Name our new workshop venue
This amazing yurt from Shropshire Yurtmaker.co.uk will be our dedicated workshop venue this year. But the impressive 42ft handmade structure needs a name! We will give the winning suggestion* a free bag of merchandise and a meal on us (food vouchers to be redeemed at the festival). So send your ideas for the name for our workshop venue to competition@shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk before May 31.
* A winner will be picked at random and notified via email. Please remember to include your name and a contact number.
Top 10 summer festival
We are delighted that for the 5th year running Songlines magazine has named us as one of the top 10 summer festivals for people to experience in 2015. It’s a great honour and we think it reflects the wide mix of music you can enjoy at our festival from traditional and contemporary to North American and world music.
This year’s line up promises some real gems including Folk Nations that features British and Asian artists, Catrin Finch and Seckou Kieta, Calan, and Amadou Diagne not to mention the legendary La Bottine Souriante amongst others.
Richard Thompson Electric Trio confirmed
After months of negotiation, we can confirm the Richard Thompson Electric Trio as our final Sunday night headliner!
Richard has been to Shrewsbury several times to perform solo acoustic sets but this is the first time we have persuaded him to give us a full-on electric performance.
Rolling Stone voted him one of the best 20 guitarists of all time, his piecing, delicate, guitar work brought him MOJO magazine’s Les Paul Award; his equally gripping songwriting earned him the 2012 Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award and Britain’s coveted Ivor Novello Award. We are very proud to bring Richard’s rare and exceptional talents to Shrewsbury.
Featuring Michael Jerome on drums and Taras Prodaniuk on bass/vocals, it is going to be immense!
Top 10 dog friendly festival
Thanks to the folk at Gigs and Festivals who’ve named us as one of their top 10 dog friendly festivals – you can read the whole list here. It gives us the chance to gratuitously post a few nice pics too!
Dog tired!
It’s not just dogs we like at Shrewsbury!
The festival dog chilling backstage (note artist wristband!)