The first acts for Priddy Folk Festival 2017 have been announced – and among them are some old friends and exciting new talent.
We are pleased to announce the return of Irish four-piece Flook who last played at Priddy – to great acclaim – in 2014.
Led by the flutes of Sarah Allen and Brian Finnegan and featuring Ed Boyd (guitar) and John Joe Kelly (bodhran), Flook’s intoxicating take on Irish folk and self-penned tunes has won them fans all over the world.
Mawkin (above) hail from Essex and will be making their Priddy Folk Festival debut in 2017. Their 2015 album The Ties That Bind which included this song Shanghai Brown, made big waves, highlighting their gutsy, hard-edged folk ethic, and they won plenty of new admirers supporting Bellowhead on their farewell tour.
In 2009, Mawkin made a superb album – Awkward Recruit – with highly-rated Devonian folk singer Jim Causley and Jim will also be appearing at Priddy 2017 with his Trio. Nominated no fewer than five times for a prize at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Jim has one of those voices that instantly catches your attention.. Hear it here.
Old friends Ushti Baba will return in 2017, bringing their exhilarating brand of gypsy-folk dance with a very modern twist to the village green following a scintillating appearance in 2013 which had everyone dancing. Check out this brilliant take on Jacques Brel’s most famous song.
The duo of Jimmy Aldridge and Sid Goldsmith came together three years ago and in that time they have caused a bit of a stir with their interpretations of traditional songs and their haunting vocal harmonies. Their second album Night Hours has just been released and we are delighted to welcome them to Priddy in July.
Here’s a video highlighting their impressive vocal talent – you can see more videos on their website.
More familiar faces returning in 2017 are the Firepit Collective – not so much a band as a whole grass-roots movement! Mixing a modern take on traditional folk with a burning sense of justice the Firepits make their first appearance with us since 2013. You can see a video here.
More names will be announced soon so watch this space!