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THE GATE TO SOUTHWELL FESTIVAL

19th International Roots & Acoustic Music Festival

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NEW LAKE STAGE COVER

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​Shortlisted in the 2024 UK Festival Awards.

 

"I'd say it rivals Cambridge Folk Festival, albeit on a smaller scale, in terms of the diversity of the acts, the ambition of the programming, and the wide definition of folk it encompasses" Left Lion Magazine 2024 

This isn’t just a festival. It’s four days each year when the ordinary world can wait outside the gates. GTSF is "quite possibly the best small folk and roots festival in the UK" — not because we say so, but because our audience does, and you return year after year to prove it. If you come too, then from the moment you arrive — by festival bus or pitching up with your car by your tent — you step straight into the heartbeat of the festival. Nine performance areas including three main stages of genre-busting music. 60+ acts, with many playing multiple stages, and more to participate in than you could ever imagine over 4 celebratory days: the laughter, late-night sessions, pints of great beers and ciders, wonderful street theatre and kids' entertainment, and the sense that you’ve stepped into something rare and real. From 2nd to 5th July 2026, our 19th festival returns to its beautiful lakeside home near Southwell, Nottinghamshire. And what you carry away won’t fit in your bag: songs, laughter, and a little magic. 

By the way, GTSF is a not-for-profit organisation, run by enthusiastic and experienced volunteers, and we love putting on this festival. Any surplus income goes straight back into future events.

NEWS...

Tickets for 2026 are now on sale. Early Bird and Tier 1 tickets sold out in record time, so please hurry if you want Tier 2 tickets. We have also released a limited first batch of single day tickets. See here.

Follow us on Facebook too, to keep up to date, and join our mailing list via the link at the bottom of the page. Our latest news posts are below.

LINE-UP 2026
 The first of 60+ artists for GTSF 2026...
(see previous line-ups here)

CAMPBELL & JOHNSTON

A captivating blend of vintage blues-rock, roots, and folk—with a modern edge. Part of the ECMA Canada Showcase

DAYS TBC

AMELIA COBURN

Since playing GTSF solo in 2021, Amelia Coburn has made massive strides in her career. She returns with her band to play the main stage on Friday.

FRIDAY

MATTHEW BYRNE & SHERMAN DOWNEY

The traditional and modern worlds of folk music merge seamlessly blending styles and repertoires in a way that audiences have really come to love. Part of ECMA Canada Showcase.

DAYS TBC

MAN THE LIFEBOATS

High-octane shanty-punk folk band ploughing their full-throttle folked-up furrow like Led Zeppelin arm-wrestling Shane McGowan in a Birmingham brewery, like The Albion Band turned up to 11 with their fiddles on fire. Tonic for these troubled times.

SUNDAY

RACHEL DAVIS & DARREN McMULLEN

Igniting the stage with a bold, fiery blend of Celtic tradition and contemporary folk energy with haunting melodies, and masterful instrumentation. Part of ECMA Showcase.

DAYS TBC

COUNTER'S CREEK

Four musicians from different backgrounds, united by a love of acoustic folk music, great tunes and earthy dance grooves.

SUNDAY

BARREL HOUSE VIPERS

Known for their energetic performances, they’ve toured across Europe, America, and the UK, specialising in the rich sounds of early jazz and blues.

SUNDAY

BRYONY GRIFFITH & ALICE JONES

Hailing from West Yorkshire, Bryony & Alice are long-time purveyors of English folk music, united by a passion for local folk songs and tunes.

DAYS TBC

GRÁINNE HUNT

A standout among Ireland’s most compelling vocalists and songwriters – blending raw emotion with a quiet, commanding power.

FRIDAY

TRUE FOXES

Alt-Country/Americana, cousin-duo from Cornwall, “Sublime harmonies, perfectly crafted songs and a beguiling stage presence” - Mark Radcliffe

SATURDAY

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2ND - 5TH JULY 2026

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Member of the Association Independent Festivals.

Copyright, The Gate to Southwell Folk Festival Ltd. Gate to Southwell Festival | Nottinghamshire, England. Reg 06242562 

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Various images via vecteezy.com

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