Hi all,
I'm an Aussie that will be taking off to the UK for three months in mid June, Are there any must-do folk festivals between July and end Sept? Otherwise, anyone in London, Bristol, Endinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin, Cork, Belfast, or Galway - I will be in the area, so feel free to PM me if you want to swap tunes or have a jam when I arrive : )
*hugs to you all*
Re: UK Folk Festivals - The many travels if Eveish
Sidmouth Festival starts on the last w/e of July and runs for 1 week. Nice setting on the coast of Devon in England. Pubs for sessions are The Anchor, The Dove and The Black Horse in the evening. The Bedford Hotel has sessions all day until about 2-30 in the morning. The Bedford often has 3 sessions running at the same time - an Irish, English and Bluegrass (seperate rooms of course). A truly International festival despite last years so called "down sizing". Same as ever really.Even dig players on the prom to make you feel at home!!
It depends what you want, of course. In Scotland, try Keith, Newcastleton, Auchtermuchty, Lossiemouth, and Stonehaven. They have lots of tune and song sessions. If you go to Edinburgh during August, the whole place including Sandy Bells is "buzzing".
There's lots of other good places to visit as well.
One extra possibility this year is The North Atlantic Fiddle Convention held in Aberdeen with lots of great fiddlers and session possibilities.
Re: UK Folk Festivals - The many travels if Eveish
Ron P,
They've now banned outdoor drinking in the streets(local By law) so this has got rid of much of the rowdy element.
Besides, you were usually OK inside the bars and The Legion and Railway Club were always "drunk free" (apart from ordinary folks who had a few but there was no "yob element").
Moreover, if you are in the know or just have a bit of patience, the late night sessions are great too. they don't let the eedjits in there.
Yes, Keith has had it's problems but it's been fine recently.
Re: UK Folk Festivals - The many travels if Eveish
Thanks for all the info guys!
I think I will be well and truly festival-ing my way around the country! I am mainly interested in Irish/Celtic sessions and festivals that are full of that style of tunes : ) I am not sure about the rougher sounding events, as I am a young woman traveling alone!
Shrewsbury I have heard of, and would love to go, but I have gigs at Towersey over the same weekend. Hmm.. how many festivals can i squeeze into the one weekend ; )
I will definately look up that Danish Festival too, I have been over to DK several times and I really love it there, have even picked up a little of the language : )
So which Celtic bands/artists are a must see from the UK?
Thanks again for all the links guys, am about to check them all out.
-Eve
Re: UK Folk Festivals - The many travels if Eveish
That was the first Stonehaven Festival Dick - [ will I ever forget it ? ]
Surely you'd recommend this year's Campbeltown Festival ? A bit out of the way, but you'd get a few tunes with Ptarmigan and band, plus RonP and myself. Very probably. Apart from that , I wouldn't recommend any festival in Scotland at all. As for Keith Festival, RonP and I went there last year on the Friday. I went back to Aberdeen the same night, and he left on Saturday lunchtime. That should tell you something.
Re: UK Folk Festivals - The many travels if Eveish
I didn't get there until Saturday afternoon so I missed you both. There was no trouble that weekend, although I admit tunes were a bit thinner on the ground and much more Scottish up there. However, I still enjoyed myself.
Hom Bru will be there this year and they're always great folk for a tune and a bit of crack.
Re: UK Folk Festivals - The many travels if Eveish
Eveish,
Don't worry about your safety at the festivals. Yes, a lot of them do attract youngsters who don't have too much interest in the music and like to get a bit p-ssed but they are unlikely to bother you (I know Girvan got a bit out of hand this year but the bad behaviour was confined to the campsite and didn't affect the music).
Moreover, ther vast majority are all decent people and will "look after you".
Re: UK Folk Festivals - The many travels if Eveish
John J, we obviously weren't at the same festival (I did in fact stay a bit longer than Kenny said). Although there were a handful of good musicians about, (including a very good Hungarian fiddle player!!!). It really was a waste of time - very, very noisy. You must be a very tolerant person to think that it wasn't otherwise..
Re: UK Folk Festivals - The many travels if Eveish
Hi,
The best English festival for Irish sessions is Whitby in Yorkshire which is held the last week in August. It's also a lovely place with plenty of cheap B + Bs,
Ric
Re: UK Folk Festivals - The many travels if Eveish
*runs away and does a search online for all the festivals talked about* Sounds great, there are definately a few I will try to get to though there are so many events in the UK that it seems my three months will be one long folk festival! *grin* thats the way I like it anyway! I hope to meet some of you along the way!
-Eve
UK Folk Festivals - The many travels if Eveish
UK Folk Festivals - The many travels if Eveish
Hi all,
I'm an Aussie that will be taking off to the UK for three months in mid June, Are there any must-do folk festivals between July and end Sept? Otherwise, anyone in London, Bristol, Endinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin, Cork, Belfast, or Galway - I will be in the area, so feel free to PM me if you want to swap tunes or have a jam when I arrive : )
*hugs to you all*
Eveish
# Posted on May 21st 2006 by Eveish
Re: UK Folk Festivals - The many travels if Eveish
Depends what sort of festival you want and what type of "Folk" you like.
I'll be at Shrewsbury at the end of August and think the link up is excellent this year.
Cara
# Posted on May 21st 2006 by Caraaz
Re: UK Folk Festivals - The many travels if Eveish
Sidmouth Festival starts on the last w/e of July and runs for 1 week. Nice setting on the coast of Devon in England. Pubs for sessions are The Anchor, The Dove and The Black Horse in the evening. The Bedford Hotel has sessions all day until about 2-30 in the morning. The Bedford often has 3 sessions running at the same time - an Irish, English and Bluegrass (seperate rooms of course). A truly International festival despite last years so called "down sizing". Same as ever really.Even dig players on the prom to make you feel at home!!
# Posted on May 21st 2006 by Newty
Re: UK Folk Festivals - The many travels if Eveish
Thats digerydoo da@s or whatever they are.
# Posted on May 21st 2006 by Newty
Re: UK Folk Festivals - The many travels if Eveish
Here's a link to most of the fetivals
http://www.frootsmag.com/content/festivals/
It depends what you want, of course. In Scotland, try Keith, Newcastleton, Auchtermuchty, Lossiemouth, and Stonehaven. They have lots of tune and song sessions. If you go to Edinburgh during August, the whole place including Sandy Bells is "buzzing".
There's lots of other good places to visit as well.
One extra possibility this year is The North Atlantic Fiddle Convention held in Aberdeen with lots of great fiddlers and session possibilities.
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/elphinstone/events/nafco06/home.shtml
Oh, and if you've come so far why not nip over to Denmark for the best folk festival of all?
http://www.tf.dk/prog.asp?lan=uk
# Posted on May 21st 2006 by John J.
Re: UK Folk Festivals - The many travels if Eveish
If you were to hire me as a guide, I'd show you all the way around in Britain and Ireland.
Hostels: http://www.hostelworld.com or http://www.hostelbookers.com
Cheap flights: http://www.easyjet.com or http://www.ryanair.com
The Gig Guide (in Scotland): http://www.gigguide.co.uk/listings.htm
Probably the best hostel in Edinburgh: http://www.budgetbackpackers.com
# Posted on May 21st 2006 by slainte
Re: UK Folk Festivals - The many travels if Eveish
I'd advise against Keith, unless you enjoy wall to wall loud drunks with no interest whatsoever in the music being played..
# Posted on May 22nd 2006 by Ron P
Re: UK Folk Festivals - The many travels if Eveish
Ron P,
They've now banned outdoor drinking in the streets(local By law) so this has got rid of much of the rowdy element.
Besides, you were usually OK inside the bars and The Legion and Railway Club were always "drunk free" (apart from ordinary folks who had a few but there was no "yob element").
Moreover, if you are in the know or just have a bit of patience, the late night sessions are great too. they don't let the eedjits in there.
Yes, Keith has had it's problems but it's been fine recently.
# Posted on May 22nd 2006 by John J.
Re: UK Folk Festivals - The many travels if Eveish
Ron, wasn't it Keith where Napping Tom had a rather spectacular incident with a girl friend, a car & a tent?
I'm saying no more!
My lips are sealed & sworn to secrecy!
# Posted on May 22nd 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: UK Folk Festivals - The many travels if Eveish
Thanks for all the info guys!
I think I will be well and truly festival-ing my way around the country! I am mainly interested in Irish/Celtic sessions and festivals that are full of that style of tunes : ) I am not sure about the rougher sounding events, as I am a young woman traveling alone!
Shrewsbury I have heard of, and would love to go, but I have gigs at Towersey over the same weekend. Hmm.. how many festivals can i squeeze into the one weekend ; )
I will definately look up that Danish Festival too, I have been over to DK several times and I really love it there, have even picked up a little of the language : )
So which Celtic bands/artists are a must see from the UK?
Thanks again for all the links guys, am about to check them all out.
-Eve
# Posted on May 22nd 2006 by Eveish
Re: UK Folk Festivals - The many travels if Eveish
That was the first Stonehaven Festival Dick - [ will I ever forget it ? ]
Surely you'd recommend this year's Campbeltown Festival ? A bit out of the way, but you'd get a few tunes with Ptarmigan and band, plus RonP and myself. Very probably. Apart from that , I wouldn't recommend any festival in Scotland at all. As for Keith Festival, RonP and I went there last year on the Friday. I went back to Aberdeen the same night, and he left on Saturday lunchtime. That should tell you something.
# Posted on May 22nd 2006 by Kenny
Re: UK Folk Festivals - The many travels if Eveish
I didn't get there until Saturday afternoon so I missed you both. There was no trouble that weekend, although I admit tunes were a bit thinner on the ground and much more Scottish up there. However, I still enjoyed myself.
Hom Bru will be there this year and they're always great folk for a tune and a bit of crack.
# Posted on May 22nd 2006 by John J.
Re: UK Folk Festivals - The many travels if Eveish
Eveish,
Don't worry about your safety at the festivals. Yes, a lot of them do attract youngsters who don't have too much interest in the music and like to get a bit p-ssed but they are unlikely to bother you (I know Girvan got a bit out of hand this year but the bad behaviour was confined to the campsite and didn't affect the music).
Moreover, ther vast majority are all decent people and will "look after you".
# Posted on May 22nd 2006 by John J.
Re: UK Folk Festivals - The many travels if Eveish
John J, we obviously weren't at the same festival (I did in fact stay a bit longer than Kenny said). Although there were a handful of good musicians about, (including a very good Hungarian fiddle player!!!). It really was a waste of time - very, very noisy. You must be a very tolerant person to think that it wasn't otherwise..
# Posted on May 22nd 2006 by Ron P
Re: UK Folk Festivals - The many travels if Eveish
Hi,
The best English festival for Irish sessions is Whitby in Yorkshire which is held the last week in August. It's also a lovely place with plenty of cheap B + Bs,
Ric
# Posted on May 22nd 2006 by ricthewhistle
Re: UK Folk Festivals - The many travels if Eveish
*runs away and does a search online for all the festivals talked about* Sounds great, there are definately a few I will try to get to though there are so many events in the UK that it seems my three months will be one long folk festival! *grin* thats the way I like it anyway! I hope to meet some of you along the way!
-Eve
# Posted on May 25th 2006 by Eveish