The Derby Folk Festival has found a home right in the centre of Derby for 12 years, and we’re really pleased with the way the festival has become embedded in the city's events calendar. We have a great location, right in the centre of the country, fabulous acts, and a super-friendly atmosphere. If you've not been before then we'd love you to come and join us.
With 2019 presenting some challenges with venues and available space, we’ve had to look at a different offering this year. The Guildhall Theatre has been undergoing some work above the ceiling, and the full Market Place may not be available due to ongoing plans with the Assembly Rooms.
Whilst we can’t present the full festival that has grown over the years, we’ve put together what we think is a fantastic range of concerts; all as part of the Derby Folk Weekender. There are individual concerts in Derby Cathedral on Friday evening, and Saturday and concerts in The Old Bell Hotel on Friday evening, and through Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets for the concerts in these two venues will be available individually, as well as some multi-buy deals to allow you to make your own “mini-festival”!
View the whole programme at the Derby Folk Festival Website
See below for Weekender 2019 events;
Rachael McShane & The Cartographers - 4 Oct
Festivals, Music
Rachael McShane is a singer, cellist, fiddle and viola player based in the North East of England.... read more
The Urban Folk Quartet - 4 Oct
Festivals, Music
UFQ's cross-genre appeal sees them occupying a singular position, crossing scenes and continents and sharing bills with the most eclectic ra... read more
Festivals, Music
With their voices moving together in tight harmony or intertwining in a whirling tempo, the highly acclaimed folk vocal group Kongero draws ... read more
Festivals, Music
Throw away your preconceptions about what constitutes folk music and open your minds to a colourful pallet of sounds and song.... read more
Sam Kelly & Ruth Notman - 5 Oct
Festivals, Music
Two of the finest singers to come out of the UK folk scene in the last 15 years have joined forces.... read more
Festivals, Music
Kitty Macfarlane is a songwriter and guitarist from Somerset, whose music is rich with visual imagery and written with an eco-eye.... read more
Bob Fox + Katie Spencer - 5 Oct
Festivals, Music
A fantastic set from one of the original "Pitmen Poets" and also an outstanding artist on the national acoustic music scene.... read more
Kongero with Barry Coope - 5 Oct
Festivals, Music
We've seen Barry perform as a member of the sensational acapella trio Coope Boyes Simpson; in a duo with our patron John Tams; and more rece... read more
Festivals, Music
It takes a special blend of musical flair to create memorable songs of yesteryear! Songs with a hint of contemporary—dosed with uncont... read more
Late Night with Kip and Dave - 5 Oct
Festivals, Music
We've said the same thing for the last few years, but Derby Folk Festival really wouldn't be quite the same without Kip and Dave - running t... read more
Nick Hart + Steve Turner - 6 Oct
Festivals, Music
Steve Turner is a pioneer of highly sophisticated English concertina song accompaniments; Nick Hart is a folk singer deeply rooted in the En... read more
Andy Irvine + Luke Jackson - 6 Oct
Festivals, Music
Andy Irvine is one of the great Irish singers, his voice one of a handful of truly great ones that gets to the very soul of Ireland. Luke Ja... read more
Festivals, Music
Bringing together some of the most exciting musicians on the UK folk & roots scene, The Willows blur the boundaries between contemporary... read more
Alongside these concerts, we’ll be using the Guildhall Clubrooms for our usual, intimate “folk-club-rooms” concerts, and some great singing – and these will be open to anyone with any of the concert tickets (subject to available space). We’ll have music sessions in The Old Bell’s Tudor Bar, and then fringe events on the Market Place with music, dancing, and the craft fair.
We really hope that you can join us, for either a full weekend of fabulous music, or even just a few concerts. This year’s format gives a range of opportunities to continue the fuller festival experience, or to pick and choose the individual concerts that you’d like to see.
Derby Cathedral has a large capacity, with unreserved seating on the pews – and a fabulous atmosphere. They have made us incredibly welcome in recent years, and this year in particular, have thrown their doors ever wider, to allow us to fit in more concerts. The Cathedral is also hosting The Museum of The Moon from 16 Sep to 6 Oct, so there will be the incredibly beautiful installation of UK artist, Luke Jerram’s 7 metre moon, suspended overhead!
The Old Bell Hotel is Derby’s largest and last surviving coaching inn and has played a huge role in the history of Derby. The grade II listed building was constructed in 1650 and was considered one of the most prestigious coaching inns outside of London. These days, it is run by a wonderful team who’ve been incredibly supportive of all that we’ve done over many years. We’re delighted to once again be filling the Ballroom with fabulous concerts, hearing sensational sessions in the Tudor Bar, and relaxing with the fringe events and a drink in the Tavern Bar!
