As Suffolk’s FolkEast counts down to its August festival at a brand new home audience members are, unsurprisingly, keen to know just what to expect.
After over a decade at Glemham Hall, until its recent sale, FolkEast has relocated to the enviable Sotterley estate- nearer the Norfolk border but still very much celebrating its Suffolk identity.
Close to the market town of Beccles and the coastal town of Lowestoft, the 3500-acre private estate is owned by the Barne family and features extensive parkland around a Georgian house – with ancient woodland, a beautiful lake with Palladian folly and a 12th century church.
Ticket sales are brisk for the UK’s most easterly folk festival which will play out across five stages – the main Sunset stage overlooking the lake, Moot Hall, the Stage in the Woods, the dance tent and St Margaret of Antioch church.
One thing you can count on is the always impressive artist line-up peppered by premieres and exclusives.
The 13th FolkEast will offer three days of top class music including performances from the likes of Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening, Penguin Café, The Longest Johns, Peter Knight & John Spiers, Gigspanner Trio, The Rheingans Sisters, Tim Edey, Sheelanagig and an exclusive debut for a brand new ‘trio’ – harmonica and melodeon whizz Will Pound, classical percussionist Delia Stevens and celebrated writer Robert Macfarlane in a words and music premiere entitled Earth: The Silent Planet.
Two brilliantly inventive acts – the trio Lady Maisery and duo Jimmy Aldridge and Sid Goldsmith will join forces for a unique celebration of summer entitled ‘Wakefire’ while other performers include the husband-and-wife duos Megson and Suffolk’s own Honey & The Bear.
So what will be familiar?
The Thursday night Campers’ special show
Especially for campers arriving on the Thursday evening, FolkEast will make sure the entertainment kicks off right away with performances by Suffolk’s own John Ward Trio https://johnward.org.uk/ and the exuberant musical boundary-blurring Banter – Simon Care on melodeon & concertina, Nina Zella on keyboards & vocals, Tim Walker on drums, percussion, brass, guitar, bass & vocals and Mark Jolley on bass, fiddle. https://www.banter.band/. There will also be a welcome ceilidh and the popular East Folk quiz – hosted by Suffolk’s ‘Unofficial Poet Laureate’ and quiz master Dean Parkin.
The Jackalope! FolkEast’s well-loved emblem.
A mythical creature from North American folklore, described as a jackrabbit with antelope horns. The festival’s jackalope is a brilliant sculpture made by award-winning Suffolk sculptor Tobias Ford.
Gardeners’ Cornered
….with John Spiers among those answering horticulture queries. FolkEast’s answer to Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time –
Art Arcade
From small beginnings of just six stalls to over 40, the FolkEast Art Arcade has become a major celebration of some of the finest local artists and creators. https://folkeast.co.uk/the-art-arcade/
Instrumental
A festival within the festival bringing together some of the country’s top instrument makers. https://folkeast.co.uk/instrumental/
The Librarium, Youth Moot and Poetry Shed will all be back
Sutton Hoo Ship’s Company will return to FolkEast as they continue their on-site work to create a permanent and authentic replica of a 90 foot Anglo Saxon royal burial ship – one of the UK’s most important current archaeological projects. https://saxonship.org/
There will be the usual fine Suffolk food fare and three authentic ‘village’ pubs serving festival ales – including possibly the smallest pub in the UK, The Halfway Inn. A special festival ale ‘Green Jackalope’ will be served by Lowestoft’s Green Jack Brewery amongst a bevy of beverages.
What will be new?
Falcon Inn
The flagship drinking hole will be Falcon Inn, recalling a lost Sotterley village pub. Isabella Briggs is listed as running the Falcon between 1869 and 1892.
The Falcon is shown on OS maps as late as 1957 as “Falcon Inn”; the 1973 sheet just says “The Falcon” and subsequent sheets don’t name the building.
Stage in The Woods
A beautiful and rustic new ‘Stage in the Woods’ with a busy programme of events amid the trees, just a short stroll from the church. This will be the venue for ‘Second Cousins’, a special celebration, curated by Jon Wilks, to mark the 60th anniversary of Soho’s iconic Les Cousins club which attracted some of the most legendary names in folk and blues –Al Stewart, Davey Graham, Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, Nick Drake, Sandy Denny, John Martyn, Cat Stevens, Alexis Korner, The Strawbs, Roy Harper and Paul Simon.
Artists performing in this special event will include USA-based Bridget St John, one of the leading lights of the British folk scene of the late Sixties and early Seventies as well as Steve Tilston, Ian A. Anderson and John Altman and newvoices embracing the ethos of Les Cousins – Katie Spencer, Sam Grassie, Cerys Hafana and duo Henry Parker & David Ian Roberts.. And don’t miss the chance to hear Nick Drake’s guitar being played by some of the musicians. Says Jon Wilks: “ We’ll also have the guitar that John Martyn recorded his Bless The Weather album on. It was owned by Andy Matheou, who ran Les Cousins.”
The Dome
a creative hub for little folk to enjoy a series of activities including junk modelling, The Science Art and Writing Trust (SAW) workshops , the Take Away Garden and Sunday afternoon disco!
Weekend tickets are now on sale – prices are £180 (adults aged 18-64), £170 (65 and over) and £100 for Youth tickets (12-17 years) which must be purchased with an adult ticket. Family weekend tickets for two adults and two 12-17 year olds are £515.
FolkEast continues its great tradition of offering free admission for children aged 11 and under. Ticket link: https://folkeast.co.uk/tickets-4/
For those travelling by rail, FolkEast will be offering free shuttle buses to the site from Halesworth station.
