Previous artists have included Billy Bragg, Afro Celt Sound System, Tom Robinson Band, Will Varley, Eliza Carthy, John Smith, Tunng, The Unthanks, Kate Rusby and This is the Kit. The festival attracts over 2,500 audiences annually attending concerts in venues including Home, 02 Ritz, Gorilla, Yes, Comedy Store and Bridgewater Hall. Kathryn Tickell &The Darkening bring contemporary and innovative Northumbrian instrumental magic to HOME, while Manchester’s The Breath make their folk festival debut, followed by Sheelanagig in Theatre 2.Įstablished in 2017 as development of Homegrown festival in Bury, Manchester Folk Festival takes place over 4 days in venues around the festival hub venue, Home Manchester.
Elsewhere the festival features former I am Kloot frontman John Bramwell showcasing his new band The Full Harmonic Convergence in 02 Ritz while an evening in the intimate Theatre 2 in Home sees rising Bristol-based Lady Nade, Manchester world collective Kabantu and the first of the festival’s new late night Festival Clubs.įriday night at the festival sees a widening of the city site to include RNCM for the first time, with Manchester-based Jesca Hoop in full band show. Opening on Thursday 21 st October, ‘ the finest instrumental duo on the traditional scene’ (The Guardian) and Bellowhead frontmen, Spiers & Boden perform in HOME’s Theatre 1 as part of their much anticipated Comeback Tour after eight years away. Artists featuring in our very first Festival Club are Good Habits, The Brothers Gillespie, Chris Elliott and Caitlin Jones, Tom Moore & Archie Moss, Granny’s Attic, Bryony Griffith & Alice Jones, Honey We Three and Ranagri. Tickets for the Festival Club are very limited and can only be booked in conjunction with the purchase of another Manchester Folk Festival ticket for that day. Taking place at HOME from 11pm – 1am each night (Thurs, Fri, Sat), the Festival Club presents 3 of the best emerging folk artists nightly. The festival also serves as an industry showcase for English Folk and acoustic music, capturing the ears of the world’s festival and venue industry.īrand new this year is the Festival Club. This year’s festival includes what has now become Manchester Folk Festival’s trademark mix of contemporary and traditional folk and acoustic artists from England. Manchester Folk Festival has announced its full programme across multiple venues from 21 st to 23 rd October 2021Īlthough not able to run in 2020, the festival hosted the live streamed launch of the Official Folk Albums Chart from its festival hub, HOME reaching a digital audience of over 2,5000. The Futureheads, The Breath, Kathryn Tickell, and Spiers & Boden’s comeback Manchester Folk Festival Announces Programme for October 2021 including