Saltburn Folk Festival Line Up Announced

Thesun shone on the Saltburn Folk Festival in 2022 as it returned after a two-year COVID absence. The new team who organised the Festival were delighted by the reaction of performers and audiences alike that it had been a success.

The organising team have been hard at work over the winter, finding ways to refresh the Festival and win an even bigger audience in this year. The roots of the Saltburn Folk Festival lie in the Redcar Folk Festival which dates back to the 1960s. Although there are some folk fans who can still remember concerts in iconic venues like the Redcar Pier Ballroom, they know that the Festival must continue to evolve to appeal to younger potential audiences.

So the first announcement of the lineup for 10th -13 August 2023 includes some exciting acts playing Saltburn for the first time alongside some returning and much-loved performers. The Saltburn festival wouldn’t be the same without the simply extraordinary Wilson family from Billingham whose powerhouse unaccompanied singing has won them acclaim throughout the folk world and beyond. Marie Little is another great performer who has been part of the Festival for decades, and she’ll be back too.

By contrast, Lady Maisery make their Saltburn debut this year. Hazel Askew, Hannah James and Rowan Rheingans are three of the most accomplished and adventurous artists in modern folk and come together to form a unified voice, carrying stories of sisterhood, human struggle, the joy of living and the vitality of music. They’re just one of many acts bringing something new to Saltburn this year.

The Festival has always had a significant dance element to it and this year will be no exception, with some of the country’s very best dance teams already signed up to take part. Local theatre group Whippet Up are bringing an outdoor show featuring Teesside favourite Amelia Coburn.

There will be a strong programme focusing on young performers and audiences too and a highlight is certain to be the appearance by the National Youth Folk Ensemble which brings together talented young folk musicians from across England. These exceptional 14–18-year-olds meet up throughout the year for intensive weeks of music-making with top folk musicians, and their concert spot will be something special to look forward to.

The Festival team are emphasising that this isn’t just a Folk Festival that happens to be held in Saltburn - it’s Saltburn’s very own Folk Festival. They want businesses, residents and community organisations to get involved from the start. There’ll be a number of developments to make the Festival more welcoming and inclusive. For example, the Community Centre will be transformed into a Festival Hub, providing a onestop shop for tickets and information and a meeting point for performers,