Now in its 59th year, Broadstairs Folk Week returns in the summer with a programme bursting with music, song and dance.
Headline concerts in 2024 feature Oysterband, Le Vent du Nord, Daphne’s Flight, Kathryn Tickell & the Darkening, Jim Moray, Tim Edey, Jim Causley, Richard Digance, Banter, the Monster Ceilidh Band, Alden Patterson, Jez Lowe, Hill Top Ceilidh Band, Bird in the Belly, Tarren, Harmonia, A J Clarke, Zulu Tradition, Brown Boots Boogie Band, Teilhard Frost, Tin Giants, Wychbury.
The concerts will be in the Queen’s Road Baptist centre and ceilidhs and dances are at the Sarah Thorne Theatre. Special events this year include shows: the Folk Detectives; Shantyskeptic; The New Radio Ballads – “In the Footsteps of Ewan Maccoll.” The London Folk Club Story; Girl Talk and Music Hall.
It’s not all sitting back and watching, workshops include African, Belly dancing, Ukulele bands, a festival choir, songwriting, poetry breakfasts, sketching walks, shanties and knitting. They’ll be a Gentle Ceilidh, supported by Chartwell Boutique Care Homes and a Fancy Dress Sci-Fi Ceilidh with the wonderful Banter.
Younger folk are well-catered for with the free Hobby Hobby Horse Club at the bandstand with Clarence the Dragon and the Hooden Horses, mascots of the festival. Plus, creative workshops, circus skills and hoola-hooping.
The first ceilidh kicks off on Friday 9th August with the Hill Top Ceilidh band at the Sarah Thorne Theatre and if you have the energy, there’s 2 workshops a day in country dancing, solo clog, lunchtime and evening ceilidhs and a Playford Ball.
There’s free music in over 130 pub gigs, a Craft and Music Fair and music and dance at the bandstand.
Everyone staying at the campsite is involved with Folk Week, as festivalgoers, volunteers, Morris dancers or artistes, creating a lovely atmosphere .The festival campsite is a downhill walk to the sea, but there is free transport too. An all-inclusive ticket with camping is £345 per adult for the whole week.
You can buy tickets for just one workshop or concert or dance – there’s a wide range of options.
The Souvenir Programme is available now and is a complete guide to Folk Week – £7.50 including postage and packing. Festival Season tickets and Event Tickets are on sale now.
Book online at www.broadstairsfolkweek.org.uk
Email: [email protected]
Credit card booking, Ticket Sales & Information Call 01843 604080
