Bristol Folk Festival returns with a breathtaking lineup of national and international artists across the city for the May Bank Holiday weekend (Friday 3 May – Sunday 5 May).
The Breath open the festival with a special concert in the majestic surrounds of Bristol Cathedral. An exquisite, if unlikely, pairing of a softly-spoken guitar whizz (Stuart McCallum, The Cinematic Orchestra) and a folk singer with a larger-than-life personality and powerful voice to match (Ríoghnach Connolly), The Breath craft emotional songs that soothe, stir and bring tears of lamenting joy to your eyes.
BBC ‘Folk Singer of the Year’ Ríoghnach is a once-in-a-generation talent, a feisty flautist and singer with a stop-you-in-your-tracks vocal, and a razor-sharp wit. She arrives in Bristol on the back of sold out tours.
Spiers and Boden headline the festival on Saturday 4 May at St George’s Bristol. The duo are the masterminds behind the all-conquering Bellowhead, who sold out The Royal Albert Hall multiple times. Spiers and Boden arrive in Bristol for a rare gig as a duo, returning to where they started, but still top of their game.
Frankie Archer joins the Saturday night line-up. An extraordinary Northumbrian artist at the start of her career, Frankie is shaking up tradition, with synths, samples, looping fiddles and a call for a fairer future for all. Frankie arrives in Bristol fresh from Jools Holland (BBC2) and supporting The Last Dinner Party.
Sunday sees Bristol’s own roots legend, Lady Nade, headline an afternoon of the best musicians in the country. Counting Cerys Matthews and Clive Anderson amongst her fans, and winner of ‘Song of the Year’ at the UK Americana Awards, Nade’s distinctive voice is matched only by her huge heart.
The festival closes with a foot-stomper of a party as Sheelanagig blow the roof off St George’s Bristol, with their well-stocked armoury of strings (guitar, fiddle, double bass), the rhythmic energy of flute & drums and a bagful of joint-jumping tunes. Supporting Sheelanagig are Filkin’s Ensemble a 14-piece folk orchestra tipped as the next big thing in folk, and drawing comparisons to both Bellowhead and Penguin Café.
With music, dance, Senegalese sunshine, sessions, shanties and high spirits running late into the evenings, you’ll be glad to have the bank holiday Monday to recover.
Dr Anna Rutherford, Director of Bristol Folk Festival said “This year we’ve gathered the best artists from across the world to share stages with the best of the South West. And there’s something for everyone in the line-up. This year’s festival offers everything from soaring fiddles and gorgeous harmonies to urgent new voices, electronic beats, senegalese Kora, a 14-piece orchestra, and foot-stomping tunes. What binds the Festival together is the incredible musicianship and the warmth of our audiences. Join our opening night to understand the stratospheric rise of Ríoghnach Connolly and The Breath, on the city’s most beautiful stage, or immerse yourself in the rich programme across the city over the Bank Holiday weekend.”
“We are thrilled to be welcoming Bristol Folk Festival to Bristol Cathedral and can’t wait to hear the gorgeous sounds of contemporary folk in our ancient and beautiful setting.” says the Very Reverend Mandy Ford, Dean of Bristol.
Day and Night passes are available for each day of the Festival. Weekend Passes allow audiences full access to three days of music and are already close to selling out.
News of the full line-up, sessions and dance across the city will be released shortly.
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