Our Festival Wristband offers full access to every gig, session and event during the festival!
Manchester Folk Festival will take place from Thursday 20th – Saturday 22nd March 2025. From 2025, the festival moves from October to March, for our second year in Manchester’s vibrant Northern Quarter.
Manchester Folk Festival is an urban multi-venue festival which brings together a diverse range of artists who represent the broad definition of contemporary folk music. Discover the best traditional folk, roots and acoustic music across a variety of the city’s iconic music venues. From intimate spaces to festival stages, there’s something for everyone.
The festival is a rolling programme where festival wristband holders will be able to dip in and out of these legendary music venues (*subject to capacity). All of the venues are within a short walk of each other, making it easy to move between concerts, catch up with friends and soak up the atmosphere.
Band on the Wall is our festival hub and hosts our late-night Festival Club on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
There’s also free events alongside our regular programme, where you can join a session at The Smithfield Market Tavern, witness first-class Morris Dancing at Cutting Room Square or enjoy free live music on The Copper Bar Stage. All of our new venues are fully accessible, for specific information for each venue click here.
Exclusive Festival Wristband Perks:
Alongside entry to all performances across the three days wristband perks for 2025 also include access to a singing workshop with Jon Boden and exclusive concerts from:
- Stockport-born accordionist, clog dancer and composer Heather Ferrier performing with her Trio as part of our Festival Wristband Holders’ Welcome Event.
- Award-winning accordionist, dancer and singer Hannah James and French cellist Toby Kuhn – a dazzling duo whose post-classical style creates a uniquely inventive sound.
- Folk Canada’s international showcasing artists, featuring environmental advocate and songwriter extraordinaire Luke Wallace, the enthralling Toronto duo Basset and alt-country and traditional musician Diyet & The Love Soldiers, who shares stories deeply rooted in her Kluane First Nation heritage and Indigenous worldview.
Our Lineup So Far:
Jon Boden & The Remnant Kings, Cara Dillon, Stornoway, The Longest Johns, Katherine Priddy, Bernard Butler, Ferocious Dog, The Deep Blue, Nick Hart & Tom Moore, Holly Clarke, Nick Cope, Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne, Josienne Clarke, The John Martyn Project, Peter’s Field, Culverake, Sam Carter, Amelia Coburn, Caoilfhionn Rose, The Magpies, Lisa Knapp & Gerry Diver, Yoshika Colwell, One World Orchestra, Red Sky July, BROUA, Germa Adan, Miranda Sykes & Jim Causley, Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage, Robbie Cavanagh & Lawrence Maxwell, Dominie Hooper, Brazen, Fran & Flora, Lily Lyons, Sam Kelly, Detta Kenzie, Memorial, Luke Jackson, Brown Wimpenney, Oli Matthews Band, John Kelly, Remorae, Honey and the Bear, Captain of the Lost Waves, Hector Gannet, 3 Daft Monkeys, Re:Vulva, Jaywalkers, R.AGGS & more artists to be announced soon.
*Please note: For every festival show, we have set aside an allocation of seats for wristband holders, so all you need to do is turn up and you’ll be let in. However, for particularly popular shows expected to sell out, we recommend arriving early to secure a seat, as this would be the only instance where admission might be limited. You can reach out to us at info@englishfolkexpo.com, if you would like information on which shows these might be.
The NASC and Manchester Craft & Design Centre workshops are not included as part of the festival wristband.
For more information about the festival click here.
**Information on how to collect your festival wristband will be available closer to the event and will be sent by email**
Please note:
We have now sold out of festival wristbands. Individual gig tickets are available to all festival shows.