Festival Wristband offers full access to every gig, session, and event from 19-21st October!
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 contemporary and traditional folk, roots and acoustic music across a variety of Manchester’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 for 3 days of the very best in English Folk and Acoustic music. All of the venues are within a short walk of each other, making it easy to move between concerts, catch up with friends, and just hang around taking in the atmosphere.
Artists announced as performing at Manchester Folk Festival 2023 so far include Maddy Prior & Forgotten Lands, Oysterband, Noble Jacks, Hack-Poets Guild, John Smith, Will Pound & Jenn Butterworth, Merry Hell, Simeon Hammond Dallas, Blackbeard’s Tea Party, Suntou Susso, Granny’s Attic, Ranagri, Bonfire Radicals, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, Sam Lee, Lady Nade, Ward Knútur Townes, Ríoghnach Connolly & Honeyfeet, Martin Carthy & Jon Wilks, Bryony Griffith & Alice Jones, Iona Lane, Rosie Hood Band, Mishra, Mikey Kenney and Philippa Zawe. For more info about the artists, click here.
For the first time, Festival Wristband holders will gain exclusive access to an afternoon of International Folk Concerts (Saturday 21st).
Our exciting new venues for 2023 include:
Band on the Wall
New Century Hall
Hallé St Peters
Night and Day
Hallé at St Michaels
SOUP
Matt and Phred’s
Castle Hotel
The Stoller Hall
All of our new venues are fully accessible, for specific information for each venue click here.
Band on the Wall is our new festival hub and late-night festival club featuring the best emerging folk-influenced artists.
The full line-up of artists will be announced in June 2023, but as always, whether you prefer traditional folk, the best in singer-songwriters or something a little more alternative, there’ll be something for everyone!
There’s also free events alongside our regular programme – join a session at The Smithfield Market Tavern or enjoy free live music on our Band on the Wall Bar Stage.
For more information about the festival click here.