Manchester Folk Festival announces another wave of artists for March 2025 including Bernard Butler, Stornoway, Cara Dillon, Lisa Knapp & Gerry Diver, Ferocious Dog, The Magpies, Josienne Clarke, Nick Cope and more.
Manchester Folk Festival makes its eagerly awaited return to the city’s Northern Quarter and Ancoats & best-loved venues on Thursday 20th – Saturday 22nd March 2025. Moving from its regular October slot, the event is now “a springtime staple for music lovers” (Tradfolk), promising even more music, Morris dancing and merriment this March.
The three-day celebration will once again bring together the finest contemporary and traditional folk, roots and acoustic music England has to offer, across some of Manchester’s most iconic venues, including Band on the Wall, Hallé St Peters, Night & Day, The Castle, Hallé at St Michael’s, The Stoller Hall and New Century Hall.
Today, Manchester Folk Festival is delighted to reveal it’s second wave of acts: Bernard Butler, Stornoway, Cara Dillon, Lisa Knapp & Gerry Diver, Ferocious Dog, The Magpies, Josienne Clarke, Memorial, Miranda Sykes & Jim Causley, Nick Cope, Honey & The Bear, Jaywalkers, Captain of the Lost Waves, Oli Matthews Band, John Kelly and Hector Gannet.
The festival acts as the host for English Folk Expo, an international music industry showcase for the most exciting artists from or based in England. Running parallel to the festival, it brings together 200 delegates with Manchester audiences. Festival wristband holders will have access to all performances, allowing them to tailor their experience to their tastes, switching effortlessly between intimate spaces and main stages. Wristband perks for 2025 also include access to exclusive concerts, an opening reception and a singing workshop with Jon Boden.
The lowest price festival wristbands are available until Friday 20th September, after which the price will rise.
As always, Manchester Folk Festival offers more fun than you can shake a stick at, with performances from local Morris dancing sides, various singing and craft workshops and their ever-popular free traditional singarounds and sessions, where musicians gather to play traditional tunes for themselves and listeners.
Band on the Wall will once again be the bustling festival hub for three days of activity, with emerging folk-influenced artists performing on their bar stage and their lively late-night Festival Club making its much anticipated return.
Further acts will be announced soon, alongside details of international showcasing artists, individual concert tickets and specific venue information. Individual concert tickets for the Nick Cope and Katherine Priddy shows are available now.
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