Packed programme – and a special song- for Broadstairs Folk Week

The annual celebration of all things folk and beyond, begins on 11 August, when Broadstairs welcomes hundreds of musicians and dancers to the town for a week of music and fun.

Broadstairs Folk Week concert headliner Will Page has also composed a special song for the festival which is being released this month.

Having performed at the festival in previous years with his band, Noble Jacks, Will’s new song describes the joy and excitement which surrounds the festival and acknowledges its importance for the genre and local area.

Will said: “Broadstairs Folk Week is such a fun festival and an important event for folk music in the South East as the genre represents the voices, stories, and traditions of generations past.

“Celebrating and preserving it helps maintain a connection to our cultural roots and provides a sense of identity and belonging for our people.

“I’d like to see more young people and groups playing folk in the South East – they don’t know what they’re missing out on.

“Playing folk has brought me so much joy in my life; the spark between players and dancing audiences is a unique feeling which the beat and the music enables. I hope I can inspire more young musicians to take up folk.

“It is also important to note the role of the festival in attracting tourists and visitors who are interested in experiencing authentic cultural traditions and so boosts the local economy, promotes tourism, and creates opportunities for artists, musicians, and businesses.”

Other concert headline acts performing at the Queen’s Road Baptist Centre, include the Seth Lakeman Trio which has already sold out, Lady Maisery, the Ciderhouse Rebellion, Granny’s Attic, Home Service, the Urban Folk Quartet and many more.

Festival artistic director Jo Tuffs said: “Workshops are already proving very popular this year. The ukulele beginners and improvers are always busy, but people are also buying tickets to learn how to play the harmonica, mandolin, guitar, banjo, concertina, accordion, bodhran – which is great, because joining in is at the heart of the festival, and many of the tutors are playing at Folk Week too.”

For the energetic, there’s a full programme of dances and ceilidhs, including a Sixties Icons Fancy Dress ceilidh with Banter on Sunday 13 August. The venue is the Sarah Thorne Theatre throughout the week, and the first dance kicks off with Kent’s own Giddy Yup Ceilidh band – who are familiar faces from the Hobby Horse Club taking place daily at the Bandstand.

Singers aren’t forgotten – with a festival choir created in a week, singalongs at the Neptune and evening singarounds at the Sailing Club, as well as harmony workshops with Lady Maisery, sea shanties on the jetty and a special event at the Gadds brewery, called Drink Old England Dry!

All the generations can sing and dance together with Inspiration Creative at the bandstand or learn circus skills, hula hooping or toddler bops. Take the kids to the Flags, Banners and Stuff workshop and you can join in the Saturday 12th August Parade from Pierremont Park at 5.30pm. Young musical maestros can form a Band in a Weekend with James Kerry and friends, who will also be playing in a concert as Source – and with the Hill Top Ceilidh band.

There are Poets’ Breakfasts, tai chi at the campsite, knitting, crochet and crafts at Balmoral Gardens, birdwatching walks, sketching around Broadstairs and of course – the pub gigs – over 130 this year and 60 bands.

Festival Patron, local and international musician Tim Edey is performing on Monday 14th August.

The festival campsite is within walking distance of the town and venues, although there is a free minibus service into town too.

Broadstairs Folk Week Photo Frank Leppard

All the details, including the pub gigs, are in the Souvenir Programme, with a Day-by-Day guide. It’s an important fundraiser for Folk Week and buying it goes towards the free events around the town, available online at £6 plus £1.50 postage and packing. https://broadstairsfolkweek.org.uk/product/2022-souvenir-programme/

There are also several outlets in Broadstairs stocking the Souvenir Programme.