participation

There are over 250! Our wide-reaching workshop events programme offers hundreds of opportunities to learn and develop skills across the folk arts in a secure and inclusive community of teachers and learners.

From perennial favourites and exciting innovations, try one-off taster sessions or to commit to week-long series. Amongst the favourite festival regulars returning are Sandra Kerr’s Festival Choir, John Kirkpatrick with his Festival Concert Band, Mark Clarke with Creative Making, and Nick and Mary Barber with the Big Band.

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Workshops are included in All-in-One, Week, Weekend and Day Tickets. You can also buy a Workshop Pass that offer 6 workshops for a reduced rate.

Some workshops on the seafront are free for all.

Book Tickets.

Book a Workshop Pass

Look out for the full workshop programme in July.

Look out for the full workshop programme in July.

Look out for the full workshop programme in July.

Look out for the full workshop programme in July.

More than you can shake a bodhran stick at!

Programmed sessions include Family friendly sessions at the Rugby Club (mixed).

Song Sessions at The Royal York & Faulkner.

Betsy’s at Bulverton Sessions start in the early evening and end in the early morning. Playing until the the sun comes up on the Bulverton hill is a rite of passage!

Fringe sessions include Upstairs at the Anchor: Song sessions, Middle Bar Singers: to drink, laugh and sing.
Unaccompanied singarounds are from 12.30-3pm and 8-11pm each day, starting on Thursday, the day before the Festival officially starts. Tuesday evening is usually a shanty fundraiser for Sidmouth Lifeboat and Thursday pm the singers jump into the sea and carry on singing opposite the Bedford Hotel at 3pm.

Royal York and Faulkner: The Gloom, Doom and Despondency Competition is on Thursday at 4.30pm.

Music sessions
Anchor Inn: In the main bar (street level). Bedford Hotel: Pynes Bar. Swan Inn: All have Music sessions all day.
Radway Inn: English music session lunchtimes and evenings.

Venues include The Royal York & Faulkner, The Anchor, The Bedford, Woodlands, Betsy’s at the Bulverton, Esplanade Shelters and even the Festival Bus.

Look out for the programme in July for full details of the programmed sessions .

Sessions are included in All-in-One, Week, Weekend and Day Tickets. A large number of the sessions are free entry, with donations encouraged.

Sidmouth’s “Festival Fringe” is a part of the Folk Festival experience in the town, complementing the main Festival but not organised by it. Many enjoy participating, or just taking in the atmosphere. All Fringe events are free, but make a collection for the Festival. If you are at a Fringe session, please give generously to the Collectors as often as you can.

Here is a rough guide of what goes on, plus places where things could happen:
Upstairs at the Anchor: Song sessions, Middle Bar Singers: to drink, laugh and sing.
Unaccompanied singarounds are from 12.30-3pm and 8-11pm each day, starting on Thursday, the day before the Festival officially starts. Tuesday evening is usually a shanty fundraiser for Sidmouth Lifeboat and Thursday pm the singers jump into the sea and carry on singing opposite the Bedford Hotel at 3pm.
Royal York and Faulkner: Morning singarounds now appear in the main programme schedules. The Gloom, Doom and Despondency Competition is on Thursday at 4.30pm.

Music sessions

Anchor Inn: In the main bar (street level).

Bedford Hotel: Pynes Bar.

Swan Inn: All have Music sessions all day.

Radway Inn: English music session lunchtimes and evenings.

Dance

Herbaceous Border celebrate their 22nd year running Border Morris workshops on the Esplanade outside the Royal York and Faulkner Hotel. If you’re a dancer or musician without a side at Sidmouth, join them Sun-Fri 6pm to 7pm, preferably in kit. Workshops start Sunday following a celebration picnic at 4pm in Blackmore Gardens.

The daily Wild Thyme Border Morris morning workshops are in the main programme.

Street Performers
Please note that licensing arrangements and street closures for the Folk Festival limit use of the Market Square in particular, and unprogrammed performers could be moved on.

There are (unamplified) performances spaces on the Esplanade & at Blackmore Gardens.

Collections
Sidmouth FolkWeek Ltd (Registered Charity 1111958) has obtained the street licence from East Devon District Council to collect in Sidmouth during the Festival. Street collections from performances are an important part of the Festival’s income. If you are busking as musicians, singers, or a dance team, please register your name and collect an official tin or bucket. Tins or buckets can be collected and returned between 10am to 2pm and 4pm to 7.30pm from the Collections Office at the Bedford Hotel. Please make sure that all tins are returned by 6pm on the last Friday evening, prior to the Torchlight Procession.
Special Arrangements for the Torchlight Procession: Please collect buckets for the Torchlight Procession from the Collections Office by 7pm. After the procession please return the buckets to the Collections Office.

The Bill Rutter Collections Awards
Bill Rutter, Sidmouth Festival Director from 1961-79, encouraged everyone to participate and become part of the Festival team. The Festival has a long tradition of busking from all kinds of musicians, dancers, singers and artists. The award is presented to the dance
team which collects the highest amount during the festival and is keenly contested. The presentation will take place during LNE at The Bulverton around midnight on the final Friday. There is also an award for the volunteer collector who collects the most money during the week.

There are two large Festival Performance spaces on the Esplanade at York Steps and opposite the Bedford Hotel. Some scheduled sessions by Festival dance teams are marked on the A-boards. If you play acoustically, sing or dance, please make use of the opportunity these spaces provide. The Blackmore Craft Fair offers further acoustic opportunities, see the Craft Fair Manager for available slots each day.

The Clocktower Café at Connaught Gardens are holding Open Mic sessions 12 – 3pm: Sun 4th, Tue 6th and Thu 8th August. The Open Mic sessions are hosted by Scott Phillips and open to everyone. Call the Clocktower (01395
515319) for further information.
Folk Arts Acoustic: the Festival Folk Club runs 8 – 10pm Fri to Thu, at the Guide HQ with your hosts Bob & Gill
Berry. Lots of opportunities to play and sing truly acoustically.