The East Devon town of Sidmouth is gearing up for its annual, world famous folk festival. Jackie Butler takes us through an A to Z of this year’s events – and guess who comes under ‘U’? Yes, it’s legendary sister act, The Unthanks.
Atmosphere
Festival week means it’s party time in Sidmouth and you can’t escape the uplifting spirit that permeates this maritime community. Whether you are strolling the streets for the day or checking in for a massive choice of scheduled shows, there’s music and dance around every corner. A is also for Angeline Morrison who explores black voices in British folk song with her beautiful tradition-inspired compositions.
Beach
Sidmouth is, of course, a coastal town, which means much of the action happens within a stone’s throw of the seafront. As children make sandcastles, families picnic and swimmers make a splash, The Esplanade hosts busking music makers of all ages and abilities, and plenty of stalls. B is also for Barbara Dickson; the award-winning Scottish diva plays a pre-festival concert with Nick Holland.
Children
Youngsters from 0-12 and their families have a mini festival of their own to delve into at Sidmouth, set in the beautiful Peacock Gardens in the heart of town. There’s storytelling, dance, music, theatre, puppetry and crafting, all provided by new children’s producers Little Seeds Music. C is also for Cara Dillon, the hugely popular dulcet-toned Irish songstress headlining a main stage evening show.
Dance
Sidmouth began as a dance festival in 1955 and that tradition still plays a major part. Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or a complete novice, it’s time to get your feet moving, with live band ceilidhs and a chance to go through your paces at folk dance sessions. D is also for Folk Detectives Matthew Crampton and Paul Hutchinson who examine folklore with tongue in cheek.
Eating (and Drinking)
Every festival-goer needs refuelling and, alongside the pubs, restaurants and cafes, there’s an exciting choice of local Devon catering stalls including Rusty Pig, Bean Machine Coffee Airstream Café - with espresso martinis and Elvis doughnuts, Harry’s Kitchen, and the Anchor’s Away bar stocked with Exeter Brewery ales. E is also for Exmouth Shanty Men, homegrown heroes who will share their Tall Ships & Tavern Tales.
Fireworks
Wind forward to the finale and the festival always goes out with a bang. Spectacular fireworks zooming into the night sky and a procession along the Esplanade mark the end of a folk-tastic week of shenanigans. F is also for The Fisherman’s Friends. The now globally-famous Cornish “buoy” band open this year’s main stage with a hearty pre-festival set of sea-salty songs.
Gathering
People come back year after year to meet up and enjoy the festival’s special vibes. It’s a place where lifelong friendships and significant partnerships are born. Steve Knightley of headliners and festival patrons Show of Hands started off busking on the seafront and met his wife at Sidmouth. G is also for John Gasson Jig Competition, a high-energy challenge honouring a much-missed jig dancer.
The Ham
Every August this little park at the eastern end of the seafront houses the festival’s main seated marquee, also known as The Ham. Top drawer folk acts take to the stage here three times a day from lunchtime into the evening, ticketed individually or as part of a package. H is also for Handsworth Traditional Sword Dancers, one of the best-loved visiting dance teams.
International
The festival is thrilled to open its arms to talented musical artists from across the globe, post Covid. This year’s international roster features the highly acclaimed headliners Le Vent du Nord from Québec’s Francophone folk movement, the Tashi Lhunpo Monks (Tibet), Suntou Susso (The Gambia), Flo Perlin (Iraqi and Belarusian heritage), and Sara Grey (USA). I is also for Iona Lane, a poetic young songstress from Leeds.
Jurassic
Sidmouth sits on the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site prized for its incredible and rare range of prehistoric fossils, rocks and landforms. Its distinctive red cliffs provide a fantastic scenic backdrop. J is also for Jackie Oates, sweet-voiced songstress and fiddle player who leads the Sidmouth Mini Singers children’s workshops and will perform with guitarist and balladeer Jon Wilks, supporting the amazing Magpie Arc.
Kooky
Lovable eccentricity runs through Sidmouth Folk Festival like letters through a stick of seaside rock and it’s a key element of its enduring appeal. From the colourful costumes of Morris dancers, mystical giants on parade, and off-the-wall comedy performers, expect the unexpected. K is also for Kathryn Tickell and the Darkening, who will share powerful traditional and contemporary pipe-driven songs and tunes of Northumbria.
Late Nights
The Bulverton Marquee perched in a field high above the town is the hub for high octane action and big nights out until the early hours. This standing venue features dynamic evening roots shows with top names including Skerryvore and Blackbeard’s Tea Party, plus after parties, early doors sessions and daytime workshops. L is also for Lindisfarne, legendary 70s folk-rock pioneers headlining at the Ham.
Morris
Sidmouth wouldn’t be Sidmouth without the incredible spectacle of exceptional Morris and other top traditional dance teams from across the country. Rooted in ancient tradition, their infectious energy permeates the town as they parade along the Esplanade and display their skills in Blackmore and Connaught Gardens. M is also for Manor Pavilion, a small seated theatre hosting inspiring folk-fuelled shows every night of the week.
New
The festival might have its ear firmly tuned into the past but it always has one eye on the future. Countless emerging artists earned their spurs at Sidmouth, including Dartmoor’s Seth Lakeman, an evening headliner. Check out English Folk Dance and Song Society showcases with innovators like Frankie Archer, Amy Hollinrake, and Johnny Campbell. N is also for New Bees ceilidh band at the Anchor Inn.
Official campsite
The way to make sure you don’t miss a minute of the action is to pitch up for the night or, indeed, the whole week. The well-equipped festival campsite, for tents, motorhomes and caravans, is around 1.5 miles from the seafront, with Portaloos, showers, catering and a festival bus service. O is also for Owen Spafford and Louis Campbell, a young globally-focused duo.
Participation
You can’t come to Sidmouth without joining in. Whether that’s tapping your toes under the table or hurling yourself into a breathtaking ceilidh, the temptation is hard to resist. P is also for Paul Sartin, much-missed stalwart of the festival who died suddenly last year. Friends from the folk world will perform a heartfelt tribute to the celebrated oboist, singer, violinist, composer and serial collaborator.
Quirky
You can’t get much more bizarre than the legendary and ever-popular Sidmouth Horse Trials, where a menagerie of hobby horses and beasts of disguise compete for a prestigious trophy designed by Peter Lord, co-founder of Aardman Animations (Wallace and Gromit, Morph, Shaun the Sheep), who is a huge Sidmouth fan. Q is also for quality and the terrific range of top class artists performing.
Repeat Visitors
Sidmouth Folk Festival gets under people’s skin. A magical seaside holiday for music lovers, this summer is its 69th successive year and you’ll find three or even four generations of a family coming along together. R is also for Raynor Winn, bestselling author of The Salt Path, who collaborates with folk supergroup Gigspanner in Saltlines, reimagining songs and tunes of the South West Coast Path.
Sessions
Headline concerts are a major draw, but if you can play an instrument or hold a tune, there’s bags of fun to be had at loads of impromptu and organised music sessions around the town’s pubs and smaller venues. S is also for Scottish. There’s a strong contingent of artists from over the border heading to Devon, including Peat & Diesel, the adrenaline-fuelled Stornoway breakthrough sensations.
Tickets
Unlike most major festivals, Sidmouth has no clear boundaries. It takes over the town’s streets and open spaces, with ticketed events happening in marquees and other venues. Whether you want to invest in a choice of great value all-in-one packages or cherry pick individual shows, dances and workshops, there are plenty of options. T is also for Talisk, the sensational Scottish instrumental headlining trio.
Unique
Some Sidmouth shows are one-offs that you won’t see anywhere else. For example, 1918 – The Untold Stories Of The Great War, with Chris Hoban, The Sidmouth Town Band and special guests, is a chronological journey of music, history, anecdote and humour exploring some less familiar characters and events of the First World War. U is also for The Unthanks, soulful and harmonic sister act headliners.
Volunteers
The festival simply couldn’t happen without its friendly, enthusiastic volunteers, many who live locally. They help everything run smoothly in the venues, during processions and on the campsite. They also collect donations, look after artists, run box offices and chip in with all kinds of admin, and applications are always welcome. V is also for VRi, an edgy Welsh three-piece supporting award-winning piper Brìghde Chaimbeul.
Workshops
Whether you want to sing in the festival choir, squish a squeezebox, dance Bhangra-style, brush up your ukulele skills, embrace the arts of compelling storytelling and performance poetry, master English country dance or try some hands-on creative crafts, the festival has one-off tasters and week-long workshops to tempt everyone. W is also for Whapweasel, seasoned seven-piece folk rock ceilidh dance band.
Xylophone
It’s not exactly a typical folk instrument, but you’re bound to find one in action during the festival. Percussion is fundamental to the folk tradition, whether it’s a bodhran drum, a tambourine, or a pair of wooden clogs, and there will be plenty to explore at Jo May’s popular percussion workshop. X is also for Exeter bus station, where you can catch a bus to Sidmouth.
Youth
Young people are vital for the future of the festival, and the Shooting Roots programme is a favourite with 12-to-17-year-olds. The week-long schedule is crammed with crafts, dance, theatre, band and storytelling workshops, leading up to some special performance opportunities around the town. Y is also for The Young’uns, a talented Teeside trio defined by their heart-on-the-sleeve storytelling.
Zany
There’s no getting away from the fact that Sidmouth is a little bit wacky as well as wonderful. No one takes themselves too seriously and the emphasis is on having a great time by the beautiful Devon coast. Z is also for Zzzzz, of course. After a jam-packed week with more than 800 events to choose from you’ll need to catch up on your sleep!
Sidmouth Folk Festival runs from Friday, August 4 to Friday, August 11, For details of the full line-up and to book, visit sidmouthfolkfestival.co.uk
