Welcome to the Youth Festival with Shooting Roots and Stream of Sound!
Sidmouth’s packed Youth Festival for ages 12–17 is the place to make friends, learn new skills, perform, play, and hang out by the sea. Run by young people, for young people, it’s a week full of music, dance, singing, storytelling, creativity and late-night festival fun.
Based in the central All Saints Church classrooms, your hub for the week, Shooting Roots and Stream of Sound lead a brilliant programme of workshops through the week, ending in showcase performances from newly formed bands, dance sides, choirs and theatre groups at the Manor and on the seafront.
And when the sun goes down, don’t miss the legendary Betsy’s Bash sessions up on Bulverton Hill: banging tunes, big songs, silly games and one of the favourite early-evening hangouts for young festival-goers.
Shooting Roots
Shooting Roots return to Sidmouth with six different workshop strands for 12–17 year olds across the week. Whether you’re brand new or coming back for more, start with the Welcome Session on Saturday to meet the tutors, play some games and discover the theme for the week ahead.
Stream of Sound
Stream of Sound bring splendiferous songs, scrumptious harmonies and a healthy dose of pure silliness. Join their a cappella workshops, or catch them performing elsewhere around the Festival too.
Youth workshops include:
Craft Day
On Sunday, newbies and old hands alike can get stuck in, learn traditional craft skills and make something to take home.
Theatre
Make new friends, build confidence and unleash your creativity in lively workshops full of laughter and collaboration, leading to a showcase on Thursday.
Storytelling
No experience needed: try your hand at the traditional art of storytelling, with Shooting Roots’ unique twist, and work towards a Storyround at the end of the week.
Dance
Learn some brilliant folk dances and perform in your very own spot on the Esplanade on the final Friday.
Band
Bring your instrument and help create a great big funky band. Suitable for all abilities, with a showcase on Thursday.
Song
Join Stream of Sound’s Harmonious Throng and get swept up in the glorious sound of unaccompanied singing.
No experience is needed for any of the workshops, and there’s no pressure to take part in the end-of-week performances – though they’re great fun if you do!
The folk scene is bursting with extraordinary young performers, and we’re delighted to welcome more of the county’s finest young folkies from Halsway Youth Folk, alongside even more rising talent in our Eye on the Future concerts.
Join for the full week to get the most out of workshops, make friends and take part in end-of-week showcases.
Plus sessions and festival adventures, there is never a dull moment in Sidmouth’s Youth Festival.
Tickets
The best way to experience the Youth Festival is with an All-in-One or Season Ticket, giving access to all youth workshops and other events across the week.
Youth tickets (ages 12–17) are half the adult price (rounded up to the nearest pound), unless otherwise stated.
If you’re not joining for the full week, individual workshop tickets may be available on the door (subject to space) and selected concert tickets for ages 25 and under are just £10 in advance.
Call out for young performers!
We’re looking for talented young people to showcase at the 2026 Festival. If you are a singer, musician, band, dancer or performer aged 21 or under, you could be part of the Young Performers Showcase on the Star Stage at Peacock Lawn. Full details on how to apply will be available in the spring.
faqs
can i dip in and out of the workshops?
We’d say you’d would get the most out of coming to all days of their chosen workshop/s, especially if they want to perform, but workshops are are flexible to suit whoever turns up on the day.
do i need any experience?
No experience is needed in any of the workshops. For the Shooting Roots Band we usually say you need to be able to play your instrument, but we can always teach percussion if someone turns up without.
do i have to perform at the end of the week?
If performance isn’t your thing there’s no pressure. It’s entirely optional, in a relaxed and encouraging atmosphere.
what if i don’t know anyone?
You soon will! Making new friends is all part of the Youth Festival vibe.
new callers showcase
Your chance to call as part of the Shooting Roots celebration ceilidh. An opportunity for any ceilidh callers not previously booked at Sidmouth. Applications are not quite open for 2026 but watch this space!
who are shooting roots?
Shooting Roots is an organisation run by and for young people, offering creative and participatory folk workshops at festivals and other events. In a nutshell it’s all about generating opportunities for young people to perform, develop friendships and access the folk arts.
who are stream of sound?
Take a handful of excellent musicians, add a sprinkling of sparkling arrangements and a pinch of nerdery, and you cook up the spine-tingling harmonies of Stream of Sound. They look forward to running youth workshops at Sidmouth each year, so come along if you know you love to sing, if you think you might want to try, or if you just fancy some uproarious nonsense in good company!