So Tramlines is moving to Hillsborough, but fear not, the Folk Forest is staying put in Endcliffe Park and will continue bringing you your favourite Folk Forest artists, as well as some who will hopefully become your new favourites. Join them in the park on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 July. You’ll need to buy a Folk Forest wristband and they’re on sale now – £30 for adults, £15 for children aged 5-16 years and £70 for a family of 2 adults and 2 children, with under 5s going free. Keep an eye on the Facebook event for all announcements, extra details & the ticket link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1818390515126850/.
We’ve picked out some of the top billed acts playing to prepare you for the weekend…
Nubiyan Twist are a 10-piece ensemble who use a variety of instruments to blend afrobeat, jazz, hip-hop and reggae, this year they’ll be joined by Sheffield’s own afrobeat/reggae vocalist K.O.G. Last year Nubiyan Twist released their new album Dance Inna London under Wormford Records and have been performing at festivals worldwide, including Glastonbury and Soundwave, Croatia.
Soweto Kinch is an award-winning saxophonist and heralded as one of the most versatile young musicians in the British jazz and hip-hop scenes. Since graduating from Oxford University he’s picked up plenty of awards, including 2 MOBOs (2003 & 2007). He’s been working with artists in Mumbai and Johannesburg to combine hip-hop, jazz and MCing together in a unique and interesting way.
Anchorsong will be fusing the electronic sounds he creates using a synth pad and keyboard with a more classical sound, as part of his collaboration with a string quartet. He gives traditional Japanese influences a contemporary twist, pushing the boundaries of the electronic genre. This is guaranteed to be a spellbinding show.
The Sheffield Beatles Project consists of thirty of Sheffield’s finest musicians celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ White Album. The collaboration of singers, brass and strings are back this year following the success of their appearance at last year’s Folk Forest. There’ll no doubt be plenty of opportunities for a crowd sing-a-long.
Sam Amidon first picked up a fiddle at the age of three and started playing professionally when he was thirteen. He uses a banjo, guitar and fiddle with his voice to create calming melodies and powerful, rougher sounds. He’s recently released his first album of original compositions, The Following Mountain, after his four previous reworkings of traditional music.
John Smith may have a common name, but there is nothing common about his music. His guitar playing and gravelly tones have inspired thoughtful silence and rapturous applause across living-rooms, festivals and sold-out halls. His new album, Headlong, was written during an American tour, when John envisioned new audiences and new horizons; reflected in the optimistic tone of his music.
Before Breakfast are one of the Sheffield scene’s rising stars. The band describe themselves as ‘sometimes poetic, often beautiful and always honest… songs that rise up from the insecure depths of womanhood’. Their songs tackle trickier topics in a beautiful and empowering way, using a piano, cello and bass to weave strong melodies with their vocalist’s ethereal voice.
The Pictish Trail has a hidden depth of extraordinary vocals which he contrasts with a comedic approach to his music. He’s been known to include an acoustic guitar, four-piece metal band and dance beats all within the same gig. Over the past decade he’s released two albums, plenty of mini-albums, EPs and singles all alongside running Fence Records.
Words: Emily Best
