The Bermondsey Folk Festival 2017 celebrated another successful edition and we already stareted working on the programme for 2018. We would like to thank everyone who made it possible: The Blue Bermondsey Business District for the economic support, Cunning Folk Music for organising it, wise16.co.uk for helping in promoting the event, all the people in the Blue Anchor Market and local businesses for showing their support
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Bermondsey Folk Festival put folk, roots & blues music in the heart of South East London. The free festival showcased some of the finest folk artists performing in Britain today with a series of events on the second week of September in Market Place and around the historic pubs of Bermondsey all day long.
Arthur Smith
12 Noon, Queen Victoria Pub, 148 Southwark Park Rd, London SE16 3RP
Bermondsey born comedian, author, playwright, TV and radio presenter Arthur Smith returns to his hometown from exile in Balham, to kick off the day’s proceedings in whimsical fashion with a guided tour of his former habitat.
Arthur Smith will open the Bermondsey Folk Festival 2017 with a walk starting at the Queen Victoria Pub
www.arthursmith.co.ukArthurSmithComedy@ArfurSmith
Arthur Smith
Alasdair Roberts
1.30 pm, Market Place , London SE16 3UQ
Alasdair Roberts returns to the Bermondsey this year with his band after a memorable solo performance at last year’s festival. Alasdair is a musician (primarily a guitarist and singer) who is based in Glasgow Scotland. He has worked with Drag City Records since 1997and also released music on labels such as Secretly Canadian, Galaxia and Stone Tape Recordings.
His work mainly consists of two parallel strands: self-written song material (which can be heard on albums such as Farewell Sorrow, The Amber Gatherers, Spoils and A Wonder Working Stone) and interpretations of traditional songs and ballads from Scotland and beyond (which can be heard on albums such as The Crook of My Arm, No Earthly Man and Too Long In This Condition). Alasdair has worked together with many musicians throughout his career and his latest collaboration as a member of the folk quartet – The Furrow Collective – picked up the award for best group in the 2017 Radio 2 Folk awards.
In addition to many collaborative projects, Alasdair also recently became a member of the English/Scottish folk quartet The Furrow Collective, along with Lucy Farrell, Rachel Newton and Emily Portman. The group’s first album At Our Next Meeting was released earlier this year. Late 2014 should see the release of a new album of self-written Roberts songs, which is currently being recorded.
www.alasdairroberts.comalasdair.roberts.7@AliRobertsMusic
Alasdair Roberts
Cunning Folk
2.30pm, Blue Anchor Pub, 251 Southwark Park Rd, London SE16 3TS
Cunning Folk is the name given to practitioners of folk medicine and folk magic but adopted by this very popular new British Folk and Roots ensemble. Their fine and enchanting songs allude to the magic and mystery of this fabled isle, exploring the relationship between past and present generations. A promoter and a singer who embrace both sides of the music business in to one.
Cunning Folk puts on regular folk & roots music and spoken word events and talks in interesting places in a mission to bring wonderful music, storytelling, history and poetry to like minded souls. In 2014 Cunning Folk put on events in Tudor houses, old barges & magical bookshops followed by events in woodlands, edgelands & forgotten corners & organised the following year.
Since 2015, Cunning Folk has organised the Bermondsey Folk Festival and he will be also playing at this year’s festival. He also organises the South East London Folklore Society a monthly pub meeting with speakers talking on subjects ranging from Wicca to Shakespeare, from Robin Hood to The Transports.
www.cunningfolkmusic.comCunningFolkMusic@folk_cunning
Cunning Folk
Stick In The Wheel
4pm, Market Place , London SE16 3UQ
Stick In The Wheel are no ordinary folk band alongside their self-penned curious tales of everyday contemporary life, sit traditional songs that are relevant to all generations, passionately rendered with a punkish panache. Sessions on BBC6 Music and XFM, plus four BBC Folk Award nominations have established ‘stick’ as credible purveyors of popular folk music with real substance.
www.stickinthewheel.comstickinthewheel@stickinthewheel
Stick In The Wheel
FROG MORRIS
Throughout the day. Market Place , London SE16 3UQ
Is an artist, performer, poet and much more, who will be your compere for the entertainment in Market Place. Presenting songs, Circus Skills, colouring competition, Morris dancing and a Dr Bike workshop, so feel free to cycle down to the Blue and enjoy a FREE service for your bike.
www.frogmorris.netfrogmorrispresents@frogmorris
Frog Morris / Photograph by Dave Edwards
MARTIN SIMPSON
5pm, Market Place, London SE16 3UQ
Is a titan of the UK folk scene and widely recognised as one of the best acoustic guitar players in the world. An outstanding singer songwriter who has collaborated with a myriad of legendary folk artists from both sides of the Atlantic during a career spanning four decades that has seen him nominated on over 25 occasions in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards – more than any other performer – winning on six occasions including Artist of The Year twice.
www.martinsimpson.comOfficialMartinSimpson@msimpsonian
Martin Simpson
The Late gig
7pm, Shortwave Cafe, 100 Clements Rd, London SE16 4DG
After this stonking afternoons musical meanderings the final leg of the ‘fest is to be found after a gentle trek to the newly opened Shortwave Café in the historic Biscuit Factory for an evening headlined by Thomas McCarthy who will be capably supported by an eclectic mix of performers including Kelly Bourne and Russman
THOMAS MCCARTHy
Thomas McCarthy comes from Birr in County Offaly in Ireland. The McCarthys family settled there generations ago. Thomas describes himself as an Irish Traveller, and come from a long line of old traditional singers and musicians who kept the tradition of singing strong
Hails from a long line of Irish travellers who has kept the oral musical tradition of the travelling community alive with mystical stories which have been passed down through generations of his family delivered in unaccompanied old style vocal that leaves you spell bound and hankering for the serenity of simpler times.
I continue singing the old songs myself, I find great comfort in them and in continuing my tradition which I am passing to my niece and nephew who are fine little singers. I am confident that the tradition will continue. -Thomas McCarthy
www.thomasmccarthyfolk.comwww.thomasmccarthyfolk.com@ThomasTomac1
Thomas McCarthy
Support community musicians
We want to discover new music so it is a great pleasure to give an opportunity to new singers or bands who will be performing at Shortwave Cafe, supporting main performance by Thomas McCarthy and others and if you would like to play on the night, please, do enquire as we might be able to accommodate a few more slots subject to availability
MORE THAN MUSIC
In addition to the music being playing on the stage in Market Place, there will also be:
- Bike Workshop
- Morris Dancing
- Big Local Works community stall
- Beer stall serving popular brands from the Beer Mile
- Family entertainment
- and more on the day
venue locations and directions
All the venues are within a few steps from Market Place and a short distance from Bermondsey Underground station. Canada Water is the nearest station if you coming by overground then change to Jubilee Line for one stop or walk across Southwark Park as marked in the map. Though there are not parking restrictions, we recommend using public transport so you can relax and enjoy it in full!
Zoom in and out to see all the venues taking part in the festival, other pubs in the area and places to eat.
venue locations and directions
All the venues are within a few steps from Market Place and a short distance from Bermondsey Underground station. Canada Water is the nearest station if you coming by overground then change to Jubilee Line for one stop or walk across Southwark Park as marked in the map. Though there are not parking restrictions, we recommend using public transport so you can relax and enjoy it in full!
Zoom in and out to see all the venues taking part in the festival, other pubs in the area and places to eat.