Music and family fun lined-up at Shrewsbury Folk Festival

The festival is one of UK’s leading events of its kind, with four music stages, a dance tent, more than 100 workshops, children’s and youth programmes, onsite camping, a craft fair, real ale and wine bars, and a food village.

Californian folk rock band Dawes are headlining the festival this evening. Others headliners include the Richard Thompson Electric Trio, La Bottine Souriante, Sharon Shannon, Oysterband, Kate Rusby, The Spooky Men’s Chorale, world music duo Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita, Steve Knightley, False Lights and the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain.

Also on the bill are John Jones & the Reluctant Ramblers, Nancy Kerr and the Sweet Visitor Band, Mawkin, O’Hooley & Tidow, The Wilsons, The Young’uns, New Rope String Band, Ross Ainslie & Jarlath Henderson, The James Brothers, Lucy Ward, Patsy Reid, Jack Harris, The Willows, Gren Bartley, The Roaring Trowmen, Winter Wilson, Teacups, Fran McGillivray and Mike Burke, Granny’s Attic, Mary Humphries & Anahata, The Boundless Brothers and Paula Ryan. Special performances will come from Oysterband frontman and festival patron John Jones with The Oxford Girl show, and Folk Nations – a British Council musical collaboration featuring British and South Asian artists.

Canadian bands Ten Strings and a Goatskin and Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys have been signed up along with the Barra MacNeils and American Jonathan Byrd will be making a return after his 2012 debut won him a new army of fans.

Festival director Alan Surtees said: “We have a great line up this year reflecting British traditional and contemporary folk music alongside world and North American artists.

“The joy of the festival is the sum of all its parts – it creates a wonderful atmosphere where people enjoy everything on offer or just relax and enjoy time with friends and family in a friendly and inclusive atmosphere.”

Businesses in Shrewsbury and beyond are set to get a boost from this weekend’s festival too. Festival Director Alan Surtees said the festival was firmly committed to supporting the economy of Shrewsbury and the wider county.

“We bring visitors into Shrewsbury from all corners of the country and indeed, world. We encourage them into the town by laying on dance displays, pub sessions, a dance parade and a free bus shuttle service into the centre.

“Our aim is to use as many local suppliers as we can – for instance, there are nine Shropshire breweries on sale in our bars, Tanners is supplying wine and Pomona Grocery in Shrewsbury runs our festival shop. We use local hotels and taxi companies and throughout the year, utilise many other Shropshire businesses including graphic designers and printers.

“On top of that, people spend money in pubs, garages, hotels and shops throughout Shropshire as they make their way to and from the festival.”

This year, the live webcast that is beamed to a worldwide audience, will be showcasing films to promote the town as a visitor destination.

Kirsten Henley, Manager of the Shrewsbury Business Improvement District (BID), said: “Shrewsbury Folk Festival brings an array of internationally renowned artists to the town and tens of thousands of people come to Shrewsbury from across the country, and indeed the world, to experience the event.

“It’s a fantastic part of Shrewsbury events season, firmly putting the town on the arts and cultural map, as well as bringing many people into Shrewsbury over the bank holiday weekend.

“Building on Alan and the team’s ongoing support for promoting Shrewsbury, we’re delighted we’ve been able to work again with the team to further promote Shrewsbury’s businesses and attractions to the audience that attends.”

To find out more about the festival and watch the live webcast visit http://shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk