TIMETABLE AMSERLEN

EXTRA FOR 2024: FREE ENTRY TO MAGNIFICENT TREDEGAR HOUSE AND GARDENS (WORTH UP TO £11PP) IS INCLUDED WITH EVERY FESTIVAL TICKET YCHWANEGOL AR GYFER 2024: MYNEDIAD AM DDIM I DŶ TREDEGAR A’I GERDDI GODIDOG (WERTH HYD AT £11bp) GYDA PHOB TOCYN I’R ŴYL

ALL FREE EVENTS ARE IN GREEN

ALL PAID-FOR, TICKETED EVENTS ARE IN RED

Our festival of music and dance takes place in the parkland that surrounds Tredegar Park House, a National Trust gem just two minutes off Junction 28 of the M4 at Newport in South Wales. In 2024, thanks to the generosity of our wonderful hosts the National Trust, every festival ticket holder (and that means anyone who’s bought a ticket for any or all of our paid-for concerts or ceilidh or Cajun and Zydeco night) can have free access to Tredegar House itself and its glorious gardens. Full details are on the TREDEGAR HOUSE page of this website.

We have huge ticketed music concerts on each day of the festival - Friday, Saturday and Sunday - plus a ticketed Cajun and Zydeco workshop and dance on Friday and a ticketed ceilidh on Saturday. There are also dozens of FREE dance displays, open mics, workshops and music sessions plus THREE FREE music concerts, one on Friday afternoon, another on Saturday lunchtime, and a third on Sunday lunchtime (plus a FREE Irish session on the Sunday). All this, plus a farmers’ market and un for children makes the festival a wonderful family weekend.

PLAN YOUR WEEKEND: WHO’S ON WHEN

We’ve crammed in as much as possible and a few times have changed from the previous rough guide on this page, so please do double check if there’s something that has particularly taken your fancy. In particular there’s been a small change to our ticketed CAJUN & ZYDECO NIGHT on Friday. It now starts with a workshop at 7pm before moving (as seamlessly as possible!) into the dance night proper at 8pm. Also, our ticketed SUNDAY CONCERT headlined by Lindisfarne starts just a little later at 4pm. Timings for our individual dance displays will be in our printed programme available on-site. You’ll see some timings overlap, but if you have a full weekend ticket you get access to everything so you can hop in and out of stuff. Otherwise, individual event tickets are only valid for that particular event. Of course, free events are open to all (space permitting).

One important bit of housekeeping…

IF YOU’RE CAMPING OVER THE WEEKEND, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU VACATE THE SITE BY MONDAY, 11am AT THE VERY LATEST

Online ticket sales close at MIDDAY ON THE DAY OF THAT SHOW. Any remaining tickets will be sold at the festival. Physical sales on site will be CASH ONLY not card.

THURSDAY, MAY 9 .

8pm-11pm: Pre-festival open mic at Newport Folk Club .

For all those who like to come early, start the weekend here. Full details at newportfolkclub.co.uk. (NB: this event is separate from the festival and is the only event NOT included in the weekend ticket.)

FRIDAY, MAY 10 .

2.30pm-6pm(ish): FREE CONCERT .

In the Dawnsio Marquee. It will feature the brilliant duo of Wynford Jones and Geoff Cripps, and the stunning Manx pairing of Elizabeth Davidson-Blythe and Daniel Quayle. Then there’s sensational Welsh harpist and singer Bethan Nia who’ll be playing with one of Wales’s greatest fiddle virtuosos of her generation, Meg Cox. And finally, at full throttle, the astonishing Calennig. Prepare for a bit of a dance.

7pm-11pm(ish): SINGAROUND .

In the Community Centre, led by expert Ann Parsons. A relaxed and informal exchange of songs in a lovely, welcoming atmosphere.

7pm-11.15pm(ish): GRAND OPENING CONCERT .

In our Main Concert Marquee with (in order of appearance): The Luke Jackson Trio, VRï, O’Hooley and Tidow, then Rusty Shackle

7pm-8pm: CAJUN & ZYDECO WORKSHOP .

In the Marcus Music Marquee with expert caller Cliff Strover. This is to get you in the mood and into the groove for our Cajun and Zydeco dance night which immediately follows on (your Cajun & Zydeco tickets are valid for both the workshop and dance).

8pm-11pm(ish): CAJUN & ZYDECO DANCE NIGHT .

In the Marcus Music Marquee with The Whiskey River Boys - and immediately following our 7pm Cajun and Zydeco workshop. This promises to be a riot of sound and laughter as you dance the night away to the music of Louisiana. Don’t worry if you’ve never done it before - we have an expert Cajun and Zydeco caller who’ll take you through every step (until you invent some of your own). Your Cajun & Zydeco tickets are valid for both the workshop and dance

8pm-11.30pm(ish): THE OLD FRIENDS SESSION .

In the Morgan Room. Bring your voices, instruments and souls to an evening of music in the round celebrating the memory of Marcus Butler, founder member of this festival and creator of Marcus Music.

SATURDAY, MAY 11 .

10am-4pm. FARMERS’ MARKET .

In the main festival parkland. Run by Cotelydon, experts in local farmers’ markets, with loads of yummy food stalls.

10.30am-11.30am: PIPE & DRUMS WORKSHOP .

In our Dawnsio Marquee. A kaleidoscope of sound and stirring rhythms led by experts Tracy and Geraint Roberts. Don’t miss this.

10.30am-11.30am: MINI GWŶL PLANT .

In the Marcus Music Marquee. Wonderful dancing from local schools. This is where the future starts - and we’re happy to report that Wales’s finest traditions are in very safe hands.

10.30am-12noon: SONGWRITING WORKSHOP .

In the Old Laundry. Led by songwriter Phil Millichip whose glorious song If I Had A Son has become a folk club favourite across the country since it was covered by the legendary Vin Garbutt.

11am-12noon SPOONS WORKSHOP .

In the Morgan Room led by the brilliant Patty ‘Spoons’ Smith, who can turn the spoons into a cutlery cantata! Fear not, spoons will be provided (though feel free to bring your own - as long as they’re not plastic!)

11.40am-12.10pm: DAN THE HAT .

Outside the Marcus Music Marquee. Dan the Hat is possibly Britain’s greatest children’s entertainer. Look out for him too in the courtyard and in our dance marquee throughout the day.

12noon-2.30pm. HUGE FREE CONCERT .

In the main music marquee with (in order of appearance) the brilliant Rob Lear Band, the stunning Australian singer Liz Stringer, and the astonishing Joshua Burnell Band.

12.30pm. SATURDAY GRAND PARADE .

Held in the main festival field, this is the grand parade of all dance teams and their bands in costume. One of the greatest sights of all British folk dancing festivals.

1pm-5.30pm. DANCE DISPLAYS .

In the Dawnsio Marquee and the Marcus Music Marquee. Detailed timings for each team are in our printed programme available on site. Besides these venues, expect to see extra dancing just about anywhere outside as weather permits.

2.30pm-3.30pm: ‘MIDDLE-EAST & MORE’ DANCE WORKSHOP .

Up in the Morgan Room, run by the Jawahir Dancers - experts in dances from the Middle-East, Egypt, Turkey, North Africa, the Balkans, Armenia and more.

2.40pm-6.30pm(ish): FOLK CLUB PLUS JEFF JAPERS .

In the Community Centre and run jointly by the Lyceum Folk Club of Newport and Llantrisant Folk Club. We’re starting this session at 2.40pm so people can also enjoy our 12noon-2.30pm free concert in our main music marquee. The folk club session starts with a not-to-be-missed set from the multi-talented Jeff Japers and his band, then, at about 3.10pm(ish), the folk club begins.

4pm-5pm: MORRIS DANCE WORKSHOP .

Up in the Morgan Room with the experts from Isca Morris. They appear with us just days after their iconic May 1 dawn dance in Caerleon’s glorious Roman amphitheatre.

5.30pm-6.30pm: AFRICAN DANCE WORKSHOP .

In the Dawnsio Marquee, led by the astonishing members of the African Development Group. Last year this was a hugely successful workshop, so get in early.

7pm-11.30(ish): GRAND CONCERT .

In our Main Concert Marquee with (in order of appearance) our songwriting competition winner Andy Clode, then Avanc (featuring a special appearance by India Dance Wales), The James Clode Band, Jake Vaadeland and The Sturgeon River Boys, and finally The Young’Uns..

8pm-11.30(ish): CEILIDH .

In the Marcus Music Marquee. Bring your dancing shoes for an amazing night in the company of ceilidh dance band Juice and caller extraordinaire Ned Clamp.

SUNDAY, MAY 12 .

10am-4pm: FARMERS’ MARKET .

In the main festival parkland, once again with loads of yummy food stalls.

10am-11am: DUTCH DANCE PERFORMANCE & WORKSHOP .

In the Marcus Music Marquee. Led by Ralda, a dance group and folk orchestra bringing Dutch folklore to life with authentic steps and tunes from different parts of Holland.

TIMES AND VENUES TBA: DAN THE HAT .

Crowds can’t get enough of this comic genius. Stuntman, juggler, comic… Dan The Hat does it all. If you’ve never seen him before, prepare to be astonished.

11.30am: SUNDAY GRAND PARADE .

Held in the main festival field, winding to our Main Music Marquee as a prelude to The Great Basque Folk Orchestra & Dancers’ free concert, This is the grand parade of all dance teams and bands in costume. One of the greatest sights of all British folk dancing festivals.

11.30am-2.30pm: FOLK CLUB .

In the Community Centre. Run by Newport Folk Club. Accompanied and unaccompanied songs and tunes equally welcome. This session includes a special spot by acapella maestros The Laners.

12noon-1pm: HUGE FREE CONCERT: The Great Basque Folk Orchestra and Dancers .

In our main Music Marquee. We’re privileged to present this amazing collective from north-east Spain. With 57 instrumentalists and dancers, it’s the most ambitious musical event the festival has ever staged. We anticipate a big crowd, so get in early.

1.15pm-5.30pm: DANCE DISPLAYS .

In the Dawnsio Marquee and the Marcus Music Marquee. Detailed timings for each team are in our printed programme available on site. Besides these venues, expect to see dancing just about anywhere on site as weather permits.

2pm-3pm(ish): WELSH TUNES .

In the Morgan Room. Led by Pat Smith, this is an opportunity to play Welsh tunes on any instrument.

3pm-6pm(ish): IRISH SESSION .

In the Community Centre. Run by experts Bernie Kilbride and Imogen Flute, this is an Irish-themed session starring….well, anyone who wants to join in.

4pm-9.15pm(ish): GRAND CONCERT .

In our Main Concert Marquee, this is the big one with (in order of appearance) Alaw, The Eclectic Shed Experience, The Often Herd, Huw Williams and, finally, Lindisfarne.