Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2023

The Shrewsbury Folk Festival is a four day event blending a tradition of folk music and dance and offers musical and cultural diversity in a family friendly format with something for everyone, and a chance to discover new artists from the UK and around the world happening from Friday 25th until Monday 28st August 2023 at the West Mid Showground in Berwick Rd, Shrewsbury.

Organisers have elected for outside stages and more outdoor activities to ensure it can meet any possible covid related regulations that might be in place by August Bank Holiday when the four-day festival takes place.

Traditionally the festival has four main music stages, a dance tent with a programme including ceilidhs, workshops and dance shows, children and youth festivals, workshops, craft fair, food village, real ale, cocktail and gin bars and on-site camping and glamping. There are also fringe events at local pubs with dance displays in the town centre and a parade through the streets on the Saturday afternoon.

Line-up

acts include Daphne's flight ; N'faly Kouyate ; Maddy Prior & forgotten Lands ; Leveret ; N'famady Kouyate ; The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican ; The Salts ; Dana Immaanuel & The Stolen Band; and many more to be announced

for the line-up details as available, please see the line-up page.

Previous acts included Kate Rusby, Oysterband, Show of Hands, Afro Celt Sound System, Seth Lakeman, The Christians, Dervish, Lindisfarne, The Young'uns, Sona Jobarteh, Joji Hirota and the London Taiko Drummers, Band of Burns, Seckou Keita Quartet, The Trials of Cato, Calan, Edwina Hayes, FOS Brothers, Sheelanagig, Kabantu, Pendevig, Benji Kirkpatrick & The Excess, The Carrivick Sisters, Sherburn-Bartley-Sanders, Sheema Mukherjee, The Boxwood Chessmen, Sisters of Elva Hill folk ballet, The John Martyn Project, Will Pound's A Day Will Come, The Jellyman's Daughter, Truckstop Honeymoon and James Yorkston.

Shrewsbury will host the only festival appearance of The Lost Words: Spell Songs with Karine Polwart, Julie Fowlis, Seckou Keita, Kris Drever, Rachel Newton, Beth Porter, Jim Molyneux and illustrator Jackie Morris.

Tickets

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Tickets are on sale, currently priced as follows:-
adult weekend no camping: £160
adult weekend with camping: £187
Family, youth, child, and day tickets are also available.

Facilities

This venue is flat, has tarmac roadways throughout and there is ample free parking. There are also flushing toilets and showers, and buildings for workshops and sessions plus improved access for those with disabilities.

Other additions to the festival include an on-site shop, a shuttle bus service into Shrewsbury town centre, seated marquees, and an increased capacity. There will still be a bar selling real ales and caterers selling a wide variety of food but it is worth noting that ticketing policy.

Camping

Camping is all on-site allowing festival goers access to all venues and activities.

Dogs

Dogs are very welcome at the festival but are not allowed in venues unless they are assistance dogs.

Charity

Every year, it supports its charity partner Hope House Hospice to fund its music therapy sessions for children with life limiting illnesses at the Morda based centre.

Shrewsbury Folk Festival has revealed plans for a £150,000 project called Room For All that will include bringing world dance and music to Shropshire schools. The festival will develop and run a two-year programme of activities for musicians, dancers, schoolchildren and communities across Shropshire under the umbrella of its new All Together Now initiative. A number of refugee musicians involved will premiere at the festival.

More information will be here when available.

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