Seth Lakeman for Bristol Folk Festival

headlining the Royal Wedding day

By Scott Williams | Published: Sat 11th Dec 2010

Bristol Folk Festival 2011 - Seth Lakeman
Photo credit: Karen Williams

Bristol Folk Festival 2011

Friday 29th April to Sunday 1st May 2011
Colston Hall, Bristol, England
£75 for the weekend, children (6-16) £65, family £230
Daily capacity: 3,000

Seth Lakeman is the final headlining act to be announced for Bristol Folk Festival.

Seth Lakeman
Show of Hands are to headline the middle day of next year's revived Bristol Folk Festival which is returning to the city after a 32 year absence.

Seth Lakeman, the Dartmoor musician, is to headline the opening day of next spring's revived Bristol Folk Festival – which returns to the city after more than three decades.

Folk-rock star Lakeman is already patron of the 'comeback' event at the Colston Hall and adds his weight to the previously confirmed headline acts, Bellowhead and Show of Hands. The young singer songwriter and musician will headline the opening night of the festival on Friday 29th April – which is now also the Royal Wedding day and a national holiday. Festival organisers are planning events in and around the Colston Hall to add to the nationwide celebration.

Lakeman famously made his brooding 2005 Mercury Prize nominated album 'Kitty Jay' for £300 in his kitchen and became one of the fastest-rising stars in indie folk with his trademark percussive style and stomp. A dazzlingly frenetic fiddler, he also plays tenor guitar and will appear at Bristol Folk Festival with his band – brother Sean Lakeman, versatile double bassist Ben Nicholls and new drummer Simon Lea.

Seth said, "It's great to be asked not only to be patron of this revived festival but also to headline the opening night. I lived in Bristol for a while and it's got an amazing live music vibe and this should really get the city buzzing over the holiday weekend."

The event will take place over three days indoors at the city's Colston Hall during the May Day Bank Holiday weekend running from Friday 29th April to Sunday 1st May 2011.

It is hoped that up to 3,000 people will come along from Bristol and around the country. There will be something going on from 10am to midnight each day.

Early bird adult tickets are priced at £60 for the three days. Children under 5's free of charge, and children aged 6-16 will require a concession ticket priced at £50. A family tickets (2 adults + 2 kids) are priced at £190. To buy tickets, click here.


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