The folk music scene in the UK is vibrant and rich if you know where to look for it, and once you have a collection of favourite artists and bands, you can follow them to find out where they’re playing.
In the summer months, however, things get even better as folk festivals pop up in our towns and cities and we get to share our love for all things folk with the wider population. This is a great opportunity to get kids involved in music and many people who don’t necessarily come across folk music in their daily lives are able to embrace the genre and enjoy it for all it offers.
I’ve just spent some very happy days at Sidmouth Folk Festival with my family, and this is a great example. A huge variety of music on the streets and in local venues creates a thriving event that draws crowds of locals and holidaymakers to enjoy the atmosphere.
Many of the fabulous folk festivals in the UK have already taken place this year but some of our favourites are still to come, including:
Purbeck Valley Folk Festival (where I’ll be playing with my duo, Edgelarks, pictured above) - 14th August 2025
Folk East - 15th August 2025
Whitby Folk Week - 16th August 2025
Cornwall Folk Festival - 21st August 2025
Lyme Folk Weekend - 29th August 2025
Swanage Folk Festival - 5th September 2025
Otley Folk Festival - 19th September 2025
Malmesbury Folk & Roots - 20th September 2025
Common Folk Festival (Leicester) - 27th September 2025
Some of these are public events, such as Sidmouth Festival, which are largely free to attend, and these tend to be sprawling events in which you can wander through a town or city and soak up all the performances on offer. Others include camping options and are multi-day events for a full folk-immersion experience.
There are many, many more folk festivals, large and small, in the UK, and finding your favourites is great fun!
Do you have any Folk Festivals on your to-do list for this summer?