Reasons to be cheerful, March edition, Manchester Folk Festival 2026 in the Northern Quarter.

WEATHER & TOILETS…

Urban festivals occupy a whole different vibe from those based elsewhere, and require a whole different headset to accommodate and navigate. This sometimes has those greenfield sites, with their tents, camping and glamping, looking sniffily at these city centre revisionists, with all their multi-venue arrangements, aghast that attendees may be able to bathe and sleep in comfort in a room of their choosing. I say two things to that: weather and toilets. Which isn’t to say I don’t love a bit of roughing it outside under canvas, but, c’mon, it’s barely Spring!

Manchester Folk Festival has really snuck up on us, emerging from tentative tiny steps, a bolt-on to the English Folk Expo, to now being one of the premier shindigs in the country, with as credible a calendar of events as many and more established extravaganzas. Sure, it isn’t yet one to threaten the urban might of Glasgow’s Celtic Connections, given it lasts only for 3 days at a time, but a scan of those appearing packs a punch that many outdoor equivalents would surely envy. And, believe me, do.

DEDICATION

ATB know a good thing when they see it, and so this is the second year a dedicated team have been sent to scour the sides out of the festival, to find out the best of a bill that seems fit to burst. Indeed, so much is on offer that no one person could even ever begin to catch all available, it a struggle last year, when it didn’t seem quite as enormous as it does now.

More a question of what you can afford to miss as you try to capture as much as you can. but, luckily, most of the venues are packed fairly close together, in the urban hipster hub of the Northern Quarter, meaning short sprints between venues. As previously, the centre of activities is based around the fabled Band On The Wall, where each day winds down, or up, with late night sessions, designed to take you well into the following day.

Who is on our card? Clearly that ATB favourites Fairport Convention, the full fat Mattacks version, are within the festival is a massive must, not least as they are supported by the fabulous Jenn Butterworth. Similarly, Seth Lakeman and the irrepressible Skinny Lister are also playing, each essential grabs for those in the know. Last year’s festivals faves, El Pony Pisador are back in the UK for a show, as well as the renaissance of the Magic Numbers continuing anew.

AN EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES

The list is endless: Katie Spencer, Angeline Morrison, David Ford, Maz O’Connor and Bella Hardy are all performers who have tickled the ears of ATB, as have the East Angliana country tropes of Brown Horse. High octane frolics from Sheelanagig and the retro frenzy of Shovel Dance Collective will keep feet from still on the floor, whilst a convoy of acts from Scotland will show off why it’s currently so hot, north of the border. Who haven’t we mentioned? Jings, Frankie Archer, Rachael McShane, Nick Harper; the choice is all endless.

And I haven’t even said that both the Young ‘Uns are there to tackle those in need of a song, as well as the much coveted David Eagle’s Pick & Mix DJ spot, to bring all to a jolly end on the Saturday, his DJ set free from all rules. Music of all genres, of any time, uniquely mashed together. Anything goes!

If this isn’t enough, there are sessions aplenty, based largely at the Smithfield Market Tavern, right next door to the BotW. Bring your instruments or just your voice! Morris dancing; of course there’s morris dancing, will take place about the outside squares of the Northern Quarter, as well as there being workshops dedicated to everything from origami to dyed silk scarf making. Somewhere there’s a ceilidh, so prepare to be exhausted.

Be there or be, aargh, just be there! Mine’s a pint!

Manchester Folk Festival: website

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