Shrewsbury Folk Festival has released its second wave of artists for this August’s event including Canadian singer-songwriter Martha Wainwright and a special focus on Scottish music.
Wainwright, who is celebrating the 20th anniversary of her eponymous first studio album in 2025, will make her Shrewsbury debut as will Cajun Roosters, Kezia Gill, Mad Dog Mcrea, Morganway, Naragonia Quartet (Belgium), Rainbow Girls (USA) and Tin Giants with The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican returning by popular demand.
The festival has also joined forces with Showcase Scotland Expo to programme 15 established and developing musicians and bands across four stages across the August Bank Holiday weekend (22 – 25).
Emerging artists were invited to apply to play to help them gain exposure to the English market and will sit on the bill alongside other more established Scottish names. The artists from Scotland are: Abigail Pryde, Arthur Coates and Kerran Cotterell, Awkward Family Portraits, The Ayoub Sisters, Blazin’ Fiddles, Dougie MacLean, Firelight Trio, Hannah Rarity, Heron Valley, Kim Carnie, Malin Lewis, Project Smok and Sarah Jane Scouten. Already announced from north of the border are The Laurettes and Skerryvore.
Shrewsbury’s 2025 dance line-up includes a show from Demon Barbers, which will be celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, a Folk Disco DJ set from David Eagle (The Young’uns), ceilidhs with Alistair Anderson, Frog on a Bike, GloryStrokes, Lasair, National Youth Folk Ensemble, Oysterband, PolkaWorks and Queer Folk, contra dance with Hoik! and Eurodances with Emily & The Simons, Naragonia Quartet and Ross Grant & Hartwin Dhoore.
Street entertainer Goldie Fiasco will bring her Vegas Show to the festival for the first time as part of its family friendly offering, which includes dedicated festivals for children and teenagers. There is also more than 100 hours of programmed workshops, sessions and activities from music, dance, crafts, yoga and more.
Director of the award-winning festival, Sandra Surtees, said: “Our latest line-up release demonstrates our commitment to giving our audience an incredible choice of music every day and on every stage.“With music from well-known names to emerging artists and genres from folk to Americana and world music, there is genuinely something for everyone to enjoy or discover.
“Scottish music has always been popular with our festivalgoers and we’re very pleased to be able to give a platform to some of the amazing music the country has to offer through the Showcase Scotland Expo.”
She added: “Our diverse dance line-up will be another highlight of the festival and it’s easy to see why the dance tent is always buzzing from morning ‘til night.”
Lisa Whytock, Executive Producer of Showcase Scotland Expo, said: “It’s brilliant to be teaming up with Shrewsbury Folk Festival for 2025 as it has long been a favourite festival for many Scottish artists.
“Following on from our focus at the Cambridge Folk Festival last year and the brilliantly programmed Scotland Unwrapped at Kings Place in London throughout 2024, we are really excited to be partnering with Shrewsbury as part of our aims to introduce new artists to audiences in England.”
Day and weekend tickets are on sale at www.shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk, starting from just £47 with a monthly payment plan available.
