FolkWorld #74: Folk On Foot

Festival 1: Easter Bank Holiday Monday April 13th 2020 Lineup: Bella Hardy, Beth Porter and the Bookshop Band, Jon Boden, Julie Fowlis, Karine Polwart, Kerry Andrew/You Are Wolf, Kris Drever, Lisa Knapp and Gerry Diver, Martin Simpson, Nancy Kerr and James Fagan, Peggy Seeger, Rachel Newton, Sam Lee, Seth Lakeman, Steve Knightley.

Festival 2: Spring Bank Holiday Monday May 25th 2020 Lineup: Cara Dillon and Sam Lakeman, Chris Wood, Duncan Chisholm, Eliza Carthy, Frank Turner and Jess Guise, Gwilym Bowen Rhys, John Smith, Johnny Flynn, Kate Rusby and Damien O’Kane, Kathryn Tickell, Kitty Macfarlane, O’Hooley and Tidow, Richard Thompson, Rioghnach Connolly and Ellis Davies, The Unthanks

Festival 3: Bank Holiday Monday August 31st 2020 Lineup: The Breath; Eliza Carthy and David Delarre; Johnny Flynn and his band; Julie Fowlis, Éamon Doorley and Duncan Chisholm; Karine Polwart, Steven Polwart and Inge Thomson; Kris Drever, John McCusker and Phil Cunningham; Lady Nade with Kit Hawes and Aaron Catlow; Nancy Kerr, Martin Simpson and Andy Cutting; Peggy Seeger with Neill and Calum MacColl; Rachel Newton and Lauren MacColl; Sam Lee and his band; Show of Hands; Spiers and Boden.

Folk on Foot Festival of LOVE: 14 February 2021 Lineup: Bella Hardy, Beth Porter and the Bookshop Band, The Breath, Chris Wood, Eliza Carthy, Gwilym Bowen Rhys, Heidi Talbot, Jon Boden, Karine Polwart, Kerry Andrew, You Are Wolf, Kitty Macfarlane, Kris Drever, Lady Nade, Lisa Knapp and Gerry Diver, Martin Simpson, Nancy Kerr and James Fagan, O’Hooley and Tidow, Peggy Seeger, Rachel Newton, Sam Lee, Seckou Keita, Seth Lakeman, Steve Knightley.

www.folkonfoot.com

Thank you! So far our three Folk on Foot virtual Festivals have raised nearly a quarter of a million pounds for musicians facing financial hardship during the pandemic. It is an astonishing tribute to the brilliant artists who performed and the thousands of viewers who made a donation. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all your generosity.

Here are some comments from you: “What a triumph and wonder of a day!” “This is the folk Live Aid!” “Moving, uplifting and comforting. A massive hug to my ears and eyes”. “Blown away by the talent of all the artists!” “Right now I’m wishing every day could be Folk on Foot Festival day”. “A shining light in lockdown. Thank you, thank you."

All three Festivals are still available for you to watch, and there is a highlights podcast of each of them. Half the money raised went to the charity Help Musicians, and half to the musicians playing at the festivals. You can still make a donation to Help Musicians at: www.helpmusicians.org.uk

Topic stalwarts, Martin Simpson and Eliza Carthy joined a stellar cast of no less than 28 (!) brilliant folk artists taking part in the Festival of LOVE on Valentine's Day, over six hours of love songs and covers. Last year, Folk on Foot’s Festivals raised nearly a quarter of a million pounds for musicians who lost their livelihoods during the lockdowns. And the Festival of LOVE aims to add to that total.