Visit the official Bristol Folk Festival Gallery provided by Folk Festival Photos, where we have hundreds of images from over the three days of the festival.  


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A massive thank you to all of those who came to the Bristol Folk Festival 2012, we hope you enjoyed yourself and loved the weekend as much as we did. We'd like to also thank the amazing artists who came, all of our brilliant volunteers and the team behind the scenes who worked tirelessly to keep the cogs in motion.

If you'd like to give us feedback on the festival please fill out the form on this page.

For now we're all off to soak our feet in a hot bath....

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One of The Guardian's Top 10 quirky festivals of 2012

It's finally here! The day of the festival! Check here for the full running order of music and here for the workshop programme.

The doors open at 9am, music starts at 10am and the last band finishes by about 11pm but there's still time for another Ale (at £3.50 a pint!) as Colston Hall doesn't closes til midnight so don't forget your session instruments! 

"Great to be heading back to the Folk Festival in Bristol - one of the musical powerhouses of England" - Steve Knightley, Show of Hands

"I'm soooo excited to be playing at this brilliant festival... your reputations precedes you Bristol!" - Lucy Ward, 2012 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards "Horizon Award" winner

"Looks like a great line-up" - Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2

"The rather wonderful rich tapestry that is Bristol Folk Festival" - Dr Phil Hammond, BBC Radio Bristol

“Really looking forward to it – a very high calibre of music” – Elise Rayner, BBC Radio Bristol

“Bristol Folk Festival is back again to claim its crown as one of the best events of its genre” – Bristol Evening Post 

"I'm sooo excited to be playing at this brilliant festival... your reputation precedes you Bristol!" - Lucy Ward, 2012 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards “Horizon” winner (Best Newcomer)

One of Songlines Magazine’s World’s Best Festivals

FOOD AND DRINK
We've now got details of the local cask ales and food on offer over the weekend. Have a look here.

A FEW BARGAIN HOTEL ROOMS!
We've done a cracking deal with Travelodge and currently have 7 Family rooms available on 6th at £35.75 each and one double room of the nights of the 5th/6th at £79. Please email Jenny to snap up one of these bargains

CALLING ALL MOON GAZERS AND FESTIVALGOERS!
It's bigger and brighter! And that's not just the 2nd Bristol Folk Festival. It seems even the Moon wants to be closer to Bristol this special weekend. The full moon (also known as the Hare Moon in medieval times) will be a "Super Moon" and is expected to be looming large over the city as festivalgoers head to the Colston Hall for some of the finest music you will
hear anywhere this Bank Holiday weekend.And the moon is somewhere that has been in our Saturday’s headliners Show of Hands sights recently. When the band that is celebrating 20 years on the road sold out the RAH for an amazing fourth time at Easter frontman Steve Knightley summed up their “journey” saying “ 120 gigs a year – 20 years – we reckon that’s 250,000 miles  - that’s to the moon!” See Albert Hall clip here – about 8 mins 30 in. But now one of folk’s most successful ever acts are safely back on planet earth and poised to get the 2012 Bristol Folk Festival off to a rousing start on Saturday night. Don’t miss this stellar mix of moon and music!

LUKE JACKSON ON BBC RADIO BRISTOL
Young talent Luke Jackson will be interviewed on Saturday 6th May on Dr Phil Hammond's radio show on BBC Bristol. Luke will be on stage later in the day so tune in to hear his thoughts about the festival and news on his debut album.

KIDS MUSIC MAKING WORKSHOPS 
Colston Hall's 'Get inspired!' Saturday club goes folk themed.. You can also discover the Unicorns in the basement...! read more here. 

MORE LOCAL MUSIC? GO ON THEN....
We are very excited to welcome The Urban Wood, The Hatchet & The Golden Guinea to Bristol Folk Festival as subsidery stages, programmed and run by Mark Venus Music. Lots of local acts will be lining up at the three venues on Sunday 6th May. For more information please have a look here.

MORE RADIO INTERVIEWS!
Bristol Folk Festival artists are working hard - you can listen to radio interviews with Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin (BBC Radio Bristol), O'Hooley & Tidow (6 Music), whilst The Johnny Coppin Show boasts Cara Dillon, Karine Polwart and Ewan McLennan, along with an interview from festival organisers to give a good preview of the festival!.

SOUTH WEST SINGER SONGWRITERS ARE LATEST ADDITIONS FOR BRISTOL’S BANK HOLIDAY FOLK FESTIVAL
Kitty Macfarlane, a “tipped for the top” 18-year-old student from Somerset is to play the main stage at Bristol Folk Festival – after winning an open mic competition this month at Somerfest. Another late addition to the Bristol Folk Festival line-up is Cornwall’s indy folk star Ruarri Joseph who has been described as a British Jack Johnson. Read more here.

GUARANTEED RAIN FREE FESTIVAL! 
Currently drowning in rain, hail and thunder? Don't worry because Bristol Folk Festival is an indoor festival - no need for rain macs and wellies. Enjoy our top quality acts in the comfort of Colston Hall.

BRISTOL FOLK FESTIVAL GETS READY WITH RADIO
Bristol Folk Festivals Headliners Show of Hands, Cara Dillon and Afro Celt Sound System will be played on Swindon FM this Thursday (26th) on Mike Ganley's On the Crooked Road Program along with an interview with one of the Festival Organisers to give you a preview of the weekend.

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE RELEASED
The schedule for the weekend has now been released here. Please note that all acts and timings are subject to change.

AFRO CELT SOUND SYSTEM CONCERT TICKETS
Now include Benji Kirkpatrick and 3 Daft Monkeys. You can buy your individual evening concert ticket here.

ISAMBARDS KINGDOM STAGE ANNOUNCED
Stage 3 over the weekend is sponsored and programmed by Mark Venus Music. With over 50 local and national bands joining in, you'll be able to enjoy a wonderful showcase of folk whilst sunning yourself on the terrace at Colston Hall. Full programme available here.

SHOW OF HANDS CELEBRATE NEW LIVE MUSIC ACT AT HOUSE OF COMMONS
Leading on from their fourth sell-out gig at the Royal Albert Hall on Easter Saturday, Show of Hands are due back in London tomorrow (Tuesday, April 17) for a special celebration to welcome the new Live Music Act. The event at the House of Commons is being organised by UK Music and the Musicians’ Union and, amongst other musicians and special guests, Steve Knightley, Phil Beer and Miranda Sykes have been invited as sole representatives of the folk roots genre. The Live Music Act, which will cut red tape for the performance of live music in small venues, is expected to come into force in October and is seen as a major milestone which will reinvigorate the British music scene. Read more here.

WORKSHOPS UPDATED
New workshops have been added to the festival. Have a look here for more information.

DOWNLOAD CARA DILLON'S NEW SONG
Download for free - five tracks from the new Shakespeare Sonnets album (including Cara Dillon’s Shall I Compare Thee To a Summer’s Day) in tomorrow’s Telegraph. You can find out more here.

SHOW OF HANDS CELEBRATE 20 YEARS ON THE ROAD
Hotfoot from their sensational 20^th anniversary show at the Royal Albert Hall, Show of Hands will be heading to the Colston Hall, to headline the opening day of the second Bristol Folk Festival. 'WOW. Just saw Show of Hands in the Albert Hall. Authentic folk-rock, glorious. 10 out of 10' –Jeremy Vine, BBC Radio 2. 

Watch the finale here.


BRISTOL FOLK FESTIVAL MAKES GUARDIAN'S TOP 10 QUIRKY FESTIVALS
You can read about it here.

FLUTE LEGEND McGOLDRICK JOINS ALL STAR SUNDAY
Cara Dillon and Sam Lakeman are to be joined by legends of traditional Irish music, Donal Lunny, Mike McGoldrick and Máirtín O'Connor for her headline show at Bristol Folk Festival on May 6th. Between them they have performed with some of the most iconic bands in traditional music including Planxty, De Dannan, The Bothy Band and Capercaillie. This will be a unique opportunity to catch the all-star line-up and will undoubtedly be a night to remember. Read more here.

ROUTES SOUTH WEST BRINGS TALENT TO BRISTOL FOLK FESTIVAL
Bristol Folk Festival is delighted to be hosting the Routes South West bill - including talented acts such as James Froud Band, Solarference, Ben & Alfie and Emily Wright.

LOCAL ACTS ARE ADDED TO THE FESTIVAL LINE-UP
Local acts Nick Wood, Rob Bowden and Thornbridge have all been announced for the Bristol Folk Festival weekend line-up - with lots more names to come! You can see our ever increasing list of acts here.

PATRON SETH LAKEMAN AND PROPERMUSIC.COM
Episode 29 of Propermusic.com’s weekly series of podcasts, produced and hosted by award-winning broadcaster Trevor Dann, is available now for free streaming and download through iTunes and SoundCloud. Seth Lakeman talks blacksmiths, watchmakers and artisans with Trevor Dann as he discusses the making of his latest album, Tales From The Barrelhouse. Seth also brings along his bouzouki & tenor guitar and plays a couple of live tracks in the studio. You can listen to this week’s podcast on the blog and watch a video of Seth performing The Artisan live in the studio.  


ISAMBARD FOLK AWARD WINNERS - JOSIENNE CLARKE & BEN WALKER
Rising young folk stars Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker have triumphed in the final of a nationwide music competition staged by Bristol’s revived Folk Festival.

The much heralded London-based duo who have a distinct musical empathy, fusing Josienne’s captivating vocal and songwriting skills and Ben’s stand-out guitar playing, beat off stiff competition from four other emerging acts on Friday to scoop the Isambard Folk Award at Bristol’s Colston Hall. They won with a performance of the original title song from Josienne’s debut album One Light is Gone. See them performing it here at London’s Union Chapel. Read More.

SOMERFEST LINES UP YOUNG FOLK STARS
Saturday 7th April 
Jim Moray, James Findlay, Emily Portman, 4Square, Dyer:Cummings, Sam Brookes, Pete Roe, Hot Feet, Songs from the Shed and more.... 
Read about it here.


JOSIENNE CLARKE & BEN WALKER WIN THE ISAMBARD FOLK AWARD
After a hard fought competition at Colston Hall on Friday March 30th, where all 5 finalists pulled out all the stops, the winners were judged to be Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker - you'll be able to catch them over the Bristol Folk Festival weekend and also at Somerfest - A one day festival at the beautiful Halsway Manor celebrating the best of young folk. The also get a session in the Shed (Songs from the Shed) and the chance to be played on Folk Radio UK.

CATCH ISAMBARD FINALISTS ON BBC RADIO 
Hear Solarference at 3:10pm on BBC Radio Bristol this Wednesday 28th March and Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker on BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester on Thursday 29th March at midday.  

WIN 2 WEEKEND TICKETS TO THE BRISTOL FOLK FESTIVAL
How you ask? Simply email Spiral Earth! For more information please have a look at the Spiral Earth webpage. And whilst you're there, have a look around - Bristol Folk Festival artists Sam Sweeney and Hannah James are guest editors for the week and their first port of call is a free download.

ISAMBARD FOLK AWARD FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
Please click here for information on the finalists and how you can see them all perform - for free!

PATRON SETH LAKEMAN SPEAKS TO MIKE HARDING
Seth Lakeman was Mike Harding's guest last night on his BBC Radio 2 Show. You can listen again here.

CLIFTON HOTELS OFFER REDUCED PRICES FOR FESTIVAL GOERS
The lovely people at Clifton Hotels have once again offered substantial discounts at their four hotels for Bristol Folk Festival goers. Please click here for more information.

BUMPER LINE UP ANNOUNCED
The final line up for the festival has been announced with an incredible 12hrs of music every day across three days, four stages and two venues.
Read more here.

ISAMBARD FOLK AWARD FINALS
Isambard Folk Award entry is now closed. Thanks to everyone who has entered – the judges are now engaged for a few weeks listening to nearly x 100 entries! The finals will be held at Colston Hall (Hall 2) on Friday 30th March at 7:30pm Entry is FREE and doors open at 7pm so arrive early if you want to guarantee entry. Please note you must still get your FREE ticket from the box office to gain entry. See more info on the event here.

SONGS FROM THE SHED
Don't forget Songs From The Shed will be in residence at Colston Hall throughout the festival. See some videos filmed at the 2011 Bristol Folk Festival here.

BRISTOL FOLK FESTIVAL TO PRESENT BRIT-NOMINATED NEWTON FAULKNER AT 02 ACADEMY  
In a new move, Bristol Folk Festival is to present Brit-nominated singer songwriter Newton Faulkner at the city’s O2 Academy as part of its three-day May Bank Holiday event. Tickets for Bristol Folk Festival’s 7.30pm Newton Faulkner show will be by separate ticket, price £16. Read more here.

SOLD OUT/SOLD OUT/SOLD OUT/SOLD OUT!

BRISTOL’S BASEMENT GHOSTS ARE BACK IN THE CITY!

A rare chance to catch Seventies experimental folk artists back where it all began.

Pioneering artists who recorded on Bristol’s collectable independent alt-folk label, Village Thing Records, will reunite for a rare concert at Colston Hall on Sunday, May 6 -along with younger artists who have drawn inspiration from the Village Thing era. Read more here.

CALLING ALL EMERGING FOLK ACTS! BRISTOL FOLK FESTIVAL RELAUNCHES NATIONWIDE MUSIC AWARD

Winner offered two festival appearances. Songs from the Shed session and a session and coverage on Folk Radio UK. Read more here.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PATRON, SETH LAKEMAN
Confirming its place on the UK festival calendar, the 2nd Bristol Folk Festival will be buzzing at Colston Hall over the early May Bank Holiday (May 5-7)-a guaranteed “rain free” event.

Says patron Seth Lakeman:
“After last year’s hugely successful return to the UK’s live music calendar, I am delighted to be patron once again for Bristol Folk Festival 2012. With an eclectic line-up of multi-award winning, and up-and-coming folk and acoustic acts there is something for everyone.”

Congratulations to BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winner Lucy Ward for winning the Horizon Award. 

You can see all the winners here.

Three of the hottest award-nominated young acoustic roots acts in England have been added to the already vibrant line-up – Derbyshire singer songwriter Lucy Ward, the hugely popular alt-country band ahab and singer, guitarist and actor Blair Dunlop of the new Albion Band – the long-lived, legendary band founded by his father Ashley Hutchings.

Lucy was a double nominee at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards (Horizon Award Best Newcomer and Best Traditional Track for her Maids When You’re Young). Her set is an eclectic mix of modern and trad folk interpretations and her own songs and last year her debut album Adelphi Has to Fly drew praise from many corners.

ahab have been described as “the most exciting harmony-infused Americana/pop outfit to emerge on the scene since Mumford & Sons”. Featuring Callum Adamson on 12-string guitar and vocals, Luke Price on mandolin and vocals, Dave Burn on guitar and vocals, Steve Llewellyn on bass and vocals, and Grahame Rolfe on percussion.

The third “new kid on the block” is Blair Dunlop whose new EP Bags Outside The Door has certainly made an impression. Nineteen year-old Blair was nominated for the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award. Read more here.

FESTIVAL COUP FOR BRISTOL – AWESOME “AFRO CELT SOUND SYSTEM” ANNOUNCED AS BANK HOLIDAY  MONDAY HEADLINER
Bristol Folk Festival has scored a coup, securing the supergroup Afro Celt Sound System as its May Bank Holiday Monday headliner in what is likely to be the band’s only UK summer festival appearance this year.

Towering and tribal, twice-Grammy nominated Afro Celt Sound System fuses traditional Celtic tunes with driving African rhythms and hypnotic, cutting edge dance grooves. One of the most inspirational and innovative collectives ever, eight of the best musicians on the planet promise to bring the 2nd Bristol Folk Festival at Colston Hall to an unforgettable close on Monday, May 7.

Recently returned to the scene after a five year break the 2012 line up at Bristol will be Simon Emmerson (guitars, cittern)James McNally (whistles, keyboards, bodhran); N'faly Kouyate (kora, vocals); James "Jimmy" Mahon (uilleann pipes, flute); Johnny Kalsi (dhol, tablas, percussion); Ian Markin (electronic and acoustic drums); Babara Bangoura (djembe, talking drum)and Demba Barry (Senegalese dancing).

With a brilliant career-spanning double CD Capture out now, the Afro Celts are due to release a new album in the autumn. See recent performances www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6PSlTVRgqg and www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEn_R5LBh68&feature=related Read more here.

SHOW OF HANDS
2010 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards double winners, Show of Hands will also be headlining in a year that will see Steve Knightley and Phil Beer celebrating 20 years of their incredible partnership that has put them right at the top of British folk.

Together with regular double bass player Miranda Sykes, singer songwriter Knightley and multi-instrumental wizard Beer will mark their milestone year with a fourth return to the Royal Albert Hall next Easter before heading to Bristol to headline the festival on Saturday, May 5.

Read more here.

Two of folk’s finest female performers will bring a burst of Celtic class        
Both multiple award winners, Ireland’s Cara Dillon (with Sam Lakeman) and Scotland’s Karine Polwart are among the most esteemed artists on the acoustic scene.

Honey-voiced Dillon. who will headline the festival on Sunday, May 6th - is also patron of Bristol Folk Festival’s sister event, the inaugural Frome Folk Festival, which takes place in her Somerset home town. Read more here.

For more information on acts please have a look at the Line Up pages.

Thanks for your feedback from 2011 - we are listening and will keep on listening so do keep in touch with your thoughts and ideas. You can keep up to date on our planned improvements on this page - or to let us know your suggestions you can use our easy form.