2026 Folk Festival

Name: 2026 Folk Festival
Start: 2026-06-27T12:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-06-27T18:00:00+01:00
Location: The Grove Inn

Schedule

Sat Jun 27 2026 at 12:00 pm to 06:00 pm

UTC+01:00

Location

The Grove Inn | Leeds, EN

We’re excited to put on our second pay as you feel folk festival. We have a brilliant line up to celebrate the world of folk.
We have four guests performing on the outside stage (weather permitting, in the concert room indoors if not!). We also have the fabulous Briggate Morris in between sets.
12pm
Maddie Morris is a bold and socially conscious folk artist who uses traditional music to explore contemporary issues. Winner of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award, they have been described by Jim Moray as “leading the next generation of socially conscious songwriters.” Their work explores personal narratives and political storytelling, blending English folk traditions with their lived experience as a trans, autistic person. Rooted in the oral tradition, Maddie’s music seeks to preserve, challenge, and expand folk heritage by writing historically excluded voices into the canon. Recent projects include a residency at Ferens Art Gallery, and commissions from Unlimited, Rural Arts, and the English Folk Dance and Song Society. Passionately political yet gently understated, this is music that deftly treads the path between art and activism.
"Morris is a powerhouse performer with a rich voice and a gentle way with a guitar. Their lyrics are poignant and playful. Maddie is not shy about what they have to say – personal and political – but they celebrate, even as they mourn." - Folk London
“a folk fusion of personal tales, queer & feminist insights, and activism. A musical journey of voice and virtue.” - Tradfolk
Home | Maddie Morris Folk
1.30
Bryony Griffith & Alice Jones
As established solo artists, Bryony & Alice are no strangers to the folk scene. Hailing from West Yorkshire, both are long-time purveyors of English folk music, united by a fascination with local folk song collections inspired by the Yorkshire landscape, language and industry. They combine their respect for tradition with their own contemporary style of performance to present a unique repertoire of harmony, heritage and Northern banter, featuring Fiddle, Harmonium, Tenor Guitar, body percussion and intricate vocals in their distinctive regional accents.
Their debut duo album, ‘A Year Too Late and a Month Too Soon’, released in 2022, showcases their fresh and masterful interpretations of these treasured old songs and has garnered 5 star reviews and global radio play.
"Straight up, beautiful and bold folk singing" Mark Radcliffe - BBC Radio 2
“Well-known on the grassroots scene for multifarious adventures with different outfits, this pair pitch together their fiddle and guitar and passionate vocals with winning vitality on a vividly enticing bunch of traditional music from their home county of Yorkshire. No fancy frills here – we get songs of fratricide, coalmining, betrayal, cockfighting and drinking, delivered in all their raw glory. Honest, wholesome and thoroughly enjoyable.” Colin Irwin - Mojo
Bryony Griffith and Alice Jones – Yorkshire Folk Music Duo
2.45
The Hooliemen
Hooliemen are a superb acoustic traditional Irish band playing tunes & songs with harmony & accapela vocals & sean nos dance. Previously known informally as The Hoolie, the band has performed for over a decade at major events including Whitby Folk Week. Now fully established as The Hooliemen, they are not to be missed.
Today’s band is Chris Dyson – fiddle/voc - from Roisin Ban & Gaelforce , ex Mike Harding Band, Leeds CCE
Richard Moss - gtr/voc - ex Mike Harding Band, Drop the Floor.
Paddy Heffron - button accordian/voc/sean nos dance - Roisin Ban, Leeds CCE
https://www.facebook.com/share/1AWq19ZMbv/?mibextid=wwXIfr
4pm
The Heathen Kings.
This energetic folk trio from Yorkshire, fusing guitar and mandola with powerful bass, crowned with fearless three part vocals are a joy to behold. Performing traditional, self-penned and traditional folk music from the British Isles and a few from further afield, their sound shifts from calm, tender duets to full, high energy, roaring pieces, that's then stripped back to delicate unaccompanied singing.
http://theheathenkings.com/
http://theheathenkings.com/index.php?page=Recordings