NEWS: Allen Valleys Folk Festival

Image: Tiwiza

Now in its ninth year, the Allen Valleys Folk Festival is returning to Allendale in Northumberland with what promises to be yet another eclectic and enthralling line-up of artists from all over the globe from Friday 23^rd-Sunday 25^th September.

After being an online-only festival (for obvious reasons) in 2020 and 2021, the festival is returning to the eponymous valleys for a three-day celebration of music, dance and heritage, taking place in a selection indoor venues including The King’s Head, The Golden Lion, the Village Hall and the picturesque St Cuthbert’s Church. As always, the festival promises a broad line-up; festival chairman Peter Aldcroft tells us more: “[The festival boasts] broad appeal with a mix of styles from traditional folk to world music. Saturday headliners include Tiwiza, a band steeped in African tradition but with a modern, driving rock spirit, and Balkan Hot Club, whose pulsating style has been wooing festival goers throughout the UK.” Headliners also include acts such as BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards winners The Rheingans Sisters (Saturday) and popular Scottish outfit Talisk (Sunday). Other artists to look forward to include Diddley Squat, Belta Reivers, Brothers Gillespie, Claire Hastings, George Welch & Christine Jeans and Chris Ormston among others.

You hardly need much of an excuse to visit the beautiful surroundings of Northumberland, but this sure is a fine excuse at that!

Allen Valleys Folk Festival takes place at various venues in Allendale from Friday 23^rd-Sunday 25^th September.