A Celebration of Sidmouth Folk Festival is now in full swing in the East Devon seaside town, but there’s a feast of exclusive online concerts and workshops to get involved with too.

Whether you can’t make it to the festival in person this year, or you’re missing the usual line-up of hands-on workshops on site, there’s something on offer for all music and dance lovers. Unique daily shows, hosted by award-winning English folk singer Rosie Hood from the Online Stage, go live from 7.30pm each evening, from Saturday July 31 to Friday August 6. 

As well as sharing performances pre-recorded specially for the festival by Martin Simpson, Fara, John Kirkpatrick and others, Rosie will introduce sets from Sidmouth including Jez Lowe, Jack Rutter, Alice Jones and Ben Paley. All shows will be available to view until midnight on August 15. See the full schedule below and at sidmouthfolkfestival-live.co.uk.

Registration is also open for more than 50 Zoom workshops live from Sidmouth and around the country for aspiring and accomplished musicians, dancers, singers, storytellers. See the full list and join in the action here. 

People are being invited to donate via the festival’s Just Giving page to help cover the costs of the Online Festival. Suggested amounts are £6 per workshop, £15 for a series of three and £20 for a series of five. And £10 for each of the Online Concerts. More info here.

 

 
SIDMOUTH FOLK FESTIVAL ONLINE CONCERT SCHEDULE 2021

Saturday, July 31
A specially recorded performance by Orcadian fiddling phenomenon Fara and a set by exquisite Scottish harp/guitar duo Rachel Hair and Ron Jappy.
 

Sunday, August 1
An exclusive hour-long performance by the inimitable Martin Simpson, with his spellbinding acoustic and slide guitar playing and masterful storytelling. 
 

Monday, August 2
Another exclusive set with festival favourite John Kirkpatrick, the king of squeeze, and a set from Sidmouth’s secret studio by Yorkshire singer, musician and dancer Alice Jones.
 

Tuesday, August 3
A Scottish special with quartet Westward The Light and exquisite piper Brighde Chaimbeul.
 

Wednesday, August 4
Two specially recorded sets from Sidmouth with songwriter extraordinaire Jez Lowe and multi-talented fiddle master Ben Paley.

Thursday, August 5
Renowned broadcaster and creator of Folk on Foot, Matthew Bannister in Sidmouth interviewing festival patron Steve Knightley, the powerhouse singer and musician Eliza Carthy, and Jo Freya and Jim Causley of the wonderful four-part harmony infused Narthen.
 

Friday, August 6
Around The Festival performances from iconic longsword dancers Stone Monkey, West Yorkshire songbird Jack Rutter, alt-folk Bird in the Belly, Essex trad singers Belinda Kempster & Fran Foote and more.

For full details of the live programme at A Celebration of Sidmouth Folk Festival visit www.sidmouthfolkfestival.co.uk