“A day of magnificent music with an intimate atmosphere in an amazing community venue.” – Folk Radio
Following two sold-out events in 2018 and 2019, Walton Folk Festival returns for a third time with another exciting lineup showcasing the very best of folk, roots and acoustic music. The festival takes place at the Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, on Saturday, 11 September 2021. And this time, a new outdoor stage means the event can go ahead safely this year.
Headlining the one-day festival are Trials of Cato, winners of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards ‘Album of the Year 2019’ with Hide and Hair. The band recently took a new creative leap with Will Addison being replaced by the multi-talented instrumentalist and singer Polly Bolton. Having seen Bolton perform as a member of The Magpies, her nimble fingers (which master the fretboard of the mandolin, banjo and Irish bouzouki) will certainly add a new and exciting dynamic to the trio…as witnessed on their recent video which premiered on Folk Radio. Showcasing their exciting new lineup, and a return (for all of us) to the live stage, this is an event not to be missed.
Joining them in the evening lineup are Riverhouse favourites Jacob and Drinkwater. This spellbinding duo are singer-songwriter Tobias Ben Jacob and Lukas Drinkwater. They performed a stunning sold-out show in 2019 and so the festival just had to have them back for the festival.
The afternoon lineup features contemporary folk/acoustic duo Gilmore & Roberts who combine award-winning songwriting with astounding musicianship to create a powerful wall of sound. Kim Lowings and the Greenwood continue to delight audiences at folk clubs, festivals and events nationally with their lively and engaging stage presence. Their most recent album Wild & Wicked Youth was incredibly well received and they went down a storm at the very first Walton Folk Festival.
Brought together by the progressive Glasgow folk music community, Jenn & Laura-Beth are two voices, mandolin and guitar that all blend together magnificently. Continuing the commitment to showcasing exciting young talent, the lineup is completed by Odette Michell, a British folk singer-songwriter, guitarist and bouzouki player with a bold new take on the acoustic tradition.
Tickets for the festival are available from the Riverhouse Barn website: £30 for the full day tickets. The festival will end at 10.30pm – in good time to catch the train home from the nearby Walton station.
For the last two years, the event sold out well before the event, so early booking is a must.