Bridport Folk Festival
Venue: Multi
Town: Bridport
Date: 24th-26th July 2025
Website: https://www.bridportfolkfestival.com/
Bridport used to be a regular stomping ground back in the day. I rediscovered it through Bridport Folk Festival again last year and back again this year. Bridport Folk Festival is what I would call a classic town festival. Multiple opportunities to engage as both a local and a visitor.
As well as the usual mixes of music stages, some three, some paid for, there are numerous locations around the town for morris sides to dance, a space for spoken word, storytelling being a big part of the local tradition, as well as pub sessions and ceilidh opportunities. (If you needed a quick break from the folk, the local arts centre had an exhibition of punk photography running).
The Dagger Stage, named after the Bridport Dagger, a local term for the hangman's noose, was my first port of call. In the delightfully named Bucky Doo Square, it's where the music kicks off on the Friday , with mainly local acts. Every seat is full and there appears to be money going into the charity bucket, raising money for Montjoy School and the Rotary. Acts get roughly half an hour to perform so time to put together a pretty decent set.
For the Friday afternoon, the Dagger Stage is pretty much the hub of the festival, but that changes come the evening with the big marquee and real ale bar opening in Millennium Green and the Town Hall, a venue I've not been to before, both playing paid for concerts.
I decide to break a habit of bouncing between festival sites and opt to stay at the Town Hall for the entire concert. The evening starts with St Fian, a band that are new to me, I'm aware of the name and that they are a West Country duo, but not heard anything from them until this point. They are pretty early in their development, but it's easy to see why they have been making waves. Voice and guitar, introducing more self-penned material into a set that includes some classic folk covers they have a chemistry that grabs your attention and which should propel them forward.
The Town Hall is a Georgian masterpiece, ornate and with great, natural acoustics, but the stage is tiny. I've seen tonight's headliners, True Foxes, several times this year, but pretty much all on bigger stages. Amie & Chloe adjusted to the setting brilliantly, riding on the back of the second album "Just A Woman" they have been establishing themselves as one of the leading lights in the next generation of artists. The set was tailored beautifully, flowing movement was replaced with more interaction and more intimacy perfect for the surroundings and hugely appreciated by the audience.
There was time to nip across to the Millennium Green and catch the end of the concert over there, to catch the end of the set from Aiden as well as the whole of Polly Morris; set, whilst enjoying one of the many real ales available from local breweries. Polly was bang on form, funny for the most part, moving when the song requires it, a great way to end the evening.
Saturday is market day in Bridport and the sense of bustle is definitely added to in the morning by the various Morris sides being dispatched around the down to dance. Pretty much all the major Morris, styles are represented, rapper, border, molly. Cotswold as well as a more Dorset, rope Morris and a not Morris and a definitely not Morris, Appalachian side. They would be found sharing their energy around the town all day.
One of the things I like about festivals are the chance discoveries, but I wasn't expecting to make one at 10:30 in the morning when I chanced on Fieldcaps opening Colmers Stage, named after the iconic hill just outside Bridport. Fieldcaps are another duo just starting to make a name for themselves, though they need to improve their online presence. They have an excellent sound that borders on alt.folk and absolutely fantastic harmonies, well worth keeping an eye on.
More formally there are opportunities at New Shoots, an introducing gig at the Town Hall, which also includes a panel of bookers for other clubs and festivals in the area as well as an opportunity to be one of the acts on a bigger stage next year. I have to say that the standard was incredibly high with three very different acts taking to the small stage.
As a four piece it was tight getting openers Wyrmwood on the stage, fortunately as first act they had also sussed the acoustics in the hall and decided to perform unplugged. As well as being exclusively instrumental they were the most traditional of the three acts. They certainly knew their way around their instruments, sounded vital and fresh and feel like they can get people on their feet.
James Murray is a fiddle singer and was a last minute replacement. Whilst his set was only three songs, it was enough to show that here was a genuine talent, two locally sourced tunes, one a murder ballad, one a love song, followed by an Appalachian murder balled really set the style. The final song immediately had me making comparisons to Nick Cave with a darkness in the voice that only adds to the atmosphere, looking forward to hearing more from James Murray.
Last up were Wyrd Kin, a brother and sister duo from Devon and the ultimate winners of the contest, though I'm sure all three acts will get bookings. Having struggled to get a harmonium on stage, as well as more conventional folk instruments, they proceeded to give a set that brought in a range of musical and vocal textures and tempos that felt like the most complete set. The songs were well worked and delivered with passion.
The Ropemakers was not just a suitable place for lunch and a crafty pint, it was also where The Murphy's Lore Trio were leading an extended pub session, including, I noticed a certain James Murray from earlier. I also noticed that whilst not part of the official festival bluegrass duo Green Tree would be playing in the evening. The session wad well attended and a number of styles were adopted before I headed off to the Millennium Green to catch a few acts there.
During the day the Millenium Green rotates between two stages set at 90 degrees to each other, whist one is performing, the other is preparing meaning there is pretty much always something going on and the positioning of the real ale bar and food stall makes the whole area self sufficient there is even a small area set aside if you want to get up and dance the fandango. I won't do a full rundown of the artists that played, but will name Atticus The Ocean as representative of the solo artists and Moonfleet The Band and No Strings attached for the bands.
The evening found me back at the Town Hall with my resolve to stay at one venue slightly undermined by a short foray down to the Ropemakers to catch the opening few songs of Green Tree, the bluegrass trio mentioned earlier. It was a set that hit the word energy from the get go. Guitar, mandolin and vocal feeling exactly the right vibe for a sweltering bar in July.
Having been a member of Tartan Amoebas, Bob Carter is now very much a virtuoso guitarist performing solo instrumentals across the acoustic spectrum, a great way to ease into the evening. World music duo Cobra Café come next adding flute to the guitar vibe and creating some wonderful soundscapes that take you a bit out of yourself and to far away places.
Before the main act, there's the unexpected appearance of James Murray again, squeezed in to introduce him to a new audience. If the stage was tight for Wyrmwood, tonight's headliners Clementine Lovell Band, are being shoehorned I, getting drumkit, accordion and keyboard on stage plus a bass player and Marion Fleetwood on fiddle.
It looks like if one of the band breathes too hard, one of the band members at the other end is going to fall off stage the other end. Some how it all works and apart from a small glitch, where someone knocked something, it all sounded excellent. Clementine Lovell has got an incredible voice that just seems to work incredibly well with an accordion, but has a sound that is now fully rounded out with and band to give her music an extra layer or three.
Despite having recently releasing her second album, she also gave us a new song that shows she is constantly progressing with her musical ideas, this was a great way to round off the evening and my Bridport Folk Festival.
Neil King - Words & Pics
Additional pictures from the festival can be found here
Bridport Folk FestivalBridport used to be a regular stomping ground back in the day. I rediscovered it through Bridport Folk Festival again last year and back again this year. Bridport Folk Festival is what I would call a classic town festival. Multiple opportunities to engage as both a local and a visitor.
As well as the usual mixes of music stages, some three, some paid for, there are numerous locations around the town for morris sides to dance, a space for spoken word, storytelling being a big part of the local tradition, as well as pub sessions and ceilidh opportunities. (If you needed a quick break from the folk, the local arts centre had an exhibition of punk photography running).
The Dagger Stage, named after the Bridport Dagger, a local term for the hangman's noose, was my first port of call. In the delightfully named Bucky Doo Square, it's where the music kicks off on the Friday , with mainly local acts. Every seat is full and there appears to be money going into the charity bucket, raising money for Montjoy School and the Rotary. Acts get roughly half an hour to perform so time to put together a pretty decent set.
For the Friday afternoon, the Dagger Stage is pretty much the hub of the festival, but that changes come the evening with the big marquee and real ale bar opening in Millennium Green and the Town Hall, a venue I've not been to before, both playing paid for concerts.
I decide to break a habit of bouncing between festival sites and opt to stay at the Town Hall for the entire concert. The evening starts with St Fian, a band that are new to me, I'm aware of the name and that they are a West Country duo, but not heard anything from them until this point. They are pretty early in their development, but it's easy to see why they have been making waves. Voice and guitar, introducing more self-penned material into a set that includes some classic folk covers they have a chemistry that grabs your attention and which should propel them forward.
The Town Hall is a Georgian masterpiece, ornate and with great, natural acoustics, but the stage is tiny. I've seen tonight's headliners, True Foxes, several times this year, but pretty much all on bigger stages. Amie & Chloe adjusted to the setting brilliantly, riding on the back of the second album "Just A Woman" they have been establishing themselves as one of the leading lights in the next generation of artists. The set was tailored beautifully, flowing movement was replaced with more interaction and more intimacy perfect for the surroundings and hugely appreciated by the audience.
There was time to nip across to the Millennium Green and catch the end of the concert over there, to catch the end of the set from Aiden as well as the whole of Polly Morris; set, whilst enjoying one of the many real ales available from local breweries. Polly was bang on form, funny for the most part, moving when the song requires it, a great way to end the evening.
Saturday is market day in Bridport and the sense of bustle is definitely added to in the morning by the various Morris sides being dispatched around the down to dance. Pretty much all the major Morris, styles are represented, rapper, border, molly. Cotswold as well as a more Dorset, rope Morris and a not Morris and a definitely not Morris, Appalachian side. They would be found sharing their energy around the town all day.
One of the things I like about festivals are the chance discoveries, but I wasn't expecting to make one at 10:30 in the morning when I chanced on Fieldcaps opening Colmers Stage, named after the iconic hill just outside Bridport. Fieldcaps are another duo just starting to make a name for themselves, though they need to improve their online presence. They have an excellent sound that borders on alt.folk and absolutely fantastic harmonies, well worth keeping an eye on.
More formally there are opportunities at New Shoots, an introducing gig at the Town Hall, which also includes a panel of bookers for other clubs and festivals in the area as well as an opportunity to be one of the acts on a bigger stage next year. I have to say that the standard was incredibly high with three very different acts taking to the small stage.
As a four piece it was tight getting openers Wyrmwood on the stage, fortunately as first act they had also sussed the acoustics in the hall and decided to perform unplugged. As well as being exclusively instrumental they were the most traditional of the three acts. They certainly knew their way around their instruments, sounded vital and fresh and feel like they can get people on their feet.
James Murray is a fiddle singer and was a last minute replacement. Whilst his set was only three songs, it was enough to show that here was a genuine talent, two locally sourced tunes, one a murder ballad, one a love song, followed by an Appalachian murder balled really set the style. The final song immediately had me making comparisons to Nick Cave with a darkness in the voice that only adds to the atmosphere, looking forward to hearing more from James Murray.
Last up were Wyrd Kin, a brother and sister duo from Devon and the ultimate winners of the contest, though I'm sure all three acts will get bookings. Having struggled to get a harmonium on stage, as well as more conventional folk instruments, they proceeded to give a set that brought in a range of musical and vocal textures and tempos that felt like the most complete set. The songs were well worked and delivered with passion.
The Ropemakers was not just a suitable place for lunch and a crafty pint, it was also where The Murphy's Lore Trio were leading an extended pub session, including, I noticed a certain James Murray from earlier. I also noticed that whilst not part of the official festival bluegrass duo Green Tree would be playing in the evening. The session wad well attended and a number of styles were adopted before I headed off to the Millennium Green to catch a few acts there.
During the day the Millenium Green rotates between two stages set at 90 degrees to each other, whist one is performing, the other is preparing meaning there is pretty much always something going on and the positioning of the real ale bar and food stall makes the whole area self sufficient there is even a small area set aside if you want to get up and dance the fandango. I won't do a full rundown of the artists that played, but will name Atticus The Ocean as representative of the solo artists and Moonfleet The Band and No Strings attached for the bands.
The evening found me back at the Town Hall with my resolve to stay at one venue slightly undermined by a short foray down to the Ropemakers to catch the opening few songs of Green Tree, the bluegrass trio mentioned earlier. It was a set that hit the word energy from the get go. Guitar, mandolin and vocal feeling exactly the right vibe for a sweltering bar in July.
Having been a member of Tartan Amoebas, Bob Carter is now very much a virtuoso guitarist performing solo instrumentals across the acoustic spectrum, a great way to ease into the evening. World music duo Cobra Café come next adding flute to the guitar vibe and creating some wonderful soundscapes that take you a bit out of yourself and to far away places.
Before the main act, there's the unexpected appearance of James Murray again, squeezed in to introduce him to a new audience. If the stage was tight for Wyrmwood, tonight's headliners Clementine Lovell Band, are being shoehorned I, getting drumkit, accordion and keyboard on stage plus a bass player and Marion Fleetwood on fiddle.
It looks like if one of the band breathes too hard, one of the band members at the other end is going to fall off stage the other end. Some how it all works and apart from a small glitch, where someone knocked something, it all sounded excellent. Clementine Lovell has got an incredible voice that just seems to work incredibly well with an accordion, but has a sound that is now fully rounded out with and band to give her music an extra layer or three.
Despite having recently releasing her second album, she also gave us a new song that shows she is constantly progressing with her musical ideas, this was a great way to round off the evening and my Bridport Folk Festival.
Neil King - Words & Pics
Additional pictures from the festival can be found here
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