Saturday 3rd August
Welcome Concert – Open to all
Saturday 3rd August – 11.30am
This concert is free and open to all
With Sidmouth Town Band, Halsway Young Folk & festival guests
Saturday 3rd August
The Melsons (Melrose Quartet & The Wilsons)
Saturday 3rd August – 3.15pm
This concert is included in All In One, Week, Weekend and Day season tickets.
This vocal powerhouse supergroup is a coming together of two beloved northern English harmony quartets: Melrose Quartet, and The Wilson Family. Raise your voice in chorus with one of the finest folk harmony ensembles ever assembled in the UK.
Sunday 4th August
Story of Sidmouth Concert
Prices & Buy Tickets
Sunday 4th August – 12 noon
This concert is included in All In One, Week, Weekend and Day season tickets.
Local music groups and festival guests star in this special concert, reflecting the rich history of this seaside regency town in words and music.
Sunday 4th August
Karine Polwart
+ Artist to be announced
Sunday 4th August – 3.15pm
This concert is included in All In One, Week, Weekend and Day season tickets.
Multi-award-winning Scottish songwriter, folk singer and storyteller, Karine Polwart sings of hidden histories, scientific curiosity and folklore. Known for her many successful collaborations, Karine’s solo show at Sidmouth brings a rare chance to enjoy an intimate and conversational performance from ‘a glorious singer, enquiring songwriter and enlightened mind’ MOJO
Monday 5th August
Daphne’s Flight
+ Artist to be announced
Monday 5th August – 12 noon
Note this concert is included in All In One, Week, Weekend and Day season tickets
One of the most exciting vocal groups on the acoustic scene, their energy on stage is matched only by their collective talents. Featuring 5 of the finest singer-songwriters of their generation, the music of Daphne’s Flight is a unique and magical blend, completely captivating audiences with their complex harmony arrangements, unbridled energy and infectious joy of performing, inspiring and uplifting anyone in the room.
Monday 5th August
Catrin Finch & Aoife ni Bhriain
+ Artist to be announced
Monday 5th August – 3.15pm
Note this concert is included in All In One, Week, Weekend and Day season tickets
Dublin native Aoife Ni Bhriain is a gifted and versatile violinist who commands both the classical world and her Irish traditional heritage. Alongside her is harpist Catrin Finch from the west coast of Wales. Catrin also has an impressive classical career and is known for venturing into uncharted musical territory through her award winning collaborations. Their debut album together, Double You, features an exquisite collection of new compositions taking inspiration from various genres.
Tuesday 6th August
Paul Downes & Phil Beer
+ Artist to be announced
Tuesday 6th August – 12 noon
Note this concert is included in All In One, Week, Weekend and Day season tickets
Talented guitarist and singer of songs, Paul Downes and multi-instrumentalist, Phil Beer, are two hugely experienced and highly respected folk musicians. Join them as they celebrate 50 years of performing together, along with some invited guests.
Tuesday 6th August
The Spooky Men’s Chorale
+ Artist to be announced
Buy Season Tickets
Tuesday 6th August – 3.15pm
This event is covered by All-in-One Tickets, Week & Tuesday Day Season Tickets. Event tickets (£30) available on the door, subject to availability.
Described as ‘a wagonload of Spike Milligans’ the Spooky Men’s Chorale are no strangers to Sidmouth Folk Festival. Expect Georgian table songs, pin drop beautiful ballads, highly inappropriate covers and, as always, expect the unexpected. Front man Stephen Taberner will have you singing in your seats. ‘High camp, epic folly – probably the best programming choice of the entire summer festival circuit’ The Irish Times. Don’t miss them.
Wednesday 7th August
Blowzabella
+ Artist to be announced
Wednesday 7th August – 12noon
This concert is included in All In One, Week, Weekend and Day season tickets.
A unique band with an inimitable sound, Blowzabella compose their own music, influenced by English & European traditional folk music and song. Band members Andy Cutting (diatonic button accordion); Jo Freya (vocals, saxophone, clarinet); Paul James (vocals, bagpipes, saxophones); David Shepherd (violin); Barn Stradling (bass guitar) and Jon Swayne (bagpipes and saxophone) are much loved and respected.
There is no-one quite like them
Wednesday 7th August
Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham
+ Artist to be announced
Wednesday 7th August – 3.15pm
Note this concert is included in All In One, Week, Weekend and Day season tickets
Aly and Phil have toured together since 1986, charming audiences with their stunning music and on-stage charisma. Witty and humorous banter sit alongside tunes that tug the heartstrings and joyous reels and melodies that will have you tapping your feet. Aly and Phil have won numerous awards, including BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards ‘Best Duo Award’ and have been nominated for ‘live act of the year’ in the Scottish Traditional Music Awards.
Thursday 8th August
Jo Freya with Fi Fraser, Andy Cutting,
Mary Macmaster, Tim Edey
and other surprise guests
Thursday 8th August – 12noon
Note this concert is included in All In One, Week, Weekend and Day season tickets
Multi-instrumentalist, singer, composer and Artistic Director of the National Youth Folk Ensemble (2023-2026), Jo Freya is no stranger to Sidmouth Folk Festival. A singer, saxophonist, clarinet and whistle-blowing pianist, Jo has been described as the chameleon of Folk, playing in many bands and with completely different styles.
Thursday 8th August
Martin Simpson + The Breath
Thursday 8th August – 2.45pm
Note this concert is included in All In One, Week and Day Season tickets
Universally acclaimed as one of the finest ever acoustic and slide guitar players, and a fine banjo-picker to boot, Martin Simpson shows bear witness to an artist at the very top of his game. Whether interpreting material from tradition or singing his own potent self-penned songs, Simpson is a remarkable storyteller: captivating and profoundly moving.
The Breath are Manchester based guitar-whizz , Stuart McCallum and singer/ flautist Rioghnach Connolly. Connolly is a folk singer with a larger-than- life personality and a powerful stop-you-in-your-tracks voice to match. Together they perform honest, personal, heartfelt songs as likely to touch on childhood summers as cultural dislocation and grief. An award-winning duo, not to be missed.
Friday 9th August
Festival Workshop Showcase
Find out more about the workshop programme
Friday 9th August – 12 noon
This concert is Free Entry
A chance to see the fruits of some of the week’s workshops.
Friday 9th August
Chris Wood & Andy Cutting
+ National Youth Folk Ensemble
Friday 9th August – 3.15pm
This concert is included in All In One, Week, Weekend and Day season tickets
Dynamic duo Chris Wood and Andy Cutting are back in Sidmouth where it all started. Forming a partnership 35 years ago, after meeting here, they are now considered to be one of the most influential acts on the British folk music scene. Chris Wood, known as one of folk’s most original singer-songwriters, is also a skilled multi-instrumentalist, while Andy’s consummate melodeon playing has been described as ‘glorious, joyful, moving, subtle, emotionally charged’, and ‘totally spell-binding’ (June Tabor).
Looking for Ham Evening Concerts?
Head here
Want to go to everything?
Choose an All In One Season ticket for entry to all concerts.
All the Ham daytime concerts are covered by the relevant Season Tickets.
£10 tickets for Under 25s available
Want to go to everything?
Choose an All In One Season ticket for entry to all concerts. Some Evening Concerts at The Ham are included in other Season ticket types – see further details on this page.
Which Ham Evening Concerts are included in each Season Ticket type?
All-in-One Week Season Ticket
This ticket includes entry to everything at the festival, including all 8 Ham Evening Concerts (Fri 2nd – Fri 9th)
All-in-One Weekend Season Ticket
This ticket includes entry to everything at the festival, including all 3 Ham Evening Concerts (Fri 2nd – Sun 4th)
Week Season Ticket
This ticket includes entry to 2 Ham Evening Concerts (Fri 2nd and Fri 9th)
Week Season ticket holders get a discount for the other Ham Evening Concerts
Weekend Season Ticket
This ticket includes entry to the Ham Evening Concert on Fri 2nd only
Weekend Season ticket holders get a discount for the Ham Evening Concerts on Sat 3rd and Sun 4th
Day Season Ticket
This ticket doesn’t include entry to any Ham Evening Concerts, apart from Day Season ticket holders for Fri 9th who get free entry into the Ham Evening Concert that evening. For all other days, ticket holders get a discount for the Ham Evening Concert on the day of their ticket
About the Ham
The Ham is our centre-piece concert venue. Located at the eastern end of the Esplanade, the large marquee provides a comfortable seated venue for three first class concerts each day – lunchtime, afternoon and evening.
Most concerts feature a headline act playing 60-90 minutes plus a support act playing 30-40 minutes before an interval. There’s a well-stocked Foyer Bar and dedicated toilets for concert patrons including disabled facilities. Outside the venue you’ll find the Ham Lawn which hosts the Festival Merchandise and artists’ CD stall. Circling the lawn, are a range of tasty food and drink outlets and a bar area with picnic benches. A great area to soak up the festival atmosphere!
More information about tickets
Please read our Terms & Conditions which contains essential information including full explanations of tickets. See also the Buy Tickets page where you will find information to help choose the best ticket for you, and a Ticket Comparison Table showing which events are included with each ticket type.
Under 25’s Discount
Ham Evening Concert tickets are £10 for anyone 25 & Under (aged 18-25).
Sidmouth Residents Discount
Discounts available to residents who to live within the Sidmouth Town Council area for Pre-Festivals, Ham Afternoon concerts, Ham Evening concerts, Bulverton evening and Bulverton Late Night Extra events. These are available in person, in advance from Sidmouth Tourist Information Centre (TIC) and the Box Office, with identifying documents. Not available on the door.
Personal Assistant tickets
Provided free for those that qualify who require assistance to attend the Festival. For further information including how to apply, please read the relevant section in Terms & Conditions. Please address any accessibility enquiries to access@sidmouthfolkfestival.co.uk.
Refunds & exchanges
There are no refunds or exchanges on any tickets and lost tickets cannot be replaced. We advise you to take out appropriate cancellation of holiday insurance that covers the cost of your tickets should you unfortunately need to cancel your attendance at the Festival for any reason.
To Book by Post
Please download the 2024 Booking Form Early Bird here. Tickets can also be purchased in person or by phone at Sidmouth Tourist Information Centre.
