10 Best Traditional Music Festivals Near Shropshire

Beardy Folk Festival, set on an idyllic private estate, is an exquisite midsummer event featuring delicious street food vendors, bars, workshops and talks in an idyllic rural environment.

2024’s headlining artist will be Elkie Brooks, known for tracks like Pearl’s a Singer and Lilac Wine. Additionally, N’Faly Kouyate from Niger Kora mastery as well as Welsh folk collective Daphne’s Flight are scheduled to perform.

1. Beardy Folk Festival

This festival offers an elegant experience in an idyllic walled garden, offering world-class music, real ale, cider and cocktail bars, boutique trade village booths and delicious artisan food stalls. Additionally camping and glamping options are also available.

Beardy boasts an incredible lineup from start to finish; oftentimes you can discover new favorites in any stage on the bill.

Highlights of the 2024 lineup were provided by The Young’uns, Jesca Hoop, The Jim Moray Band and Gary Stewart’s Graceland; with two outstanding sets five hours apart by them reaffirming their undisputed success and garnering immense acclaim from those present.

2. Bettws Triangle Festival

This eclectic, rustic roots music festival near Snowdonia attracts over 20,000 visitors annually, and has earned itself an excellent reputation among visitors as a family-friendly event known for presenting an eclectic variety of musical genres.

Britain’s northernmost folk festival features top-quality international, British, and Shetland acts that rotate through venues, performing for about 15 minutes at each one – giving each concert its own distinct atmosphere and making each experience truly remarkable.

Attractions at this year’s festival include Rick Wakeman & English Rock Ensemble; Kathryn Tickell & the Darkening; Manran; Reg Meuross; Melrose Quartet as well as morris sides, dance tents, workshops and morris sides – making for a fantastic array of traditional music performances! Attending is free during daytime; however tickets must be purchased for evening concerts featuring Rick Wakeman & English Rock Ensemble, Kathryn Tickell & the Darkening; Kathryn Tickell & the Darkening; Manran; Reg Meuross; Melrose Quartet among many others! Plus morris sides, dance tents and workshops!

3. Todmorden Folk Festival

Todmorden Folk Festival is an exhilarating musical and community experience in an idyllic setting. This year’s lineup boasts local talent as well as nationally known performers across many genres of music.

This festival showcases both world and traditional folk music, offering workshops, food and beverage vendors and other activities.

This year’s festival will showcase a Ceilidh hosted by Monkey Box – an energetic duo known for their lively jigs – that will surely raise the roof with high-energy jigs! Additional performances by Kinaara (blending Punjabi folk, Indian classical folk rock, English and Celtic epics, as well as Punjabi music from their latest album Tender) as well as award-winning folk artist Lady Maisery will delight music enthusiasts at every turn.

4. Sheffield Sessions Festival

Nestled on a farm overlooking the picturesque Jurassic Coast, this family music festival honors folk music with an emphasis on local talent. Singing sessions, workshops, crafts, poetry slams, healing areas and five stages offer exciting performances from both established artists as well as “old folkies”.

Chamber music encompasses a vast and wide range of styles – from jazzy trumpet with piano to the Middle Eastern qanun – and Music in the Round’s autumn events demonstrate that range. Classic FM chart-topping guitarist Craig Ogden, star saxophonist Jess Gillam and award-winning pianist Stephen Hough are among those featured. A special event will see all three joining forces with the Cathedral choir to perform Britten’s Yuletide theme and variations.

5. LOOPFEST

Shrewsbury Festival of Music and Arts will showcase some of Shropshire and UK’s brightest emerging talent from Friday 3rd May until Sunday 5th May at locations all around town centre as well as at Shrewsbury Castle with nationally-recognized acts including Beardyman and Nubiyan Twist performing at this year’s stage.

Jamie Smith launched this festival to raise money for Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital neonatal department and Severn Hospice, while simultaneously running his marketing agency StoryThreads. Since its inaugural edition, it has expanded significantly, now hosting child friendly events as well.

Wolverhampton three-piece are an exquisite riot grl, melodic-infused gutter punk rock band with lyrics to draw any audience in and beats that will blow their minds. Last year at Loopfest fundraiser they performed to rave reviews leaving audiences spellbound by their incredible song craft.

6. The Shrewsbury Folk Festival

The Jurassic Coast Festival, known for its small farm setting and multigenerational appeal, draws an impressive crowd every year. Children, parents, and “old folkies” all flock to this beloved event renowned for its mix of established artists as well as emerging talent; workshops; healing areas.

Previous performers include Kate Rusby, Oysterband, Breabach, Cathy Jordan Trio, Maddy Prior & Forgotten Lands as well as Afro Celt Sound System by Joachim Cooder, Gigspanner Big Band Daphne’s Flight Spiers & Boden and N’Faly Kouyate the Kora Master.

The Shrewsbury Festival provides an engaging atmosphere and is dedicated to inclusivity, offering audiences an array of performances and workshops from British culture and history, activities for young families, food & drink options and free transport into town as well as dance displays. It features its own on-site caravan park as well as free buses into town for enhanced experience.

7. Wenlock Poetry Festival

This annual three day festival brings the best contemporary poetry from Britain to Much Wenlock and runs poetry-related events year-round as well as working with schools and young people.

Carol Ann Duffy, Kei Miller, Imtiaz Dharker and Hollie McNish are among this year’s showcase performers, but what really stands out are the outstanding poetry workshop leaders and performers covering a wide array of styles; these range from free events at pubs or tearooms to more formal ticketed ones.

Luke Wright stands out, with an almost humanising restraint and manages to remove some of the unpleasant memories from our memories. A hugely entertaining poet himself, Luke’s performance “Poetry, PeriodaEURoe” presents poetry through its history crammed into a periodic table format; making for a highly interactive lecture with both fun and educational components.

8. Oswestry Balloon Carnival

Come join the Oswestry Balloon Carnival at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry town centre for an out-of-this-world experience over August bank holiday weekend, which promises to be bigger and better than ever! It promises an unforgettable adventure.

This year a new partner has been secured to take over running of the event after Spirit Operations decided to step back, with Oswestry BID, Lindstrand Technologies and Nightingale House Hospice coming together as one partnership to host this one-off Night Glow event. Even more spectacular this year with tethered balloons being illuminated to music.

The festival features an array of family entertainment, with performances by the Raptor Cheerleaders and Border Counties Gymnastics; football fun with The People’s Show Choir; alpacas; as well as food and beverage stalls and an expansive children’s area.

9. Shrewsbury Food Festival

The Shrewsbury Food Festival is more than a typical food and drink event; it is a celebration of local independent businesses showcasing their artisan products, featuring top chefs as well as offering workshops and demonstrations.

Food and drinks shoppers will find plenty of stalls here, offering everything from cheeses and olive oils to wines and spirits. Additionally, guests can learn from professional chefs by joining The Kitchen Depot Cook Along Tent for cooking classes!

Organisers Beth Heath and her team are hoping for another successful weekend without being hindered by train strikes that depressed last year’s visitation numbers. They anticipate seeing many visitors who flocked to Food Truck Thursday events this summer as well as providing bursaries to selected fledgling businesses such as Hammond’s sustainable Shropshire muesli brand.

10. Shrewsbury Oktoberfest

Revel in your inner Bavarian countryman at this Oktoberfest style beer festival at The Quarry. Don a dirndl, slip on some lederhosen, and enjoy live music, oompah bands, silent disco, as well as drinks from local breweries and cidermakers!

This year the festival has expanded by adding an additional beer tent specializing in locally produced ales, in addition to its usual Oompah Band, comedy tent and street food options. Musician Elkie Brooks will make her welcome return, known for hits such as Pearl’s A Singer and Lilac Wine.

Folk rock group Crooked Still will perform alongside Americana singer/songwriter Rory McLeod and Scottish band Peatbog Faeries; plus there will be a Ceilidh dance tent and Morris workshops and processions, plus Laura Hadland (an award-winning author and beer expert) will host an intimate beer tasting session on Friday night.