Barbers return to the concert stage with a new repertoire, extra band members…
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Manchester Folk Festival 2019: Ian Stephenson : Modulate
Ian Stephenson is one of England’s most exciting and varied artists, known for his stunning guitar and melodeon playing in innovative folk bands such as…
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Manchester Folk Festival 2019: Fringe Events
First Street will be brought to life over the Manchester Folk Festival weekend.