Festival News
2020 competitions launched
We love to provide a platform for up-and-coming amateur talent and our Band Competition and Youth Folk Challenge are great opportunities to win a slot to perform alongside some fantastic acts at the 2020 festival. Contrary to its title, the Band Competition is open to...
Steamchicken ceilidh band booked
One of the most shamelessly exuberant dance bands on the English folk scene, Steamchicken has roared from its humble beginings to fame and popularity over a career spanning nearly 3 decades. Regularly delighting Dance tents, Folk clubs and Village halls across the...
Festival box office opens 9th December
We are so excited about the wonderful line up we have booked for the 2020 Ely Folk Festival, that we have decided to open the box office early - on 9th December. Details of ticket prices and how to book tickets are posted on our Tickets page. Give yourself, a friend...
The Young’uns booked for 2020 festival
We've been working hard to book the best acts to appear at the 2020 festival and are delighted to announce that The Young'uns will be performing at the festival. Teesside trio The Young’uns have always had the human touch. With their strong songs, spellbinding...
Winners of 2019 festival photo competition
After much deliberation, we can announce the Ely Folk Festival 2019 photo competition winners. Congratulations to Rita Jennings and Andy Taylor for their winning entries. The energy, colour and composition of Andy's picture and the fun and exuberance captured in...
Festival dog gets a name
Congratulations to Niamh aged 10 who suggested Banjo as a name for the dog who features on our logo. Banjo is the winning entry in our Name the Festival Dog Competition for younger festival visitors this year. We had 54 great suggestions showing lots of imagination...
Images of Ely 2019
Some images of the different aspects of Ely Folk Festival 2019 courtesy of Andrew Moore, Dave Streatfield & Tom Smith...more to foll
What a festival!
Goodness - the 2019 festival weekend seemed to pass by in a blur of music, colour & excitement. It was a fabulous festival with a great blend of music; great morris and ceilidh dancing; wonderful kids activities, and great all-round fun. On behalf of the festival...
Saturday sell-out for festival
From a melodic opening by festival band competition winner Tell Tale Tusk, via the energetic Gerry Colvin Band and storming Scottish band TIde Lines, the first day of Ely Folk Festival 2019 ended with an energising ceilidh with Melrose Ceilidh Band. Today, Les Barker...
All set for a great festival
Ferocious Dog; Cara Dillon; Oysterband; Martin Carthy; Nancy Kerr; Martin Harley; Gerry Colvin Band; Joshua Burnell Band; Jackie Oates; Tide Lines … just some of the evening acts appearing over this coming weekend. Tickets prices from £27 and selling fast.