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2021 & 2022 Photos Here

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International Roots & Acoustic Music Festival

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29th June to 2nd July 2023

 

Prepare to be moved, surprised, and forever changed by the enchanting sounds that await you at this remarkable event. Taking place from 29th June to 2nd July, again in a beautiful lakeside setting at Kirklington where we've been since 2021, just outside Southwell, Nottinghamshire.

If you haven't seen the new site there's a great photo gallery on the about us page here. We had glowing reviews of 2022 - including from RNR Magazine who say "excellent cast list...too many good performances to mention. It has become a great favourite" and implore "if you haven't been already, try it"

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News...

 

Click "News" on the top menu for all our posts. Follow us on Facebook too to keep up to date, and join our mailing list via the link at the bottom of the page.

Raghu Dixit Project

Often hailed as India’s biggest cultural & musical export, Raghu Dixit’s unique brand of infectious, happy music transcends age, genre, and even language.

Saturday

Dog Show Sessions

An unmissable collaboration between West Country folk legends, Show of Hands, and Madrid-based Irish American roots quartet, Track Dogs. Six voices, fiddle, Cajon, trumpet, banjo, guitars, bass and mandolin.

Friday

Conservatoire Folk Ensemble

Joe Broughton's Folk Ensemble returns to brighten up the last hours of the festival...“tremendously exhilarating and joyously life-affirming". Not to be missed!

Sunday

Nine Below Zero

One of the most popular British Rhythm and Blues acts returns to headline Thursday Night Blues on the Lake Stage. "Superbly executed, highly infectious"
Record Collector

Thursday

Seth Lakeman

Seth Lakeman was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize in 2005 for "Kitty Jay".  It catapulted him into the forefront of the new British folk movement. He's joined by Benji Kirkpatrick (Bellowhead, Faustus) and singer Alex Hart.

Sunday

London Afrobeat Collective

Driving, politically-charged, rhythmic music with roots in Fela Kuti - funked-up to get you dancing on Sunday afternoon.

Sunday

Tom Russell

From USA, journeyman singer, songwriter and ex-rancher known for chronicling the life of blue-collar America, and “should be on any list of great songwriters like Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan and Hank Williams”

Saturday

The Kris Drever Band

One of Scotland’s finest and most acclaimed songwriters Kris Drever comes with his own band (for the first time outside of his work with Lau). "A really special group of musicians" he says, and we cannot wait to see them.

Sunday

Martin Harley Band

One of the UK's most celebrated blues musicians playing Thursday Night Blues with his band. “No doubt that he is a slide guitar master. He is the business” – Roots Magazine

Thursday

John Smith

Steeped in the lineage of British folk, one of the UK's finest guitarists and songwriters, his honey-on-gravel vocals have brought crowds the world over to pin-drop silence and rapturous applause. Playing as Trio and Solo.

Friday

Martyn Joseph

Martyn Joseph is a completely unique and mind blowing artist. Take everything you think you know about singer songwriters….and rip it up. Stunning reviews single him out as an unmissable solo performer whose music stays with you long after the show has ended.

Saturday

Kabantu

Celebrating the space where different cultures meet - "immaculate...a rousing display of fine musicianship"
★★★★
The Guardian

Saturday

Track Dogs

A nice melting pot of styles, which have one thing in common: the groove. From Ireland, England and the USA and heading back to Southwell!

Friday

Jake Blount

Jake Blount was born and raised in Washington, DC. A powerfully gifted musician he speaks ardently about the African roots of the banjo and ways African Americans have shaped and defined the amorphous categories of roots music in the USA.

Saturday

Hoth Brothers

USA's Hoth Brothers bring their folk/ country/ bluegrass music to Southwell "from the wilds of New Mexico, with a barbed lyrical punch"

Friday and Saturday

Veronica Sbergia & Max De Bernardi

The Italian duo finally make it to GTSF with their superb twist on country blues, ragtime and old time music from the US.

Thursday to Saturday

Rory McLeod

Rhythmic soul-singer, songwriter, storytelling poet, harmonica-playing, tap-dancing, guitar picking, one-man-rhythmic-dance-band!

Sunday

Bonfire Radicals

Birmingham's best kept musical secret. Vibrant and exciting, a musical blend of folk traditions full of originality and virtuosity

Saturday/Sunday

Winter Wilson

Everything that defines folk music and what makes it great, with an enviable reputation both as performers and songwriters

Thursday to Sunday

Tarren

Bristol-based Tarren are an ambassador for English Folk music, weaving minimalist hooks throughout songs and tunes that have the pulse of traditional dance at its heart.

Saturday

NoGood Boyo

Go loud or go home! NoGood Boyo mash up trad Welsh with 90s dance music - like no other grassroots band coming out of Wales right now.

Friday

Gatehouse

Roscommon-based band Gatehouse are unashamedly trad and proud to present the music that has been the very heartbeat of their home turf – Connacht province of western Ireland – for generations

Friday

The Activators

11-piece band whose eclectic style transcends Ska, Reggae, Celtic, Punk and Dub, even venturing into Balkan folk and Tango!

Sunday

Stone Jets

Originally from South Africa, Stone Jets make actual feel-good music and wrap it in some rhythmic soul.

Sunday

The Brothers Gillespie

Sublime vocal harmonies, inspired guitar playing and a rich array of acoustic instruments, the Northumbrian brothers are stars of the future.

Saturday/Sunday

Jon Doran & the Northern Assembly

A ground-breaking new collaboration that seek to capture the excitement that lies within traditional song and breathe new life into old stories from the British Isles.

Friday/Saturday

Jason McNiff

Often touted as one of the UK’s most overlooked musical treasures "Not just a good songwriter, a truly great one" - Folk Radio UK

Saturday & Sunday

Lasair

Lasair are one of the fastest rising English ceilidh bands on the folk scene. They'll be opening the ceilidh programme on Friday night.

Friday

Juniper

Saturday's ceilidh is with Juniper, a young five piece folk band that bring their own style and flair to traditional English, Scottish and Irish tunes.

Saturday

Helian

Modern ethereal sounds and folk that spans everything from guitars and cellos, to fiddles and harps

Thursday to Sunday

Good Habits

An award-winning UK folk duo forged on the other side of the globe. Composed of Bonnie Schwarz (cello + vocals) and Pete Shaw (accordion), the pair mix vivid storytelling with diverse musical inspiration.

Saturday & Sunday

Thorpe & Morrison

The energy of their Anglo-Scottish musicianship is palpable, creating a spellbinding mix of old and modern.

Thursday to Sunday

Isabel Inkcap

Stunning vocal, strong original songs and interpretations of classics in this surely up-and-coming new voice. (Trio)

Friday & Sunday

Michell, Pfeiffer & Kulesh

All-female close harmony folk trio that brings together the exciting talents of Odette Michell, Karen Pfeiffer and Daria Kulesh

Saturday

Keith Donnelly

Back to entertain the youngsters and oldsters alike, Keith is a one man talent show! A great guitarist, songwriter, comedian and kids' entertainer to boot.

Saturday & Sunday

Morton Valence

Intriguing alt-country duo from London who've been challenging categorisation for years, with an idiosyncratic songwriting style, very much informed by Americana, but with a heart and soul firmly rooted in the UK

Sunday

Lauren South

"I love Lauren's voice! It has a distinctive and unique beauty that allows her to turn every word she sings into a kind of magic formula" Reg Meuross

Thursday to Sunday

Foreign Affairs

Two brothers' close harmonies and catchy choruses create an honest and raw country-rock sound.

Sunday

The Rye Sisters

Americana and folk-country songs in close harmony to guitar, mandolin and fiddle, "the harmonies are just fantastic! Their voices blend so well together"

Days TBC

Rogue Embers

Fast paced blend of Americana/Folk Rock fuelled by driving rhythm and powerful harmonies- combined with their raw and uplifting original song writing make them a band not to be missed

Sunday

George Boomsma

A pure voice and tumbling guitar make for a bewitching combination, with a maturity and poetic lyricism that have left audiences entranced

Friday to Sunday

Reuben & the Bridge

A charismatic duo from West Yorkshire, who make well-crafted, folk-tinged arrangements of an eclectic repertoire drawn from the last sixty years

Thursday to Sunday

Emily Ashberry

Singer-songwriter with roots in traditional folk music. She loves taking stories, both from her own life and lives of those around her, and turning them into modern folk songs, many of which explore queer points of view.

Friday

Alistair Russell

First and foremost, a singer who has “a way with a song” and a performer who makes sure the audience comes first

Thursday

Francesca Louise

Indie/folk singer-songwriter, who's soulful, Carole King/Laura Marling inspired vocals paired with songwriting influences from the likes of Joni Mitchell, Lucy Rose and The Staves, makes her one to watch

Friday to Sunday

Louise Rogan

A refreshing and talented addition to the UK Folk Scene. As a duo with her Dad, his intricate guitar work and smooth vocal blend fluently with her voice and piano

Friday to Sunday

Gaelforce

An accomplished Celtic flavoured folk rock band back together after success in the 90s

Friday & Sunday

Becky Syson

'Sublime folk rock'... With countless blooms of first-rate songs and an infectious personality on stage....

Sunday

Paul Walker & Karen Pfeiffer

“An Englishman and a German prove impressively how much fine music flies under the well-informed radar. With two grand voices - individually and in harmony..." Folker (German Folk Magazine)

Day TBC

Higgs Bo'sun

Folk music of the British Isles and North America​ - accompanied and unaccompanied songs with plenty of good choruses to join in.

Thursday to Sunday

Caistorways

Sea shanties and traditional folk songs to sing along with on Thursday evening.

Thursday (other days TBC)

David Eagle

One of the celebrated folk group The Young'uns, David has a hugely successful side hustle as a stand-up comedian and podcaster.

Saturday

Dan the Hat

"Comedian, Juggler and Stupid Stuntman". Loads of skills, an abundance of audience interaction (whether you like it or not) and a whole heap of improvised silliness!

Saturday & Sunday

Nutty Noah

Bringing his own brand of side-splitting nuttiness to GTSF, his award-winning shows includes cheeky original songs, crazy music and amazing magic

Saturday & Sunday

Jonny Awsum

One-man party and semi-finalist of Britain's Got Talent. “He’s a feel-good comic in every sense of the word”.

Saturday

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Line-Up 2023

Line-up

Tickets Now on Sale

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