Featuring Richard Thompson, Mary Chapin-Carpenter, Seth Lakeman and The Lost Words: Spell Songs Ensemble, and many more, Folk by the Oak’s online ‘Family Nest’ Fest takes place on Sunday 19th July 2020 from 5pm.
They have announced more Folk by the Oak favourites as an extra treat, encouraging you to swap the wooded parkland of Hatfield House for your gardens and homes – it’s time for friends and families to unite online and share in an evening brimming with exceptional folk musicians, artistic creations and shared moments of wellbeing.
This not-for-profit virtual event will raise money for the festival’s partner charity Willow who provide special days for seriously ill young adults, and the Nest Fest performers, so many of whom have lost their livelihood due to the recent Covid19 lockdown.
Donate now at www.folkbytheoak.com/donate
Two simultaneous streams of sound and vision:
The festival can be watched on Folk by the Oak’s Youtube and Facebook pages. Subscribe to those pages to get a reminder.
The Main Stream:
This is the main festival screen where you will find performances from the full line-up of musicians featuring fresh new talent, unique collaborations, and Folk by the Oak favourites.
Richard Thompson, Mary Chapin Carpenter with Julie Fowlis, Seth Lakeman, Nancy Kerr and Jess Arrowsmith, Kris Drever, Talisk, Jim Moray, Seckou Keita, The Lost Words: Spell Songs, Sam Sweeney Band, The Local Honeys, Kitty Macfarlane, The Bookshop Band, Katherine Priddy, and Eirra.
With more wonderful artists to be confirmed soon! There will be a unique new performance from The Lost Words: Spell Songs. The award-winning Spell Songs musicians have created an enchanting new video of their Willow Song in honour of the Willow charity. Due to Covid19, The Lost Words: Spell Songs live dates were rescheduled and will now take place in 2021 on the following dates – with a brand new album to follow in the spring!
Jan 28 Royal Concert hall, Glasgow
Jan 29 Concert Hall, Perth
Jan 31 Octagon, Sheffield
Feb 3 The Barbican, London
The Unwinding Stream:
Running simultaneously to The Main Stream you can watch Jackie Morris paint in real-time! The team are overjoyed to be joined by the 2019 Kate Greenaway medal-winning artist Jackie Morris (co-author of The Lost Words with Robert Macfarlane) who will be “conjuring a peaceful painting of calm, hope and meditation inspired by her breath-taking new book The Unwinding, in real-time! The Unwinding Stream is a place which will slowly and gently inspire dreams.”
Watch the painting gradually unfold, and relax amid an oak woodland soundscape created by sound artist Chris Watson. It is a unique opportunity to see a visionary artist carefully breathe life into one of her more ambitious large-scale works of art.
Everyone who donates will enter a draw to win this unique and exceptional painting!
And there’s so much more to enjoy…
The evening is also filled with heartfelt good wishes from regular festival stallholders. Expect crafty demos, storytelling, face-painting, gemstone mandalas, tiny healing gardens, puppeteers, and walks into nature! In the run-up to and during the shows there are many opportunities for you to connect with the festival…
Folky Oak Leaves The organisers will be inviting everyone to create their own arty oak leaves. The oak leaves represent good wishes for everyone watching the festival. Photos of your creations will be added to the ‘Family Nest’ Fest Wish Tree!
Meet Eirra who will enlighten you about the Willow charity and her own very special day as their beneficiary. She is also an uplifting opening act for the festival, singing her own songs and revealing the healing to be found in making music.
Reach out with Origami! Eirra has kindly created an easy-to-follow demo video for audience members to create origami flowers at home. Photos of these will be set among willow meadows on screen and represent a gesture of support for all those involved in the Willow charity.
So… pour yourself an ale, order your bespoke ‘Family Nest’ Fest cocktails, take a deep breath, kick back and revel in a summer evening of Folk by the Oak online!
Be sure to save the date and dig out your festival best: crowns, oak leaves, bunting, twinkly lights and, of course, your Folk by the Oak T-shirts! Then share a picture of your Nest Fest with your fellow Folk by the Oakers via the social media pages.
The festival can be watched on Folk by the Oak’s Youtube and Facebook pages on Sunday 19 July 2020 from 5pm