INTERVIEW: Saltburn Folk Festival

Image: Kris Drever

Calling folk fans old, new and prospective – Saltburn Folk Festival returns for its 25^th year to venues across the seaside town from Friday 9^th-Sunday 11^th August, and it’s chock-full of action to fill a perfect summer weekend. Artistic director Elinor Creaby-Attwood tells us more about the huge event and its community-driven impact: “We’re very lucky to have such a supportive community who’ve helped us to reach this milestone, including a loyal core audience who return to the festival every year.”

The festival’s ethos is all about good folk music on an astronomical scale, while also helping local communities flourish and thrive. “We’ve got an expanded line-up, including both nationally acclaimed and emerging artists, and there’s a strong focus on North East talent too.” There’s also a free programme of gigs on the bandstand and dance displays all across town, as well as the ticketed events.

It’s a festival conscious of environmental issues and sustainability too, as well as the inclusion of whole families and all communities; there’s a new and improved Youth Hub, a Queer Folk showcase, and work with Newcastle University folk degree students. Intrigued? Below are Elinor’s personal highlights for the weekend.

It feels too easy to say “everything!” here – so I’ll try to narrow it down to a few absolute highlights on each day of the festival! First of all, I am unbelievably thrilled to have Kris Drever joining us on Friday 9^th. Kris is a wonderful contemporary Scottish musician and songwriter, known for his work with Lau, among other things, and he’s been one of my favourite artists for a long time. In fact, that whole concert will be an exceptional showcase of folk song – featuring The Wilson Family (who are also celebrating a big anniversary this year – 50 years of playing together!), Holly & The Reivers and Amy Leach & Alasdair Paul. It’s a great example of how we’re drawing together nationally acclaimed artists with those a bit closer to home.

Also coming up on the Friday, the Queer Folk Showcase is back this year. This concert is all about celebrating LGBTQIA+ voices in folk music, with a line-up curated by Queer Folk founders George Sansome and Sophie Crawford. I’m looking forward to seeing George and Sophie play, as well as some new faces including Island Girl, Georgie Rix and Theo Dussek. I’ve been following Island Girl for a while, and can’t wait to see their set.

On the Saturday, I’m looking forward to seeing The Rheingans Sisters, who have to be two of the most innovative musicians on the folk scene today. Plus, Heather Ferrier, Grace Smith and Amy Laurenson are bringing the absolute best in tune playing to Saturday night – and there’s some serious North East representation on that line-up! On the Friday and Saturday nights, we’ve also got the amazing DIY Ceilidh to keep us dancing all night.

Finally, on the Sunday, The Often Herd will be closing out the festival with high-energy bluegrass, and I can’t think of a better way to finish this year’s festival. And after all of that, perhaps a rest!