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Sidmouth Folk Festival

Sam Overbeck in Earlsdon Morris kit, Bromyard Folk Festival 2024

An American Morris Dancer in England

Like many twenty-somethings, Sam Overbeck has spent his summer travelling. But whereas some may head to South America, Asia, or Europe, Sam has spent summer 2024 touring England’s folk festivals. Specifically, he’s been watching, practising and performing with as many morris sides as he can.

Festivals

The Tradfolk guide to overcoming post-festival blues

The companionship and crowds, jam-packed programmes and seemingly endless talent, energy and inspiration found at festivals can make it challenging...

Morris dancers dancing at Sidmouth Folk Festival

Festivals

Sidmouth Folk Festival 2024 – a mini guide for newbies

Want to know what to expect from Sidmouth Folk Festival, 2024? We'll keep this page updated so that you stay in the know.

The folk singer Nick Hart performing in a purple light on a stage in a tent at FolkEast festival, 2023.

News Opinion Reviews

Best Folk Gig Moments, 2023

Jon Wilks offers up vignettes from the best folk gigs he's seen this year as we ask you what your favourites were in 2023.

Rhia Daveport of Boss Morris dancing the John Gasson Jig Competition in 2022

Customs, Rituals and Traditions Morris Dancing

Customs Uncovered: The John Gasson Jig Competition

The annual jig competition, honouring the memory of the late John Gasson, takes place in August. We take a look at its quirks, its rules and its history.

A large crowd of people stand in a carpark in Sidmouth watching the Sidmouth Horse Trials, a parade of hobby horses and home-made beasts that congregate at Sidmouth Folk Festival once a year.

Beasts and Giants

Customs Uncovered: The Sidmouth Horse Trials

A highlight of Sidmouth Folk Festival, the Sidmouth Horse Trials take place on the first Sunday of the festival. Tradfolk Rach investigates.

Morris Dancing

Laurel Swift and the roots of the new morris revival

With morris dancing very definitely on the rise again, Alex Merry and Ian A. Anderson celebrate Laurel Swift, the force of energy who set the latest revival in motion more than a decade ago.

A collage of artists featured in this article, including Jim Moray, Boss Morris, Fern Maddie, Ben Edge, Hack-Poets Guild and Jacken Elswyth.

News

Folk culture in 2023 – what we’re looking forward to

A new year dawns and we wipe the folkie slate clean. We asked around to find out what 2023 holds for folk events and album releases. Here's what the Tradfolk team are looking forward to.

The eyes of a hobby horse partaking in the Sidmouth Horse Trials

Beasts and Giants Morris Dancing

Customs uncovered: Beasts, Hobby Horses and ‘the suspension of the normal’

Newcomers to the world of traditional customs and rituals very quickly come face to face with beasts and hobby horses. In this article, we attempt to offer some explanation for the inexplicable.

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Alien Water by Ian A. Anderson – a book review

Photos of Annual Affairs with Homer Sykes

Clog-making – and why we should cherish it

May Day Morris: Where to find Morris dancing near me

May Day Morris Call Out 2025

Customs Uncovered: Atherstone Ball Game

May Day Morris: Where to find Morris dancing near me

May Day Morris Call Out 2025

Dancing on the Fringe: Max Reeves on Photographing the Evolving World of Morris

The Old Songs Podcast: Se2Ep10 – ‘The New Bury Loom’, ft. Jennifer Reid

The Old Songs Podcast: Se2Ep9 – ‘Lord Douglas’, ft. Jim Moray

The Old Songs Podcast: Se2Ep8 – ‘Princess Royal’, ft. John Spiers

May Day Morris: Where to find Morris dancing near me

The Best British folk songs, as chosen by British folk singers

The best traditional May songs, as chosen by traditional singers

Myth Country – the Charlie Cooper Interview

Folk culture, new paganism and the mainstream – Bridget Christie notes The Change afoot

Sidmouth Folk Festival

An American Morris Dancer in England

The Tradfolk guide to overcoming post-festival blues

Sidmouth Folk Festival 2024 – a mini guide for newbies

Best Folk Gig Moments, 2023

Customs Uncovered: The John Gasson Jig Competition

Customs Uncovered: The Sidmouth Horse Trials

Laurel Swift and the roots of the new morris revival

Folk culture in 2023 – what we’re looking forward to

Customs uncovered: Beasts, Hobby Horses and ‘the suspension of the normal’

May Day Morris: Where to find Morris dancing near me

The Best British folk songs, as chosen by British folk singers

The best traditional May songs, as chosen by traditional singers

Myth Country – the Charlie Cooper Interview

Folk culture, new paganism and the mainstream – Bridget Christie notes The Change afoot