The first acts to be signed for Shrewsbury Folk Festival have been revealed as tickets go on sale for the 2017 event.
Loudon Wainwright III, Eric Bibb, former Bellowhead frontman Jon Boden, The Unthanks, Oysterband, The Young'uns, Le Vent Du Nord and Seth Lakeman are among the headliners due to top the bill during the festival next August.
Other acts signed up so far include Andy Fairweather Low & the Low Riders featuring the Hi Riders Special Soul Review, Jim Moray's Upcetera Ensemble, Sarah Jarosz, John Kirkpatrick, Skipinnish, Sam Carter, Joe Broughton's Conservatoire Folk Ensemble, The Wilsons, National Youth Folk Ensemble, The East Pointers, Sam Kelly and the Lost Boys, Coven (Lady Maisery, O'Hooley & Tidow, and Grace Petrie), Mick Ryan and Paul Downes, The Fitzgeralds, Daphne’s Flight, Chris While and Julie Matthews, Maz O'Connor, Alma, Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar, Greg Russell (solo), Ragged Union, Moirai, Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith, Jamie Huddlestone, Na-Mara, Wood, Wire and Words, and the Roaring Trowmen.
The event will also host the only 2017 festival appearance of Peter Bellamy’s groundbreaking folk opera The Transports featuring The Young'uns, Faustus, Nancy Kerr, Matthew Crampton, Greg Russell and Rachael McShane.
Dance bands will include Glorystrokes, Jabadaw, Steamchicken, Boldwood, Lasair and Contrasaurus.
Next year’s festival marks 20 years since it began in Bridgnorth in 1997 and it will be the 21st event organised by directors Alan and Sandra Surtees. It will run from August 25 to 28 at the West Mid Showground in Berwick Rd, Shrewsbury.
Festival Director Alan Surtees said: “We are very excited to have secured some great musicians for 2017 at this very early stage and are in detailed negotiations with many others that we will confirm as planning progresses.
“2016 was a vintage year but with an already strong line up and our ongoing commitment to extremely high production values, we’re pretty sure that 2017 will top it!”
Adult weekend ticket prices have been held at 2016 rates. Adult weekend concession tickets are also now tiered. The festival operates a tiered system with four different price levels so people who book early, including those who are eligible for concession tickets, get the best deal. There are also day tickets on sale.
The festival has four music stages, a dance tent and runs more than 100 workshops and dedicated children and youth programmes. There is onsite camping, a craft fair, real ale, wine and cocktail bars, and a food village.
Alan added: “The feedback we had from this year was phenomenal from visitors and artists alike. The BBC 6 Music and Radio 2 presenter Mark Radcliffe described it as ‘a little bit of heaven’ and that sums it up.
“We are anticipating a very high demand for the first tier of tickets. Last year, the cheapest tickets sold out very quickly so our advice is to be prepared!”
In a change to previous years, the site will open from 7am on Friday August 25 for people with camping tickets.
Published on 01 December 2016 by Ben Robinson
