The Pick of the 2012 Festivals so far…

As you dust off the snow from your boots, what better time to take a look at our pick of the UK folk festivals happening in 2012. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to wait until the summer for you to get your festival fix. In fact, things kick off the weekend after next in Frome!  So when in Frome – why not join the locals and go and support their inaugural winter festival and join the likes of Spiers & Boden (in both a Ceilidh and Concert), Steve Knightley, Chris Wood, Jackie Oates & Band , Jamie Smith’s Mabon, Bella Hardy and Pilgrims Way (see http://folking.wordpress.com/uk-festival-list/ for the full line up). Photo – Allan Barrow

With so much great stuff going on in the UK folk festival scene we can’t mention them all here but over the next few months you will see the list grow as festival organisers update us with either new events to add or announcements of the latest confirmed acts. You can also click “festival news” in the “folking category cloud” in the right hand menu which will also list all the festival articles we have featured so far.

Big things are also happening in Wickham this Easter as the Gosport and Fareham Festival is moving its operation to the beautiful picturesque village in Hampshire.  KARINE POLWART, MADDY PRIOR TRIO and THE ACOUSTIC GATHERING have been announced as headlining the festival. For the first time the festival will have two stages running throughout the day and evening – a main stage in the 400-capacity main hall at the Wickham Community Centre and a second acoustic stage in the 120-capacity upstairs bar and function room at the Community Centre. Happily the Late Night Concerts, late bar and bands will continue every night (this time at the Wickham Community Centre) and the informal late-night sessions will also still happen at the Lysses House Hotel in Fareham (see http://folking.wordpress.com/uk-festival-list/ for the full line up). After the Easter festival, the Wickham summer festival then returns as a tour de force with, arguably, one of the strongest line-ups of the year so far - Thursday 2nd August – Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra with special guests Ruby Turner. Friday 3rd August – The Proclaimers, Manran, The Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Calan, Jason Wilson Band featuring Dick Gaughan & Dave Swarbrick, Rua MacMillan Trio, Babelfish. Saturday 4th August: Bellowhead, Show of Hands, Home Service, Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker & John Doyle, Jackie Oates, Belshazzar’s Feast and Jim Causley. Sunday 5th August – The Levellers, Oysterband, Edward II, Merry Hell and Session A9.

Lastly, we have also had word of some hot of the press  announcements with regard to Fairport’s Cropredy Convention in August - Acts announced so far  are Joan Armatrading, Richard Thompson OBE, Saw Doctors, Fairport Convention and Legend performing their Bob Marley tribute show  - See more http://fairportconvention.com/cropredy.php

Keep an eye on  http://folking.wordpress.com/uk-festival-list/ and subscribe to our mailing list to be kept folking up to date!