MORE new names for 2025 including a Scottish showcase
Our second wave of artists has been released and includes a debut from Canadian singer songwriter Martha Wainwright and a special focus on Scottish music.
Wainwright, who is celebrating the 20th anniversary of her eponymous first studio album in 2025, will be making her Shrewsbury debut as will other new line-up additions Cajun Roosters, Kezia Gill, Mad Dog Mcrea, Morganway, Naragonia Quartet (Belgium), Rainbow Girls (USA) and Tin Giants with The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican returning by popular demand.
And we’ve joined forces with Showcase Scotland Expo to programme 15 established and developing musicians and bands across our four stages over August Bank Holiday weekend (22nd-25th).
Developing artists were invited to apply to help them gain exposure to the English market and will sit on the bill alongside other more established Scottish names. The artists from Scotland are: Abigail Pryde, Arthur Coates and Kerran Cotterell, Awkward Family Portraits, The Ayoub Sisters, Blazin’ Fiddles, Dougie MacLean, Firelight Trio, Hannah Rarity, Heron Valley, Kim Carnie, Malin Lewis, Project Smok and Sarah Jane Scouten. Already announced from north of the border are The Laurettes and Skerryvore.
Shrewsbury’s 2025 dance line-up includes a show from Demon Barbers, which will be marking its 25th anniversary, a Folk Disco DJ set from David Eagle (The Young’uns), ceilidhs with Frog on a Bike, GloryStrokes, Lasair, National Youth Folk Ensemble, Oysterband, PolkaWorks and Queer Folk, contra dance with Hoik! and Eurodances with Emily & The Simons, Naragonia Quartet and Ross Grant & Hartwin Dhoore.
Goldie Fiasco’s Vegas Show comes to the festival for the first time as part of our family friendly offering, which includes dedicated festivals for children and teenagers alongside more than 100 hours of workshops and activities from music, dance, crafts, yoga and more.
Director of the award-winning festival, Sandra Surtees, said: “Our latest line-up release demonstrates our commitment to giving our audience an incredible choice of music every day and on every stage.
“With music from well-known names to emerging artists and genres from folk to Americana and world music, there is genuinely something for everyone to enjoy or discover.
“Scottish music has always been popular with our festivalgoers and we’re very pleased to be able to give a platform to some of the amazing music the country has to offer.”
She added: “Our diverse dance line-up will be another highlight and it’s easy to see why the dance tent is always buzzing.”
Lisa Whytock, Executive Producer of Showcase Scotland Expo, said: “It’s brilliant to be teaming up with Shrewsbury Folk Festival for 2025 as it has long been a favourite festival for many Scottish artists.
“Following on from our focus at the Cambridge Folk Festival last year and the brilliantly programmed Scotland Unwrapped at Kings Place in London throughout 2024, we are really excited to be partnering with Shrewsbury as part of our aims to introduce new artists to audiences in England.”
