Shrewsbury Folk Festival (25th-28th August) have revealed the final lineup details for this year’s festival. Ahead of her extensive UK and Ireland tour, one of Scotland’s all-time greatest female voices and performers, Eddi Reader, is among the top names appearing. Last year the Scottish songstress celebrated her 40 years of live performance.
Her appearance is sure to be a festival highlight for many. Another popular Scottish act announced are the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, who are making their debut festival visit…it’s sure to be a lively one.
Capercaillie, The Sharon Shannon Trio, O’Hooley & Tidow, Peter Knight and John Spiers, Blue Rose Code, Simeon Hammond Dallas, Sidiki Jobarteh, a solo gig from former Oysterband member Ray Cooper and Katie Spencer make the final lineup announcement for the four-day festival over August Bank Holiday weekend (25-28th).
Shrewsbury’s extensive lineup of folk, Americana and world music runs to more than 100 hours over four stages at its riverside site at the West Mid Showground, close to the town centre. Artists already announced include Billy Bragg, Joachim Cooder, Moya Brennan, Breabach, The Dhol Foundation DJ Set, Jiggy, Dreamers’ Circus, Steve Knightley, Elephant Sessions, Talisk, Spiers & Boden, Maddy Prior & Forgotten Lands, Gigspanner Big Band, Baskery, The Cathy Jordan Trio, California based roots band Dustbowl Revival, Daphne’s Flight, kora master N’Faly Kouyaté (Afro Celt Sound System), Elles Bailey, N’famady Kouyaté, Leveret, The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican, The Salts, Dana Immanuel & The Stolen Band, Reg Meuross’ Stolen from God project, Scott Doonican, The Hanging Stars, global folk collective Mishra, Good Habits, True Foxes, The Honeybees, Rapsquillion, North East folk collective Howay The Lasses and Ruth Angell.
The dance programme offers ceilidhs, American, Contra, Cajun, Cornish and Euro dance with 12 dance bands, including an exclusive special 10th-anniversary ceilidh from Leveret and a first-time visit from Topette!! with a dance tent for ceilidhs, dance shows and workshops with dance displays also taking place at locations in Shrewsbury town centre.
In addition, there are two dedicated festivals for children and young people. Pandemonium! for children from birth to 10 years old includes music, dance, crafts, storytelling, games, yoga, treasure hunts, circus skills and lots more, including special Wee Folkies events for under fives. The Refolkus youth festival for 11 to 20-year-olds runs drop-in and progressive workshops throughout the weekend ranging from drumming to street dance, animation, henna tattooing, a disco ceilidh, song writing and a new chill-out zone. There are also adult workshops and activities, including yoga, crafting, walks, sing-arounds and music sessions. For weekend visitors, there is also on-site camping or glamping, a food village and festival shop run by Shrewsbury’s The Allotment, craft fair and real ale, wine and cocktail bars.
Festival Director Sandra Surtees said: “We are delighted to be welcoming the Red Hot Chilli Pipers to the festival for the first time – they will definitely close the festival in style. The festival has such a diverse lineup with a mix of traditional and contemporary folk musicians, world musicians and a dose of Americana and with a variety of stages to choose from, there’s always someone new to discover or favourites to watch.“We’re onto the countdown to the festival now and really looking forward to laying on another epic festival for our visitors and for Shrewsbury.”
Day and weekend tickets are on sale at www.shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk, starting from just £43 (including booking fee).