Bristol Folk Festival announces lineup for 2025

Bristol Folk Festival returns with an electrifying line-up of UK and world artists across the city for the May Bank Holiday weekend (Fri 2 May – Sun 4 May). 

Talisk open the festival with a bang on Friday 2 May. Fronted by Mohsen Amini (BBC Radio Folk Awards, Musician of the Year), Talisk perform ground-breaking, chart-topping folk amidst a storm of strobe, light and swirling sound. ‘An exciting sound that literally drags and audience out of its seats’ (The Herald). ‘Incredible’ (Rolling Stone). Bristol’s Heartwood Chorus take the prestigious support slot.

Image: Bristol Folk Festival 

Saturday 3 May brings a special double headline concert at St George’s Bristol. Godfather of blues and one of the world’s finest guitarists, Martin Simpson shares the stage with rising star Katherine Priddy.  

‘One of the virtuosos of the English music scene’ (The Guardian) Martin has been nominated an astounding 32 times for BBC Radio 2 folk awards, winning the main prizes numerous times. A consummate storyteller, he’s a must-see performer for all guitarists and for those with a love of song.  Katherine by contrast is at the start of her glittering career, her album The Pendulum Swing, was called ‘Simply Brilliant’ by Mojo and she counts Iggy Pop, Guy Garvey and Mark Radcliffe amongst her fans. Known for her exceptional voice, and delicate guitar, Katherine Priddy is not a fragile wallflower, but a determined young woman making her mark. Katherine arrives in Bristol off the back of a sold-out tour.

Image: Bristol Folk Festival 

The festival closes with a feast of world music and strings. Royal Harpist and chart-topper Catrin Finch is the most gifted harp virtuoso of her generation.  Her talent has seen her play on the world’s finest stages with everyone from the New York Philharmonic and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, to Seckou Keita. On Sunday 4 May she takes to the main stage of St George’s Bristol with Dublin-based violinist Aoife Ní Bhriain as they perform their acclaimed No.1 album ‘Double You’ (Classical and World Music charts). 

Joining the Sunday night closing concert at St George’s is Suntou Susso. Celebrated across Africa and Europe, Suntou is a multi-instrumentalist, Kora player, percussionist, singer and composer from The Gambia. Born into the 700-year-old Griot tradition, Suntou brings sunshine to the stage, unifying people through song. 

Also in the line-up are a 14-piece folk orchestra, a band tipped by Paul McCartney as the next big thing, sea shanties, Bristol’s 6 music darling boci, Ceilidhs, sword dancers and incredible music down at the Late Night Folk sessions at The Architect. 

Image: Bristol Folk Festival, credit Paul Blakemore

Dr Anna Rutherford Creative Director of Bristol Folk Festival said “This year we’ve gathered over 60 artists from across the world to share stages with the best of Bristol and the South West. The Queens, Kings and bright young things of the roots scene, are joined by 200 community musicians, singers and dancers who bring the festival to life across the bank holiday. 

There’s truly something for everyone. Royal harpists meet electronic beats, strobe, sessions, sea shanties, senegalese Kora, a 14-piece orchestra, and foot-stomping tunes. With music, dance and high spirits running late into the evenings, you’ll be glad to have the bank holiday Monday to recover!”

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. 

See the festival website for the latest line-up. The festival will release the final wave of acts and sessions in the next week. Including the line-up for the late night folk hub.