The party will start on Thursday July 3rd with headliners Jon Boden (ex-Bellowhead) & The Remnant Kings, supported by acts like The Magpies and folk-rockers The Thomas Bradley Project, plus various top quality East Midlands artists. Friday’s headliner will be legendary Fairport Convention guitarist, songwriter and USA-based folk hero Richard Thompson OBE, making his first visit to Southwell. Also on Friday, festival favourites Track Dogs make a welcome return as do Balkan ska-swing-dub outfit Mr Tea & The Minions.
In tandem with typically eclectic GTSF headliners such as Seckou Keita & The Homeland Band from Senegal and rising folk star singer-songwriter Katherine Priddy, there’ll also be a special Blues Day on Saturday July 5th with Alabama 3 Acoustic performing the Saturday afternoon concert on the Lake Stage. Globally famous for their Sopranos theme tune ‘Woke Up This Morning’, the South London roots-futurists - led by the whisky-soaked vocals of Larry Love and the soulful sounds of Zoe Devlin Love - will pay tribute to blues greats such as Howlin’ Wolf and John Lee Hooker.
Throughout Saturday the Frontier Stage will play host to a variety of artists in a blues vein concluding with internationally-acclaimed rhythm & blues band The Cadillac Kings who’ve been described by The Times as “the UK’s premier blues and roots act”. Plus there’s the cajun-meets-honky-tonk zydeco blues of Ruben Moreno from Houston Texas; Ruben and his band travel across musical genres from rock to blues to ska to swing in his bid to become “the first big Zydeco crossover artist”. Hat Fitz & Cara make a welcome return from Australia, having supported Jools Holland & his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra. Together they blend country and delta blues with Australian folk and traditional Celtic sounds.
Adding a more acoustic element to Blue Saturday there’s Ma Polaine’s Great Decline, as featured on 6Music and Cerys Matthews’ show, plus a return for the highly-acclaimed country blues guitar and vocals of Sunjay, a solo performance from Nine Below Zero’s singer Charlie Austen, a special blues set from regulars Winter Wilson and, kicking it all off from 11am, a story of the blues presentation from Rhydian Wyn & The Blue Fire. Rhydian’s band features Letitia Reuben on vocals, Colin Reed on piano, Doc Shelford on guitars, Pabio Pulizzi on bass and Eddie George on drums & percussion.
With over 60 acts appearing over the four day festival, Sunday will be headlined by high octane folk punks Skinny Lister, Barcelona world music stars El Pony Pisador, strong traditional music plus original songs and harmonies from Bristol’s Sam Kelly Trio, folk pioneers Banter, New Orleans inspired sounds from Yorkshire’s New York Brass Band and jazz swing and ragtime from Slim Panatella & The Mellow Virginians. Last but not least, another festival favourite Mike West, formerly of Truckstop Honeymoon, returns alongside Canadian Nick Broster to form Broster & West, performing across the weekend.
Other unmissable acts lining up over the GTSF weekend include The Rosie Hood Band, Simon Mayor’s Mandolinquents, Italian ragtime and country blues from Veronica Sbergia & Max De Bernardi, brilliant guitar playing from BBC Folk Award winner Sam Carter, Australian folk harmonies from We Mavericks, Quebecois sounds courtesy of Arthur Coates & Kerran Cotterell, diverse dance music from The Activators, celebrated Birmingham fiddle & guitar duo Thorpe & Morrison, honky tonk from The Bapchilds, the kaleidoscopic folk of Pisky Led, Bohemian folk pop from Australia’s Lucy Gallant, rousing alternative folk performed by Barnsley’s Common Culture, original Scots singer-songwriter Mairi Sutherland and much more.
Without doubt Gate To Southwell has become one of the most family friendly events in the UK summer calendar. In addition to high quality, international folk roots Americana and acoustic music, festival goers will enjoy excellent kids entertainment, folk dancing and ceilidhs, a food and drink festival, craft stalls, poetry, comedy and community spirit in abundance. GTSF is a not-for-profit organization run by enthusiastic and experienced volunteers; any surplus income generated is ploughed into future events.
Weekend, camping and Day tickets are now available. For full details of all the above and more artists visit: www.gtsf.uk The 18th Gate To Southwell Festival runs from July 3rd to 6th at Kirklington Lakes (NG22 8NX).