Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2017

Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2017 - around the festival site (food and drink)
Photo credit: Eve Mathews

Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2017

Friday 25th to Monday 28th August 2017
West Midlands Showground, (The Agricultural Showground) , Berwick Road, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 2PF, England MAP
£135 for weekend, camping £25 extra
Daily capacity: 6,500
Last updated: Fri 4th Aug 2017

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 28th August 2017 at the West Mid Showground in Berwick Rd, Shrewsbury.

Line-up

Confirmed acts include:- Andy Fairweather Low & the Low Riders featuring the Hi Riders Special Soul Review; Chris Difford; Coven (Lady Maisery, O’Hooley & Tidow, and Grace Petrie); Daphne’s Flight; Eric Bibb; Faith, Folk and Anarchy (Martyn Joseph, Steve Knightley and Tom Robinson); Jamie Smith’s Mabon; Jim Moray’s Upcetera Ensemble; Jimmy Aldridge and Sid Goldsmith; John Kirkpatrick; Jon Boden; Le Vent Du Nord; Loudon Wainwright III; Maz O’Connor; Moirai; O'Hooley & Tidow and The Passerine; Oysterband; Sam Kelly and the Lost Boys; Seth Lakeman; Skipinnish; The Rheingans Sisters; The Transports - Peter Bellamy’s groundbreaking folk opera with The Young’uns, Faustus, Nancy Kerr, Matthew Crampton, Greg Russell and Rachael McShane; The Unthanks; The Young’uns; Two Man Ting; Wood, Wire and Words.

For the full list of bands split by day, please see the line-up page.

The event will also host the only 2017 festival appearance of Peter Bellamy’s groundbreaking folk opera The Transports – A Tale of Exile and Migration, featuring The Young'uns, Faustus, Nancy Kerr, Matthew Crampton, Greg Russell and Rachael McShane.

Dance bands include Glorystrokes, Jabadaw, Steamchicken, Boldwood, Lasair, and Contrasaurus.

Further names will be revealed throughout the run up to the festival.

The festival has five music venues, a dance tent, runs more than 100 workshops, a popular children's festival, a dedicated youth programme for 12 to 17-year-olds, onsite camping, a craft fair and food village.

Tickets

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Tickets are priced at £135 for a full weekend ticket (camping £25 extra).
A concessions ticket is priced at £130.
A youth ticket (aged 12 to 17 years) is priced at £80.
A child (aged 5-11 years) ticket is priced at £45 (free camping if required).
Children aged four and under go free.

On-site camping is available to all weekend ticket holders with prices held at £25 per adult, or £10 for youths, free for those aged under 12. There are also day tickets on sale.

Facilities

In a change to previous years, the site will open from 7am on the Friday for people with camping tickets.

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.

As well as two fully-seated stages, expect there to also be an Open Mic marquee, ceilidhs, a dance display area, children's and youth's events, singarounds, workshops, and opportunities to 'Meet the Artist'. There are also many events expected to take place in the town of Shrewsbury itself.

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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