From small beginnings the Bermondsey Folk Festival is starting to flourish as a calendar event in the London Folk Scene and we have the headline acts in the main stage to prove it: Lisa Knapp, Circulus and Martin Carthy
First on the stage from 2pm, you will discover award winning chanteuse Lisa Knapp; later on the indescribable Circulus will delight attendees with the unique psychedelic folk and closing the main stage performances will be modern folk’s greatest innovator Martin Carthy, purveying their finest wares.
There will Thrales Rapper and Irish Dance performances, choir music, poetry and more
The Bermondsey Folk Festival 2018 continues and after the day’s events in The Blue Market, the Bermondsey Folk Festival music will play at Shortwave Cafe with an evening of fantastic folk acts. You’ll be pleased to know that Shortwave Cafe is fully licensed & has a great selection of beers and drinks.
Folk music fans and Bermondsey Folk Festival followers, behold, the our very first flyer for the BFF 2018 is out of the printer!
We are delighted to announce the main headline acts for this year’s edition of our popular Folk Festival in South London. Bermondsey which has a long music tradition is once more the home for top class musicians and bands to play on a day not to be forgotten!
With Martin Carthy, Lisa Knapp, Circulus and Arfur Doo and The Toerags plus many other acts to be announced. In the meantime, don’t forget to visit the Folk Music Singaround at Shortwave Cafe and organised by Cunning Folk. This monthly event is a platform for artists who wish to play at the Bermondsey Folk Festival as supporting acts. Remember to pencil in (or add electronically nowadays) these dates to your calendars:
8th September 2018 – Bermondsey Folk Festival returns to Market Place and nearby venues in The Blue, Bermondsey SE16
Shortwave Cafe Folk Music Singaround – Last Sunday of the month on the run up to the BFF 2018.
The result of a thousand drunken nights, countless dreamy days, and years of musical adventuring, Whiskey Moon Face take you on a voyage into a bohemian underworld which you never knew existed.
Born into a puddle of whiskey beneath a stark winter moon and raised by cold winds, schooled in the warming spirits and hungry for more, Whiskey Moon Face manage a natural, graceful sound built from many ports. The spellbinding voice that haunts Hackney’s back streets, the clarinet that floats through open windows with impossible lyricism, and the double bass that meanders beneath. Always innovating and improvising with stark originality, Louisa Jones’ troupe of underground musicians play with a virtuosity you could never expect. Songs which speak of the unspeakable, with understated humour, captivating storytelling and a transcendent spirituality.
Live electronica wizkid Ed Dowie uses his deep knowledge of sound design to create a unique, transportative, sonically rich experience for his audience. It’s a blend of live sounds, effect-laden vocals, and truly huge synth sounds that is completely immersive.
Ed started making music in the late 1990s with Brothers in Sound, releasing three EPs and an album on Regal Recordings and BMG. After several years composing music for theatre and short films, he embarked on a solo career in 2012, releasing two EPs which received praise from No Fear of Pop, 20 Jazz Funk Greats and The 405. His music has appeared on various short films and TV and has regularly featured on BBC Radio 3, BBC6 Music and Resonance FM. He’s recently signed to Lost Map Records (home of Pictish Trail, Rozi Plain & Kid Canaveral), who released his debut album, The Uncle Sold, in January 2017.
For me, Woodburner is possibly the most important underground folk music event in London.
It began nearly a decade ago around a large woodburner in a squatted Hackney pub, The George and as far as I know it has always followed the same formula, an outrageously cheap door price and three outstandingly good musical acts.
Lovingly created and curated by the musician Theo Bard, Woodburner has been where, just about every musician in London has cut their teeth. This is where you would have heard Sam Lee and Nick Mulvey long before anyone mentioned a Mercury Prize.
Its Theo´s attention to detail which makes Woodburner so special. Every venue it moves to is carefully chosen for it ambiance and atmosphere, this combined with theo´s uncanny ability to select great acts makes for many magic evenings.
Excitingly, Woodburner has recently branched out from just their weekly event and are now involved is some spectacular collaborations. I am sure they will all carry the Woodburner quality with them.
The 3rd instalment of the annual Bermondsey Folk Festival draws on the experience of previous years offerings with a format aimed at celebrating our local pubs and community and with the duel aim of raising awareness of the thriving Bermondsey craft beer industry, all in one day, Saturday, 9th of September 2017
The festival will begin at The Queen Victoria with a guided walk by Arthur Smith to Market Place for a performance by the Alasdair Roberts Trio. Then it’s a short stroll to the famous Blue Anchor for Cunning Folk. Just a mere stone’s throw to Market Place where to replenish with food or drinks outside The Old Bank or head to the stall with the Beer Mile beers with beers on taps while being entertained with Frog Morris, Circus Skills and Morris Dancing . The music takes central stage with Stick in the Wheel and headliner the incomparable Martin Simpson. But the party is not over as it is time to visit Shortwave Cafe at the Biscuit Factory for the late gig with Thomas McCarthy and supporting acts.
Can you really miss it?!
Scroll drown to see the full line up or how to get there.
venue locations and directions
All the venues are within a few steps from Market Place and a short distance from Bermondsey Underground station. Canada Water is the nearest station if you coming by overground then change to Jubilee Line for one stop or walk across Southwark Park as marked in the map. Though there are not parking restrictions, we recommend using public transport so you can relax and enjoy it in full!
Zoom in and out to see all the venues taking part in the festival, other pubs in the area and places to eat.
Alfred Abel is the musical pseudonym for London based musician & songwriter Sam Smith. Sam was born in the Midlands. At the age of 19 he moved down to Cornwall, before moving to London via Bristol all the while developing his music and distinctive voice
