Moira Furnace Folk Festival
The Moira Furnace Folk Festival at the heart of the National Forest takes place at Moira Furnace located on the Leicestershire / Derbyshire border, one of the most picturesque settings in the industrial midlands.
The Festival features some well known and talented main acts, plus local and national, up and coming artists. A programme of workshops has been arranged and will be detailed on the website together with details of which days artists are performing, in advance of the Festival
In a normal year, most events take place on the green site of Moira Furnace, with a Ceilidh on Saturday Night at the Miners Welfare, just a few hundred metres from the main site. Singarounds and sessions also take place at local pubs, some 10 minutes’ walk from the Festival main site, as well as various locations on the Festival site itself.
There are concerts all weekend in two marquees, each with a raised stage and PA system, plus singarounds in the Loft of the Furnace building and a wide variety of dancing, including Morris and Appalachian Step, in the Courtyard.
The 2021 Festival may well depart from this format, depending on the restrictions and guidance in place at the festival dates. Concerts may be outdoors on seating, with just the stage covered. Singaround and workshop locations may need to be changed and some may need to be held outdoors.
We hope to run the Ceilidh but, if social distancing remains in place, holding this event may not be feasible. Contingency plans are in place, but some decisions will have to be made at the last minute, if guidance continues to change.
Local camping is available and free car parking close at hand. There is fun entertainment and activities for children. Festival goers will find a choice of trade and food stalls, plus a Real Ale bar. Along with canal rides on the picturesque Ashby Canal.
A Folk service involving several of the Festival artists will be held on Sunday morning at a local church.
Many tourist attractions are close to Moira including Conkers, the National Forest centre for recreation and hands on eco science as well as numerous country walks – dogs are allowed on site.
Derby Folk Festival
2021 sees the 15th edition of Derby Folk Festival 2020.
We began in 2007, as Derby Traditional Music & Arts Festival, changing the name to Derby Folk Festival in 2010. We’ve been bringing amazing artists to the city since the very beginning!
We started out in the Assembly Rooms, expanding to include The Guildhall Theatre with some fantastic shows. Following the Assembly Rooms’ fire in 2014, we moved into a marquee on the Market Place, and beyond! We’ve had concerts in The Old Bell Hotel, Derby Cathedral, and in various city centre locations.
With the effects of the Covid-19 Lockdown, we’ve taken the decision to cancel the physical festival for 2020, but we had a weekend of great music and events, even though we had to move online!
Derby Folk Festival is produced by Derby LIVE
Lichfield Folk Club
The Lichfield Folk Club meets at 8pm on the First Wednesday of the month, in the Courtyard Bar of the Duke of York Pub Tamworth Street Lichfield.
The format is that of a Sing Around with Tunes, Stories and Songs from local performers.
It is a very relaxed and friendly group and all are welcome to join in the fun.
There is no admission charge and there is good beer on tap.
Derby Heritage Traditional Music Club
The Derby Heritage Traditional Music club meets on the 3rd Thursday of the month at The Maypole Cafe Bar & Theatre 42 Brook Street, Derby, DE1 3PH.
The club is a very established and well supported venue and well worth a visit. Please see check their website for details of coming events.
The Belper Folk Club
The club meets every Tuesday evening at 8.30pm at The Old King’s Head, Days Lane, BELPER, Derbyshire, DE56 1NP.
Parking around the venue is limited but there is a large free car park signposted “The Coppice”, just off the Market Place, opposite the top of King Street.
Every Tuesday is an open night where anyone is welcome to come along to sing, play instruments, recite poetry or just to listen and be entertained.
We have Facebook and MySpace pages, which have up-to-date bits and pieces on it and through which you can interact with the club.
The Scrag End Folk Club
Sing arounds on the first and third Tuesday of the month at the Mushroom Hall Main Street Albert Village DE11 8EN [8.30 pm start].
Guest Nights 8.00 pm start.
Very friendly gathering in a comfortable surrounding.
Good beer and plenty of parking.
