After a year and a half of us viewing our lives through laptop screens, Bromyard Folk Festival makes a welcome return next week from 9th to 12th September to bring us some long overdue live entertainment.
Covid has been responsible for the cancellation of many festivals so it will be a great relief to venture out into open fields and enjoy some fresh air in the socially distanced company of old friends and new ones.
Now in its 53rd year, the mainly outdoor festival has taken many steps to ensure the safety of all the attendees with a request to get tested beforehand, respect people’s space, use the plentifully distributed hand sanitisers and open sided marquee venues. To avoid crowds, the famed torchlit parade that starts the dancing through Bromyard on Friday evening won’t be taking place this year. There will however be dancing in and around the town over the weekend, so it is definitely worth a trip to see what’s happening.
Festival director Lynne Barker says “We are so looking forward to welcoming people back after such a long break. The pandemic has been especially hard on the festival scene, with the artists and support staff affected so badly. We are very proud to be getting the ball rolling again. We’ve got a great weekend lined up so please come along to my hometown and say hello!”
The acts include Edward II, the return of the immensely popular 80’s reggae folk fusion combo, Breabach, previous winners of Scottish Folk Band of the Year, Kinnaris Quintet playing Scottish and Irish traditional music with sprinklings of bluegrass and classical, and dozens of artists, entertainers and dancers to fill the whole weekend.
As well as heated concerts, there will be dancing, children’s entertainment, storytelling, a craft market, a range of workshops, a real ale bar, sea shanties, an organised walk on the Saturday morning, some delicious global festival food, showering facilities and some excellent company.
The festival has been supported by local businesses, with a special thanks to Alfie Best from Wyldecrest Parks who has a named concert on Saturday evening
Tickets are selling very well, with only a few remaining for the Thursday evening, but there are plenty left for the rest of the weekend with copious space for campers, camper vans and caravans. The gates open from Thursday 9th September at 4pm.
If you are looking for a wonderful way to scratch your festival itch, then search no longer.
