Voted a resounding success, the bustling three-day festival fielded some of the biggest names in folk as its headliners, drawing around 2,000 people – from all over the South West to as far afield as Scotland – to the new-look venue.

There were celebrations all round when the music extravaganza opened on Friday making a double date with Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding day and giving lots of Bank Holiday makers the chance to attend. Festival patron Seth Lakeman, a former Mercury nominee and the man credited with making folk “sexy”, headlined Friday night with the phenomenally popular West Country duo Show of Hands topping the bill on Saturday and 11-piece folk juggernaut Bellowhead on the Sunday – all prompting standing ovations.

More than 50 diverse music acts made up the bill on three levels of the venue while a multitude of “fringe” events included 200 Morris dancers performing outside the Colston Hall on May Day, following sunrise celebrations on the city’s Brandon Hill. The old Colston Hall bar (now Hall 2) was renamed the Fred Wedlock stage for the duration of the festival in honour of the much-loved Bristol folk singer.
The long held dream of bringing the festival back to Bristol was realised by local music promoters Jan Ayers and Steve Parkhouse – a complete leap of faith at a time when several other festivals are folding or taking a year out. Said Jan: It’s been amazing – everything I imagined was possible has become real. All of us at Bristol Folk Festival would like to thank everyone for their support, work, performance and investment on so many levels. This festival is here to stay.”

Read more at Bristol Folk Festival