Seven acts not to miss at Bristol Folk Festival

As some of the best artists in the UK head to the city this weekend for Bristol Folk Festival, we pick out seven gems not to miss.

1. Kitty Macfarlane
Every so often, an artist arrives who sets themselves apart. Clear-voiced and ‘Startingly poetic’ (The Observer) Kitty MacFarlane’s songs are both balm and booster for a world on fire. Rooted in Somerset, Kitty’s songs speak to wild seas and open skies. Relevant and timeless, she captivates audiences with ease. Kitty performs the closing concert of Bristol Folk Festival on Sunday night, catch her with her full band before she sails off to larger stages.
Sunday 1 May, St George’s Bristol
Tickets: bristolfolkfestival.org/sun-night/

Kitty MacFarlane, © Ania Shrimpton

2. Jon Boden & The Remnant Strings
Anyone who remembers Bellowhead will know roguish frontman Jon Boden, who led the band to a record eight BBC Folk Awards, and a residency at the South Bank. The outlandish knight of folk, Jon headlines Saturday night with new ensemble The Remnant Strings (featuring Sam Sweeney). Jon also leads Colourchord, an open singing workshop in the day at St George’s (6.30 pm).
Saturday 30 April, St George’s Bristol
Tickets: bristolfolkfestival.org/sat-night

Jon Boden & The Remnant Strings, © Chris Saunders

3. Nuala Honan & Medicine Creek
Such a musical force is Nuala Honan that she’s appearing twice at this year’s Folk Festival. Once in a special appearance at the Folk Club on Friday night with violinist Kit Hawes and again headlining Saturday day with Medicine Creek, a foot stomping old time string band, who ply whiskey-soaked bluegrass and alt-country. Expect dark tales of murder and mayhem from frontier times with gospel-flavoured harmonies. Audiences are advised to sing loud and drink heavily.
Nuala Honan, Friday 29 April, The Architect
Tickets: bristolfolkfestival.org/late-night-folk
Medicine Creek, Sat 30 April, St George’s Bristol
Tickets: bristolfolkfestival.org/saturday-day

Nuala Honan

4. Granny’s Attic
Fast keys and old tunes with an unexpected twist. Melodeon player Cohen Braithwaite Kilcoyne was a standout of the 2019 festival. He returns with old schoolmates Granny’s Attic widely recognised as the best young musicians of their generation.
‘Their high-octane take on English folk has brought a whole new audience to the genre’ The Irish Times
Saturday 30 April, St George’s Bristol
Tickets: bristolfolkfestival.org/saturday-day/

Granny’s Attic, © Will Killen

5. Late Night Folk
Over the weekend there’s lots happening down at The Architect, the festival’s Folk Club on the quayside. Catch Around About Dusk, Eastern Strings Klezmer, Gavin Osborne, Emily Teague, Nuala Honan, live sessions and more, as the best of the city’s roots scene bring the festival buzz. It’s the best way to dip your toe into folk and tickets are just a fiver, for the Friday or Saturday night.
Late Night Folk, Fri 29 April & Sat 30 April, The Architect
Tickets: bristolfolkfestival.org/late-night-folk/

6. Gadarene
Sophisticated and wild, Gadarene bring swirling dance beats to the weekend. These alt-folk pioneers fuse dub, funk and African rhythms with traditional folk to create an intense and uplifting live show. Party your way into the bank holiday.
Sunday 1 May, Bristol Folk House
Tickets: bristolfolkfestival.org/gadarene/

7. Amadou Diagne
Amadou brings the festival sunshine: a multi-instrumentalist, composer and singer, with the traditions of West Africa at his fingertips. Emerging from a family line of percussionists and praise singers in Senegal, and former member of l’Orchestre National du Senegal, his unique sound has seen him play stages and festivals all over the globe, collaborating with some of the biggest names in world music.
Saturday 30 April, St George’s Bristol
Tickets: bristolfolkfestival.org/sat-night/

Book Day and Night sessions on Saturday or Sunday for the main festival programme at St George’s, or for individual events at Folk House or The Architect. Local choirs, sword dancers and sessions add to the festival vibe over the weekend.

All tickets available from bristolfolkfestival.org and St George’s Bristol