Folk, world, blues, jazz and classical music
Fancy spending some quality time with some quality musicians?
Enjoy music that spans geography, history and genres? Then here's a selection of very good festivals offering world, folk, blues, jazz and classical music styles for discerning listeners.
Womad
Charlton Park, Malmesbury, Wiltshire, 24-26 July
Womad was set up by Peter Gabriel 27 years ago and offers everything from drum and bass to Cuban divas. This year’s lineup includes Ethiopia's biggest music names, the Ethiopiques. Also playing this year will be Nigeria's Afro beat singer/songwriter Nneka, another thrilling sound from Ethiopia, Dub Colossus, and two of Mali's most talented musicians, Oumou Sangare and Rokia Traoré.
More about Womad
Alnwick International Music Festival
Alnwick, Northumberland, 1-8 August
Groups from around the world perform in national costumes and play instruments from their country. Set against the backdrop of ancient Northumberland market place the event is colourful and spectacular.
More about Alnwick International Music Festival
Teignmouth Folk Festival
Teignmouth, Devon, 19-21 June
The festival has a real international line up this year with a Danish/Swedish trio
Habaddám, three extremely talented young Scandinavian musicians who were winners of the
Danish Music Award 2008. Fans of Celtic and Scandinavian dance music will love Habaddám.
More about Teignmouth Folk Festival
Wychwood
Cheltenham Racecourse, Gloucestershire, 29-31 May
Wychwood has been described as a small-scale Glastonbury and has won the best family festival award three years since its inception in 2005. In addition to the four music stages there is a children's literature festival, comedy and hundreds of workshops.
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Cambridge Folk Festival
Cherry Hinton Hall, Cambridge, 30 July-2 August
The Cambridge Folk Festival is renowned for its eclectic mix of music and a wide definition of what might be considered folk. The best traditional folk artists from the UK and Ireland rub shoulders with more contemporary acts, the finest American country, blues and roots artists, acclaimed singer songwriters and even the odd pop star. One of the longest running and most famous folk festivals in the world, this festival is usually held on the last weekend of July.
More about Cambridge Folk Festival
Dartmoor Folk Festival
Okehampton, Devon 7-9 August
One of the highlights in West Devon each summer is the Dartmoor Folk Festival, which is centred on the village of South Zeal. It attracts people from far and near, who meet up to hear top artists from the folk world performing alongside some of the best local entertainers.
More about Dartmoor Folk Festival
The Proms
London, 17 July-12 September
The BBC Proms is an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts held annually in Central London, predominantly in the Royal Albert Hall in South Kensington. Founded over 100 years ago, each season now consists of over 70 concerts in the Albert Hall, a series of eight chamber concerts, additional locations on the Last Night and associated educational and children's events. It is the biggest classical music festival in the world.
More about BBC Proms
Totnes Festival
Totnes, Devon, 4-13 September
This year’s Festival will introduce a brand new opening event to kick things off in style, the Busking Competition will be back, as will the torch lit procession and fireworks, and the Torbay Symphony Orchestra will be performing Beethoven’s 9th and popular choir ‘Glorious Chorus’. The Dartington Morris Men will be hosting the Morris Ring: a gathering of hundreds of dancers who will perform in and around Totnes during the opening weekend.
More about Totnes Festival
Nantwich Jazz, Blues & Music Festival
Nantwich, Cheshire, April (catch it next year)
Jazz and blues concerts are organised at the main venues of Nantwich Civic Hall and The Crown Hotel, as well as various free concerts in pubs and museums around the South Cheshire town. The festival usually runs from mid-April.
More about Nantwich Jazz, Blues and Music Festival
Other festivals in England
