The Young'uns

One of the most entertaining groups on the folk scene, The Young’uns are coming back to Southwell. "Glorious... celebrating the uncelebrated with warmth, vigour and passion" ★★★★, MOJO Magazine

Saturday

Gigspanner Big Band

Peter Knight expanded Gigspanner with another trio of virtuoso performers to create a spectacular live group (not to mention an acclaimed album in early 2020) . "Magnificent....a feast of imaginative music" 5***** The Telegraph

Friday

Spiers & Boden

Founder members of Bellowhead, and winners of every award going - the duo are back together in 2021. "the most intriguing traditional duo in the UK" The Guardian

Sunday

Anxo Lorenzo Band

Anxo Lorenzo is a virtuoso award-winning Galician piper who is renowned for his incandescent live performances. His band combines an absolute mastery of their instruments and provides a show full of power, passion and aural delight

Thursday

The Breath

The Breath is guitarist Stuart McCallum and singer Ríoghnach Connolly. Nominated as best duo/group at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2019, with Rioghnach WINNING Folk Singer of the Year

Sunday

Ímar

“Awesome, lush, stunning, jaw-dropping… all the adjectives have been heaped on Glasgow-based band Ímar since they arrived, seemingly fully formed, on the roots scene in 2016, their instrumental punch and pizzazz leaving listeners reeling.

Saturday

Chris Wood

A longtime champion of English music, songwriter, composer, raconteur, thinker, musician, and outstanding singer - "the renaissance man of English folk."

Sunday

Edgelarks

BBC Folk Award winners Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin push the boundaries of the folk genre, combining influences as diverse as Indian classical and American blues with their British trad roots and original songwriting, to produce a sound like no other.

Friday

The Henry Girls

The Henry Girls return to GTSF! Last here in 2016 we are excited to have them back in 2021. Intricate 3-part harmonies and a mix of Irish folk, Americana and more - coupled with their tremendous musicianship on harp, banjo, fiddle, ukulele and accordion will make them a must-see act again this year

Thursday to Sunday

Knight & Spiers

When two of the most venerated figures in the recent history of folk music get together, there can be little doubt that the result will be something special.

Friday

Wizz Jones

Legendary acoustic guitarist, singer-songwriter and bluesman – the man who taught Keith Richards how to play “Cocaine”, and winner of 2019 BBC Folk Awards lifetime achievement award.

Friday

Maroon Town

An explosive musical cocktail of authentic Jamaican ska mixed with rap, reggae, Latin & funk that has hooked fans & audiences from all over the world for over 30 years.

Saturday, Sunday

Track Dogs

From Madrid, and comprised of 2 Irishmen, 1 Englishman and 1 American, Track Dogs make a unique brand of acoustic music; a veritable 4×4 of voices and instruments and a dynamic fusion of styles including folk, latin, Americana & even some bluegrass.

Friday

Talisk

In their five years, Scottish firebrands Talisk have stacked up several major awards for their explosively energetic yet artfully woven sound, including 2018’s Belhaven Bursary for Innovation & 2017’s Folk Band of the Year both at the BBC Alba Scots Trad Music Awards, and a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award.

Sunday

Reg Meuross

Mark Radcliffe introduced Reg Meuross onto the BBC Radio 2 Folk Show as a “brilliant singer-songwriter and true troubadour with a social conscience”.

Saturday, Sunday

Harbottle & Jonas

“One of the finest folk duos in the country”
Mike Davies, Alternative Roots

Sunday

Th Activators

Closing the festival on Sunday night, The Activators will get the party going: Ska, Reggae, Celtic, Punk and Dub, even venturing into Balkan folk and Tango!

Sunday

Blair Dunlop Band

Award-winning singer-songwriter Blair Dunlop was here in 2018 when he stepped in at the last minute to cover a cancellation. This time he's back with his band.

Saturday

The Jellyman's Daughter

Scottish quartet The Jellyman's Daughter lands squarely in the middle of an intriguing crossroads between bluegrass, post-rock, folk and soul - with intriguing arrangements, and unique vocal harmonies.  

Sunday

Winter Wilson

Kip Winter and Dave Wilson bring a sense of intimacy to every venue, blending superb, often hard-hitting original songs, stunning harmonies and hilarious humour.

Thursday to Sunday

Rodney Branigan

Ever seen someone play 2 guitars at once? Rodney Branigan can play two better than most can play one! US born Rodney Branigan relocated to the UK after learning his craft across the pond and has since been stunning audiences around the world with his jaw-dropping guitar skills and delightful songwriting ability.

Saturday

Tom Lewis

Shantyman Tom Lewis is renowned his powerful voice, captivating storytelling and for composing songs of the sea that have become folk standards.

Friday

The Wilderness Yet

This new trio combines the acclaimed talents of folksinger Rosie Hodgson, traditional fiddler Rowan Piggott, and guitarist-flautist Philippe Barnes. Together, they weave a tapestry of traditional & self-penned songs with a charm and familiarity that is usually only found in seasoned line-ups.​

Saturday, Sunday

Keith Donnelly

Keith can make you laugh, cry or do anything you may or may not want to do. He is an accomplished singer guitarist and writer of national fame! As Jasper Carrot once said 'Keith could make sheep laugh'

Saturday & Sunday

The Last Inklings

The Last Inklings create music that inspires wonder and intrigue through songwriting, stories and soundscapes.

Saturday or Sunday

Stone Jets

Cape Town’s Stone Jets — made up of Manfred Klose on guitars and Given Nkanyane on vocals and bass — creates toe-tapping music, wrapped in soul.

Saturday

Alistair Russell & Chris Parkinson

One of the best acts on the UK folk music scene combining great stage presence with inventive and sparkling musicianship. The repertoire is a broad and enjoyable mix of traditional and contemporary music and song with a strong emphasis on audience participation.

Saturday

Banjo Jen

Based in Sheffield, British singer-songwriter Banjo Jen is the “all-singin’, all-dancin’, badass banjo-pickin’ girl”

Thursday to Sunday

Iona Lane Band

Iona is a young, upcoming folk singer and musician who is currently studying for a Folk degree at Leeds College of Music under the tuition of Jim Moray, Nancy Kerr and Bryony Griffith.

Saturday, Sunday

The Maitree Express

The Maitree Express is a 7 piece band from Bath/Bristol, influenced by roots music and playing reggae, ska, hip hop, funk, swing, drum & bass and beats to get you moving!

Friday, Saturday

Manière des Bohémiens

Playing improvised Django Reinhardt, Stephane Grappelli influenced Gypsy Jazz and Eastern European swing, they are the one of the most amazing live bands you will see.

Saturday

The Rogue Embers

Derbyshire's Rogue Embers are a foot stomping, hand clapping, country and blues band who went down a storm here in 2018

Saturday

Amelia Coburn

Armed with her trusty ukulele, Amelia’s distinctive and beguiling voice is a brought to a eclectic range of songs. You'll be seeing a lot of her in the future we reckon,

Friday

Jessie Reid

Shropshire born singer-songwriter Jessie Reid, weaves impressive finger style guitar playing together with soulful, emotive vocal melodies.

Friday to Sunday

The Rye Sisters

The Rye Sisters (Ishani and Sue) are a duo from Lincolnshire who perform Americana and folk-country songs in close harmony to guitar, mandolin and fiddle

Friday

Rainy Day Woman

Drawing from alt-country, bluegrass and the folk canon of an 'old, weird America', Rainy Day Woman play sparse, unhurried folk music.

Friday to Sunday

Thorpe & Morrison

An enthusiastic, energetic traditional folk duo formed out of Joe Broughton’s Conservatoire Folk Ensemble

Friday to Sunday

Ellie Gowers

"One young woman made a big impression on us this year. Ellie Gowers’ exquisite voice
and unique vocal style was absolutely mesmerising. She’s one to watch."
Love Shrewsbury on Shrewsbury Folk Festival

Friday (others tbc)

Janice Burns & Jon Doran

Beautiful complementary vocals and sensitive interplay of bouzouki and mandolin are leant to traditional songs from the UK and further afield. Janice & Jon are an up-and-coming duo you shouldn't miss.

Friday & Saturday