London Folk Magazine and News
Return to London Town October 2021
London’s 23rd Annual Festival of traditional Irish music, song and dance returns in full and in-person this year from Friday 22nd to Monday 25th October!
Return to London Town 2021 has treats in store for all lovers of the genre, with four fantastic days of concerts, céilís, workshops and sessions. The Festival HQ is the beautifully spacious multi-venue Clayton Crown Hotel, and additional venues are either close by in Cricklewood or a short distance up the road in Kilburn. There is a late license bar at the Clayton Crown, so the tunes can continue until the wee hours of the morning.
This year sees a welcome return to a full schedule of instrumental workshops with traditional Irish music’s best instrumentalists covering a wide range of instruments. Plus free sessions including tutor-led sessions and singing sessions.
For the dancers there are afternoon set dancing céilís over the weekend with the Parish Céilí Band, and on Sunday evening there is an Evening Céilí for All with music from McCool Trad and caller Marian Turner
Afternoon and evening concerts offer an opportunity to see an impressive line-up of performers, with big names like Seán Keane, Matt Molloy and Michael McCague / The Goodman Manuscripts Trio (Aoife Ní Bhríain, Emer Mayock, Mick O’Brien) / Andy Martyn, John Carty, Gino Lupari, Matt Griffin / Michelle Mulcahy / Derek Hickey / Jacqueline McCarthy and Tommy Keane / Eimear McGeown, James Carty, Jonas Fromseier / Mick Mulvey and Pete Quinn / The Wilderness Yet and lots more!
Several new albums will be celebrated during this year’s Festival: ‘Will We Give it a Go?’ – the debut solo album from Andy Martyn, the Goodman Manuscripts Trio’s second album, and ‘Lady on the Island’ by Michelle Mulcahy. Plus ‘The Wavy Bow Collection’ Acoustic Album Launch on Sunday evening (free entry)
Individual event tickets for all events are available via the newly launched Festival website: www.returntolondontown.org, where you can also access digital and hard copies of the Festival magazine/ programme.
Special Offer: all-inclusive tickets for all concerts and céilís are available to purchase for the bargain price of £40!
The Four Star Clayton Crown Hotel is offering generous B&B rate discounts for Festival goers who want to stay in the thick of everything. Just book via www.claytoncrownhotel.co.uk using the promo code ‘RETURNTL’.
Festival merchandise (t shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, mugs) from www.mudchutney.co.uk
More information is available at www.returntolondontown.org and on the various IMDL social media channels:
Instagram: @irishmusicdanceinlondon
YouTube: Irish Music and Dance in London
