10 Folk Music Places to Visit in England

England is full of wonderful places to visit, especially if you love folk music. Here are 10 of the best places to enjoy this type of music.

The Cotswolds

The Cotswolds are a picturesque region of rolling hills and countryside in central England. They’re also home to a thriving folk music scene, with venues and events throughout the year.

If you’re planning a trip to England, add these 10 folk music places to your itinerary for a true taste of English culture.

1. The Falcon Inn, Bromsberrow Heath
2. The Bedford Arms, Woburn Sands
3. The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington
4. The Ivy Bush Royal Hotel, Crickhowell
5. Folk on the Green, Stroud
6. Chippenham Folk Festival
7. Shrewsbury Folk Festival
8. Warwick Folk Festival
9. Whitbyfolk Week
10. Towersey Village Festival

Oxford

Oxford is home to many music festivals throughout the year, but the city really comes alive during the Folk Festival in May. Featuring over 300 performers from all over the world, the Folk Festival is one of the most important events in the English folk music calendar. If you’re looking to experience some of the best folk music England has to offer, Oxford is definitely the place to be.

Bristol

Bristol is often thought of as the birthplace of trip hop, with artists like Massive Attack and Portishead hailing from the city. But Bristol is also home to a thriving folk music scene. If you’re looking to explore England’s folk music heritage, here are 10 places you should add to your itinerary.

1. The Bristol Folk House
2. The Academy of St Martin in the Fields
3. The Broadmoor Folk Festival
4. The Cropredy Festival
5. The Fairport’s Cropredy Convention
6. The Greenwich+Docklands International Festival
7. The Huntingdon Folk Festival
8. The National Celtic Festival
9. The Scarborough Fair Collection
10. Towersey Village

Cornwall

Cornwall is well known for its traditional folk music. The county has its own distinct style of music, which is heavily influenced by the Cornish language. There are many great places to hear traditional folk music in Cornwall, including The Eden Project, The National Trust’s Trelissick Garden, and Bodmin Moor.

Devon

Devon is a seaside county in England with a rich history and culture. It is also the home of many traditional English folk songs and dances. If you’re a fan of folk music, here are 10 places you should visit in Devon:

1. Dartington Hall – A historic estate in Totnes, Devon, Dartington Hall is the home of the Dartington International Summer School of Music, a world-renowned centre for music education and performance.

2. Sidmouth Folk Festival – One of the largest and oldest folk festivals in England, the Sidmouth Folk Festival takes place every August in the seaside town of Sidmouth.

3. Exeter Folk Festival – Another long-running folk festival, the Exeter Folk Festival takes place annually in early May and features a variety of traditional music and dance from around Devon and further afield.

4. Dartmouth Music Festival – With its roots in maritime music, the Dartmouth Music Festival celebrates the traditional music of Devon’s ports and fishing villages. The festival takes place every October in the town of Dartmouth.

5. Okehampton Traditional Music Festival – Held every September in Okehampton, this festival presents a mix of traditional music from Devon and Cornwall, as well as from further afield.

6. Tavistock Goose Fair – A centuries-old fair with its roots in medieval times, Tavistock Goose Fair is now one of England’s largest street festivals with over 200 stalls offering food, drink, and entertainment. The fair takes place every October in Tavistock town centre.

7. The Plymouth Pavilions – A large concert venue located on Plymouth Hoe by Plymouth Sound, the Plymouth Pavilions hosts concerts and events throughout the year including regular folk music evenings.

8. Teignmouth Folk Club – One of Devon’s most popular regular folk clubs, Teignmouth Folk Club meets every Wednesday evening at The Carlton Hotel near Shaldon Bridge. Visitors are always welcome to join in the sing-alongs!

9. Brixham Heritage Museum – Brixham Heritage Museum houses an extensive collection of maritime artefacts including many items related to Brixham’s fishing heritage such as trawlermen’s clothing, nets, and equipment used for fish processing. The museum also hosts regular folk music events featuring local musicians playing traditional songs about Brixham’s seafaring history.
10 The Leopard Inn – Located in Appledore on Northam Burrows overlooking Instow beach and estuary, The Leopard Inn is a 16th century coaching inn that has been welcoming visitors for over 400 years! Today it continues to be a popular destination for locals and tourists alike with its welcoming atmosphere, good food…and great live music!

Dorset

Dorset is a county in the south west of England. It’s know for its beautiful coastline, which is part of the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site. Dorset is also home to a number of folk music festivals including the Purbeck Folk Festival, which takes place in September, and the Wareham Town Folk Festival which happens in October.

Hampshire

Hampshire is a county in the south of England with a long history and rich cultural heritage. Hampshire is home to many different folk music traditions, and there are a number of great places to visit if you want to experience this fascinating aspect of English culture. Here are ten of the best folk music places to visit in Hampshire:

1. The Sparsholt Fleece Folk Club in Winchester is one of the oldest and most well-known folk clubs in the county. The club meets every Wednesday evening and hosts a variety of traditional and contemporary folk acts.

2. The Ace of Clubs in Andover is another longstandingfolk club that meets every Tuesday evening. The club has a strong tradition of supporting up-and-coming talent, as well as established performers.

3. The Wellington Folk Club in Wokingham is one of the largest and most active clubs in Hampshire. The club meets on Monday evenings and features a wide range of folk acts, both local and touring.

4. The Fleet Folk Club in Fleet is another large and well-established club that meets on Thursday evenings. The club has an excellent reputation for promoting quality folk music, both traditional and contemporary.

5. The New Forest Folk Festival is one of the largest and most popular annual events in Hampshire. The festival takes place over three days in late August or early September and features a wide range of folk acts from across the UK and beyond.

6. The Basingstoke Folk Festival is another large annual event that takes place over three days in late May or early June. As well as featuring a wide range of folk acts, the festival also has a strong focus on education, with workshops and talks from leading figures in the world of folk music.

7 .The Winchester Folk Festival is another major annual event, taking place over four days in late June or early July. As well as featuring a wide range of folk acts, the festival also has an extensive programme of talks, workshops, and ceilidhs (traditional Scottish/Irish dances).

8 .The Romsey Folk Festival is another large annual event, taking place over three days in late August or early September. As well as featuring many different folk acts, the festival also offers a wide range of talks, workshops, and open mic sessions for those wanting to get involved with the music scene themselves . With its convenient location near Southampton , Portsmouth ,and Bournemouth ,the Romsey festival is easily accessible for those coming from outside Hampshire . However , those travelling from further afield will find plenty to keep them occupied with several great pubs , restaurants ,and hotels located close to the festival site . For more information about this year’s event , please visit their website . Planning on attending one or more festivals this year ? Check out our blog post on ‘Festival Etiquette : 10 Do’s And Don’ts For First Time Attendees’ for some top tips on how to make sure you have an enjoyable experience . We hope you have found this guide helpful . If you have any suggestions for other great places to see live music in Hampshire , please let us know in the comments section below .

Herefordshire

Herefordshire is a beautiful countryside county in the West Midlands of England. This county is known for its many picturesque villages and towns, as well as its stunning countryside scenery. Herefordshire is also home to a number of excellent folk music venues, making it the perfect place to enjoy a variety of live music.

The Courtyard Centre for the Arts is one of the most popular folk music venues in Herefordshire. This centre is located in the village of Much Marcle, and it offers a variety of live music events throughout the year. The Courtyard Centre for the Arts has an intimate and relaxed atmosphere, making it the perfect place to enjoy live folk music.

The Green Man Festival is another excellent place to enjoy live folk music in Herefordshire. This festival takes place every year in the picturesque village of Crickhowell, and it offers a wide range of live music and entertainment. The Green Man Festival is one of the most popular folk music festivals in England, and it attracts visitors from all over the country.

If you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy live folk music in Herefordshire, then be sure to check out these 10 excellent places.

Shropshire

Shropshire is a county in England that is known for its beautiful countryside and rich history. The county is also home to a number of folk music venues and events.

The Shrewsbury Folk Festival is one of the biggest and most well-known folk music festivals in the country. The festival takes place every year in August and features a variety of local, national, and international acts.

Another popular venue in Shropshire is The Minstrels Gallery. The Minstrels Gallery is a coffeehouse and music venue that hosts a variety of folk music events throughout the year.

If you’re looking for a more traditional folk music experience, you can visit various pubs and inns throughout Shropshire. These establishments often host live music nights where you can enjoy a pint or two while listening to some great folk tunes.

Yorkshire

There are many great places to enjoy folk music in England, but Yorkshire is definitely one of the top destinations. This region has a rich musical tradition and is home to some of the best folk clubs and festivals in the country. Here are just a few of the top places to enjoy folk music in Yorkshire:

1. Bradford Folk Club – This club has been running for over 50 years and is one of the most popular folk clubs in Yorkshire. It’s held every Wednesday evening at The New Vic pub in Bradford and features live music from both local and touring bands.

2. Huddersfield Folk Festival – This annual festival takes place in May and features a wide range of folk acts from all over the UK. There are also workshops, children’s events, and street entertainment.

3. Leeds Folk Night – Held every Tuesday night at The Half Moon pub in Leeds, this folk night features live music from both local and touring acts. There’s also a jam session from 9:30pm onwards so you can join in the fun!

4. Richmond Folk Club – This club meets every Monday night at The Green Man pub in Richmond and features live music from both local and touring bands. There’s also an open mic night once a month so you can have a go yourself!

5. Scarborough Fair – This annual event takes place in September and features a wide range of traditional fairground attractions as well as live music from some of the best folk acts around. It’s a great day out for all the family!

6. Sheffield Folk Fest – This annual festival takes place over two weekends in May and features live music from both local and touring acts, workshops, children’s events, street entertainment, Morris dancing, and much more!

7. Stamford Bridge Folk Club – This club meets every Thursday night at The Rutland Arms pub in Stamford Bridge and features live music from both local and touring bands. There’s also an open mic night once a month so you can have a go yourself!

8. Wakefield Folk Club – This club meets every Wednesday night at The Cherry Tree pub in Wakefield and features live music from both local and touring bands. There’s also an open mic night once a month so you can have a go yourself!

9. Whitby Folk Week – This annual event takes place in August and features over 500 events including concerts, ceilidhs, dances, workshops, sessions, discussions, storytelling, films, children’s events, street entertainment, and much more!