Swanage Folk Festival SEPTEMBER 2024

🗓️ Friday 6th – Sunday 8th September 2024

The annual folk festival in Swanage takes place each September, bringing the town alive with traditional music and colourful dance displays, along with a range of activities to get involved in.

It’s a weekend of folk concerts, street performances, music and dance workshops, all topped off with a Saturday night ceilidh – a chance for you to dust off those dancing shoes and get ready to strip the willow and swing your partner.

  • Morris musicians outside Swanage Tourist Information Centre
  • Swanage Folk Festival Shore Road stage
  • Morris representatives from Armaleggan at Swanage Folk Festival
  • Morris dancers performing on on Shore Road in Swanage
  • Swanage Folk Festival steward
  • Swanage Folk Festival dance group

The weather’s usually still nice and warm at this time of year, so it’s the perfect time to enjoy some good old-fashioned fun at the seaside with the family.

There’s something for everyone, old and young – as well as all the musical and dance displays you’ll find a great range of food stalls, children’s activities and a fantastic arts & crafts fair at the festival’s hub up on Sandpit Field.

Line-up for 2024

There’s a packed programme of live music and workshops across the weekend, with some free and some ticketed events:

Friday 6th September

  • 7.30pm – 11pm: Merry Hell, Granny’s Attic, Flossie Malavialle & Keith Donnely – concert on Sandpit Field

Saturday 7th September

  • All day: Morris Dance sides at various locations
  • 10am – 12pm: Free concert at Sandpit Field
  • 12pm – 5pm: Free concert at Sandpit Field, with The Rigmarollers, Arquebus Trio, Flossie Malavialle and Bere Essentials
  • 1pm – 3pm: Fred’s House and Keith Donnely at Swanage Conservative Club
  • 3pm: Festival procession
  • 7.30pm – 10.30pm: Festival ceilidh at The Swanage School
  • 7.30pm – 11pm: Cara, Gaelforce and Hot Rats concert on Sandpit Field

Sunday 8th September

  • All day: Morris Dance sides around town
  • All day: Workshops and singalongs at various locations
  • 10.30am – 11.30am: Sandpit Field free concert
  • 12pm – 5pm: Free concert with Wight Hot Pipes, Mother Ukers, The Savage Underdogs and Ashen Keys at Sandpit Field
  • 1pm – 3.30pm: Gerry Colvin Band and Hots Rats at the Con Club
  • 7.30pm – 10.30pm: Track Dogs, Luke Jackson Trio and Buffalo Gals at Sandpit Field

Keep an eye on line-up announcements on the festival website: swanagefolkfestival.com/programme/

Festival fair

The annual craft fair is one of the highlights of Swanage Folk Festival, with over sixty stalls taking over Sandpit Field.

Held right next to the main festival marquee, it’s a great way to extend your enjoyment of the day by browsing the market stalls and sampling some great street food fair before your concert starts, or to fuel up before a night of dancing at the ceilidh.

There’s typically a range of good food, hot & cold drinks, and unique gifts on offer, from local makers to treasures from abroad, including pottery, artworks, handmade soaps, apparel and even musical instruments.

Entry to the craft fair is free.

Tickets

  • Adult Weekend: ÂŁ89 (early bird price ÂŁ79)
  • Adult evening concerts: ÂŁ28
  • Saturday Ceilidh: ÂŁ15
  • Afternoon concerts: ÂŁ15
  • Child evening concerts: ÂŁ14
  • Workshops: ÂŁ4
Festival Information tent at the Swanage Folk Festival

Discounted prices are available for kids and children under the age of six go free.

Buy tickets online: www.tickettailor.com/events/swanagefolkfestival/1012109

There may also be tickets for sale on the day at the festival information tent.

Volunteer at the festival

If you’re local, why not get involved in the folk festival by becoming a steward? It’s a great way to meet like-minded locals, have a bit of fun – and a bonus is it means you can attend events for free!

Duties include helping out with checking tickets, managing road closures and giving collection tins a friendly shake as you go around.

You’ll probably be paired up with another volunteer – or, if you have a friend who wants to join you, you can steward as a ready-made pair. Don’t worry about having prior volunteering experience – you’ll be shown what to do well in advance.

There’s no minimum amount of time that you’re expected to volunteer for, however a minimum of five hours gives you the following benefits:

  • Five – eight hours – Receive a wristband giving you free entry into all venues except the evening concerts and main ceilidh (these will be half price for you)
  • Eight hours+ – Access all areas/events

Note that the above benefits are both subject to there being space after full-paying ticket-holders have taken their places.

If you’d like to volunteer at Swanage Folk Festival, pop over to their website and fill in a simple form: swanagefolkfestival.com/information/can-you-help-us/