We’ll have a fantastic range of FREE fringe events, with music, workshops, and dancing available alongside the main ticketed concerts.
DERBY MARKET HALL
This year, the Market Hall will be the “festival hub” – a place to meet up, sit, eat, drink, watch dance displays, join iun with a ceilidh, enjoy the artisan market, or just collect your tickets/wristbands (or buy them if you’ve not already done so!)
DERBY LIVE TICKET OFFICE: You’ll be able to buy weekend / day passes (or exchange your tickets for wristbands) along with individual concert tickets – subject to capacity
FOOD AND DRINK (or just a sit down…): The Market Hall is home to a range of great food traders,
ARTISANS UNCOVERED MARKET: From 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday you’ll find makers, artists and independent traders bringing handcrafted goods, unique creations and local flavours, all made with passion and purpose. Curated by the lovely folks at Derby Uncovered – See Artisans Uncovered | Derby Market Hall for more information.
DANCE DISPLAYS: We’ll have traditional dance displays from a range of teams and traditions through Saturday and Sunday – you’ll see Cotswold, North-West, Border, Rapper, Clog – and more! You’ll even have a chance to see, and have-a-go at Maypole (or Octopole, given the month!) dancing. All curated by the FOLK3D team.
CEILIDH: We’ve got a real treat for dancers this year, as the wonderful Bellamira are joining us on Saturday from 4.30pm – 6.30pm
Bellamira are a small, tight band with a big sound and an inexhaustible sense of fun.
Robyn’s squeeze-box is punchy and exuberant. Josie layers ferocious fiddle harmonies, and her singing is powerful and unaffected. Paddy channels the energy of the sea shanty in his guitar and singing. Mina’s drums lift the dancing and sparkle with atmosphere and joy.
The dances will be called by our good friend Phil Preen, who will welcome you whether you’re a seasoned dancer, or fancy giving it a go for the first time.
We’ll also have a “Have a Go” Ceilidh from 12 noon to 1pm on Saturday and Sunday. Both events will have 15 minutes of introduction, and then 45 minutes of dancing – called by Phil Preen and Sara Marshall-Rose.
SESSIONS IN THE TUDOR BAR
As usual, we’ll have music in the Tudor Bar at the Old Bell – at various times through the weekend!
There may be someone leading a particular session, or perhaps you want to start one yourself – either way, you’re very welcome to join in and play, or sit and listen! The sessions that are being hosted by particular musicians or clubs are listed below, and they will be leading those, and encouraging you to join in… If there’s not a “hosted session” taking place, the Tudor Bar is perfect for starting your own, or relaxing with a drink and a roaring fire!
Saturday 12:00 – 13:00 – led by Belper Folk Club
Sunday 13:15 – 14:45 – led by Burton Folk Club
MUSIC IN MR SHAW’S HOUSE (Sadlergate)
A new venue for 2026 – Mr Shaw’s House is a cool independent bar and venue (and great supporter of Derby’s events)
FRIDAY
from 19:00 : Ida The Young (an indie folk/alt rock band from Czech Republic. (this is a ticketed event in partnership with Mr Shaw’s House. Tickets available from Skiddle Website
SATURDAY
13:45 – 14:25 : Mark Kerrison
16:00 – 16:45 : Rosie Faith
17:30 – 19:30 : Burton Folk Club present: Rossignol, Tess Hartley, Andy Castle, Liz Wall, Chris Payne – all introduced by Geoff Noble.
SUNDAY
12:00 – 12:45 : Rob Stamper runs a poetry workshop, to create a Derby Folk Festival Poem (which will be read out at the final concert!)
13:15 – 14:00 : Matt McGuinness, with John Kemp
14:30 – 15:15 : Poke O’Swedgers
15:30 – 16:15 : JP Punter
DERBY SONG MAKER COMPETITION
Derby Song Maker competition, hosted by FOLK3D, brings new unaccompanied songs and songwriters to the stage.
You can find out all about it, and download an entry form from the Song Maker Competition page
It takes place in Derby Museums’ Coffee House on Sunday from 1.45pm to 3.15pm
FREE CEILIDHS
See The Market Hall info…
WORKSHOPS AND MORE
There’s the chance to help write a festival poem; make some festival flyer flowers; have a go at Ceilidh Dancing; have a go at Morris Dancing; join in with a music session… lots to come and join in with!
FREE FRINGE SCHEDULE
FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS
We’re very lucky to have the support, and input, from a number of organisations…
Bob On Arts
The trading name for Bob Rushton – working across a range of arts events and activities across the country. Leading on Derby Folk Festival, having being joint festival director with Mick Peat for many years.
Visit their website: Bob On Arts
Cathedral Quarter Derby
We have great support from the whole team at Cathedral Quarter Derby. They help us every year through sponsorship, social media, event assistance, ranger assistance, and encouragement
Visit their website: Cathedral Quarter Derby
Derby LIVE / Derby City Council
Having begun as a “Derby LIVE” event (when Bob worked there full time), the festival operated as part of the year-round programme of events – moving to a marquee after the Assembly Rooms fire. As things changed, the festival no longer fitted that model of delivery, but, the value that the event brings to the city centre in terms of economic investment and vibrancy continue. Because of that, the teams at Derby LIVE, and Derby City Council have continued to give terrific support to the festival with staff and equipment, marketing assistance, and funding leverage! Thank you all.
Visit their website: Derby LIVE
Folk 3D
Dance curators, ceilidh organisers, flyer-flower makers – and so much more… they’re wonderful people all round. They get involved with many aspects of the festival, and in events such as Derby’s St George’s Celebrations.
This year, they are looking after the amazing Flyer Flowers again, curating the Dance sides, and also running the Derby Song Maker Competition…
You can find more details about how to get involved with this on the Song Maker Competition page
Visit their website: Folk 3D
Furthest From The Sea
Our great friends, and supporters of many artistic adventures in the city, are once again going to be looking after a stage – this year on the Waterfall site, adjacent the Market Place. They’ll have music, spoken word and more, as well as being the location for many dance spots. Look out for lots of things that they get involved in, throughout the year, and show them some love!
Visit their website: furthestfromthesea.co.uk
RnR Magazine
RnR (previously publishing as Rock’n’Reel and R2) is an eclectic music magazine that, since 1988, has covered a broad base of music, from the mainstream to the fringes of roots, rock, folk, singer-songwriter, blues, world, country and beyond. They are an independently-run publication relying upon a small and enthusiastic, hard-working team striving to alert you to some of the great sounds that may otherwise slip through the cracks and escape your attention.
Put simply, it’s a wonderful read, run by wonderful people.
Thank you for all of your support as our Media Sponsor x
Visit their website: RnR Magazine
