Folk Music Festivals to Check Out This Summer
Contents
Looking for some great folk music festivals to check out this summer? Here are five of the best, from coast to coast.
Introduction
The summer music festival season is upon us, and there are plenty of great folk festivals to choose from. Here are just a few of the many fantastic festivals happening around the country this summer:
The Philadelphia Folk Festival is one of the longest running and most well-known folk festivals in the country. Taking place from August 16-19, the festival features a wide array of folk musicians from around the world.
If you’re in the mood for a more intimate festival experience, check out the Woodford Folk Festival in Australia. This intimate festival takes place from December 27-January 1 and features a wide variety of international and Australian folk musicians.
For something a little different, check out the Wildflower! Arts and Music Festival in Richardson, Texas. This festival focuses on world music and features a wide variety of musical genres, including folk, rock, jazz, and more. The festival takes place from May 11-13.
The Newport Folk Festival
The Newport Folk Festival is an American annual folk-oriented music festival in Newport, Rhode Island, which began in 1959 as a counterpart to the previously established Newport Jazz Festival. The festival features performances by leading folk musicians, as well as emerging artists. It is usually held on the last full weekend in July and typically features about 100 musical acts on three stages over the course of the three-day event.
The Cambridge Folk Festival
The Cambridge Folk Festival is one of the most popular and well-known folk music festivals in the world. It takes place in the city of Cambridge, England and attracts over 20,000 people each year. The festival has been running since 1965 and features a wide range of folk music from all over the world.
The Cambridge Folk Festival is held over four days in late July or early August. The main stages are located in Parker’s Piece, a large park in the center of Cambridge. There are also a number of smaller stages located around the site.
The festival usually features around 100 acts, with a mix of established artists and up-and-coming talent. Some of the acts that have played at the festival in recent years include Lily Allen, Billy Bragg, The Levellers, Mumford & Sons, and Elvis Costello.
If you’re a fan of folk music, then the Cambridge Folk Festival is definitely worth checking out. It’s one of the best folk festivals in the world and offers something for everyone.
The Fairport’s Cropredy Convention
The Fairport’s Cropredy Convention is a three-day festival of folk, roots and acoustic music held in the village of Cropredy in Oxfordshire, England. The festival is organised by the band Fairport Convention and takes place on the second weekend in August. It is the largest annual gathering of folk musicians and fans in the UK, with around 20,000 people attending each year.
The convention started life as a one-day event in 1976, to mark Fairport’s tenth anniversary. It was such a success that it has been held every year since, with the exception of 1981 when the event was cancelled due to poor ticket sales. Over the years, the festival has grown in size and reputation, attracting some of the biggest names in folk music from both Britain and overseas.
This year’s lineup includes Richard Thompson, Martin Simpson, Shooglenifty, The Young’uns, Sarah McQuaid and many more. Tickets are on sale now and can be bought online or by calling the box office on 01608 661382.
The Glasgow Folk Festival
Since its humble beginnings in the Candlemakers’ Union Hall in 1967, the Glasgow Folk Festival has become one of the leading folk festivals in Scotland, if not the UK. The festival takes over the city center for a whole host of ceilidhs, workshops, talks, and concerts featuring both local and international talent. This year’s headliners include Eddi Reader, Dougie MacLean, and Karine Polwart.
The Edmonton Folk Music Festival
The Edmonton Folk Music Festival is a music festival held every August in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The festival takes place at Gallagher Park, on the North Saskatchewan River. It is one of the largest and most important folk festivals in North America. The Edmonton Folk Music Festival has been described as “one of the most influential music festivals” and “the best folk fest in the world”.
The festival began in 1980 as a one-day event with four stages and a few hundred people in attendance. Since then, it has grown to become a four-day event with over 100,000 people in attendance. The festival features over 200 performers on 10 stages, with a wide variety of genres represented, including folk, blues, world music, bluegrass, gospel, and more. The Edmonton Folk Music Festival is organized by the Edmonton Folk Music Society, a non-profit organization.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many different folk music festivals happening around the world this summer. Whether you’re looking for a traditional music festival or something a little more modern, there’s sure to be a festival that’s perfect for you. So get out there and enjoy some great music this summer!
