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Dhun Dhora, Will Varley, Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra, Cocos Lovers, Ward Thomas, Adam Holmes & The Embers, Martin Harley, Siobhan Wilson, Tide Lines, Niteworks, The Wandering Hearts, Kissmet and more. solfest.org.uk

Playing at this year’s Eliza Carthy & The Wayward Band – Sidmouth

Sidmouth FolkWeek, East Devon (3rd – 10th Aug) features the fRoots Cellarful Of Folkadelia sessions with Kaia Kater, Ye Vagabonds, Thom Ashworth, Mikey Kenney & Damon Kilcawley,

Eli West, Plastikes Karekles, Diabel Cissokho, Toby Hay, Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne, Tim Jones & The Dark Lanterns and Rock Of Eye. Throughout the week, the line-up includes Eliza Carthy & The Wayward Band, Show Of Hands With Miranda Sykes, Cara Dillon, Karine Polwart, Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening, False Lights, Elephant Sessions, Blowzabella, Drever McCusker Woomble, John Doyle, Martin Carthy & John Kirkpatrick, The Rheingans Sisters, Stick In The Wheel, Josie Duncan & Pablo Lafuente, National Youth Folk Ensemble, Gigspanner Big Band, Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys, Alistair Anderson & Northlands, Jackie Oates, Steve Tilston & Jez Lowe, Jim Moray, Edgelarks, Saltfishforty, Blackbeard’s Tea Party, Police Dog Hogan, Sam Carter, Jack Rutter, Kitty Macfarlane, Tom Moore & Archie Churchill-Moss, Greg Russell & Ciaran Algar, Naomi Bedford & Paul Simmonds, India Electric Co., Alden, Patterson & Dashwood, Les Barker, Peter Knight & John Spiers, Pete Coe, Narthen, John Kirkpatrick, The Emily Askew Band, Sandra Kerr,

Red Hippo, Carolyn Robson & Moira Craig, Melrose Quartet, Pete Morton, Alice Jones, Alistair Anderson, Archie Fisher, Belshazzar’s Feast, Bob Wood, Brian Peters, Cosmotheka, Dan Quinn, Dovetail Trio, Eamonn O’Broithe, Ellen & Kevin Mitchell, Gareth Kiddier, Geoff Lakeman, Huw Williams, Jim Causley, Jim Mageean & Graeme Knights, Jimmy Hutchinson, John Conolly, John Tams & Barry Coope, Johnny Handle & Chris Hendry, Lynne Heraud & Pat Turner, Martyn Wyndham-Read & Iris Bishop, Matt Quinn & Owen Woods, Night Fall, Robin Huw Bowen,

Ryan Young with Jenn Butterworth, Debs Newbold, Jim Causley, Will Pound’s Through The Seasons, Old Swan Band, Playford Liberation Front, Polkaworks, Vintage Cock And Bull Band, Banter, Whapweasel, Roisin White, Laura Smyth & Ted Kemp and the 3rd annual Sidmouth Horse Trials featuring the Aardman Award. Pre-Festival events feature Fairport Convention, The Ukulele Orchestra Of Great Britain and Roger McGough + Little Machine.

Sidmouth’s Artistic Director Alan Bearman says, “The luxury of an eight-day festival is the opportunity for real programme diversity, from headline concerts with musicians at the top of their game – like Karine Polwart, Eliza Carthy & The Wayward Band and Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening – to specially commissioned shows (Living By The Sea) and emerging talent. Check out outstanding young trad singers and players Ryan Young, Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne and Megan Wisdom! Sidmouth prides itself on spanning a spectrum from grass roots tradition (Rowsome Family, Hector Riddell, Roisin White amongst 2018 guests) to exciting contemporary performances – highlights including Ye Vagabonds, Kaia Kater and Alden, Patterson & Dashwood.” fRoots tip to watch: Tim Jones & The Dark Lanterns. sidmouthfolkweek.co.uk

Spiers Family, The Watch, The Wilsons, Vic Gammon, Will Pound, Albireo, 422, Melrose Quartet, Peeping Tomand more. whitbyfolk.co.uk

Klezfest, SOAS, London

(19th – 24th Aug) explores traditional klezmer, history, melodies, ornamentation, dance and accompaniment, playing in ensembles and improvisational techniques with tutors: Alan Bern, Susi Evans, Ilana Cravitz, Andreas Schmitges and Joshua Dolgin. jmi.org.uk

Cornwall Folk Festival,

Wadebridge (23rd – 27th Aug) has a 46th year line-up including Gretchen Peters, Flats And Sharps, Eddi Reader,

Ninebarrow, Roberts & Lakeman, Gilmore & Roberts, Naomi Bedford & Paul Simmonds, Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys, Marvailh, Paper Circus, Zonj, Joli Blon and more. cornwallfolkfestival.com

On the line-up at Shambala

Festival (23rd – 25th Aug): Jally Kebba Susso, King Ayisoba, Kit Hawes & Aaron Catlow, Kokoroko, Kolinga, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, Stick In The Wheel, The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, This Is The Kit, Thom Ashworth and more. shambalafestival.org

Solfest, Tarns, nr Aspatria, Cumbria (24th – 26th August) plays host to Shooglenifty & The

Towersey Festival (24th – 27th Aug): Richard Thompson Electric Trio, The Sharon Shannon Band, Beth Orton, Fisherman’s Friends, Brighouse & Rastrick Band, Daphne’s Flight, Martyn Joseph, Blowzabella, Martin Simpson, Peter Knight & John Spiers, CC Smugglers, Imar, Chris While & Julie Matthews, Blair Dunlop, Blackbeard’s Tea Party, Wildwood Kin, William The Conqueror, Faustus, Whetstone Brinsford Kirkpatrick, Soothsayers, Roy Bailey, Frumptarn Guggen Band, Inlay, Tankus The Henge, Jig Doll Ensemble, Whapweasel, Lady Maisery, Cohen Braithwaite- Kilcoyne, Reg Meuross, Tickled Pink, The Rheingans Sisters, Urban Folk Theory, Bristol Ceilidh Quartet, Dartmoor Pixies, Pon Aelius, Bella Gaffney & Polly Bolton, Committee Band, Peeping Tom, Polkaworks, Steve Turner and more. towerseyfestival.com

End Of The Road Festival,

Larmer Tree Gardens, Dorset (30th Aug – 2nd Sept) features Mulatu Astatke, Omar Souleyman, This Is The Kit, The Low Anthem, Hiss Golden Messenger, Imarhan, Richard Dawson, Mdou Moctar, Darren Hayman, Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker and more. endoftheroadfestival.com

Playing at this year’s Moseley

Folk Festival (31st Aug – 2nd Sept): Levellers, Nick Mulvey, Show Of Hands, King Creosote, Bridget St John, This Is The Kit, Willy Mason, Imarhan, Jolie Holland & Samantha Parton, Skinny Lister, Martin Carthy, Chris Wood, Stick In The Wheel, Siobhan Miller, Richard Dawson, Jim Ghedi, Corn Potato String Band, Cosmotheka/Merrymaker, Jack Blackman and M G Boulter. moseleyfolk.co.uk

Wallingford Bunkfest (31st

Aug – 2nd Sept) features Roving Crows, Sam Green & the Midnight Heist, Le Vent du Nord, Rusty Shackle, Hope & Social and more. bunkfest.co.uk

Playing at Llandwyn Folk &

Acoustic Weekend (31st Aug – 2nd Sept): Chris While & Julie Matthews, Elbow Jane, Les Barker and more. llanwddynevents.co.uk

Didmarton Bluegrass Festival

(31st Aug – 2nd Sept) has a guest list including Rachel Eddy, Corn Potato String Band, Flats & Sharps, Midnight Skyracer, The Down County Boys, Medicine Creek, New Essex Bluegrass Band, Goat Roper Rodeo Band, The Reckless Abandoners and more. didmarton-bluegrass.co.uk

Off The Tracks Summer

Festival, Castle Donington (31st Aug – 2nd Sept) has guests

Photo: © Judith Burrows