Kimpton Folk Festival
Saturday 4 July 2026
Join us in the beautiful Hertfordshire countryside for a day of amazing live music and family-friendly fun.
“One of the very best little festivals in the country.”
Join us for a pre-festival Ceilidh
FUNDRAISER - MARCH 14 2026
Join us on Saturday 14 March 2026 for a fun St. Patrick’s Day ceilidh supporting Kimpton Folk Festival. Live band Bullenbush will play, with a caller to teach the dances—no experience needed. All welcome, from beginners to experts! BUY TICKETS
Festival line-up
Get ready for Kimpton Folk Festival 2026, featuring folk-rockers Merry Hell and the "sweetest voice," Edwina Hayes. Enjoy Granny’s Attic , Culverake , Sherburn, Bartley and Sanders , and Michell, Pfeiffer and Kulesh. Plus, Honey and the Bear and a Patron’s Concert with Nancy Kerr, James Fagan, Bolt, and Geoghegan. BUY TICKETS
Tickets
Get ready to soak up the sounds of the best folk music around at Kimpton Folk Festival 2026, where good vibes and great tunes collide! BUY TICKETS
FESTIVAL LINE-UP
GRANNY’S ATTIC
Having formed as a trio when barely out of short trousers, Granny’s Attic have grown into one of most exciting and accomplished acts on the British folk scene. Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne (melodeon, concertina,), George Sansome (guitar) and Lewis Wood (violin) have carved out successful careers as solo artists, but it’s when they come together that the creative sparks really fly. Blending exquisite musicianship and soaring harmonies they breath fire into a rich blend of traditional and self-penned songs and tunes. They are widely credited with taking traditional folk music far beyond its usual parameters, reaching new audiences. Find out more
MICHELL, PFEIFFER AND KULESH
This highly acclaimed trio, brings together the considerable talents of singer-songwriters, Odette Michell, Karen Pfeiffer and Hertfordshire’s own Daria Kulesh. As well great musicianship and accomplished three-part harmonies, they offer a beguiling cross-cultural, multi-lingual, multi-instrumental twist to their performances. Odette Michell is an award-winning British multi-instrumentalists, Karen Pfeiffer grew up in Germany before moving to the UK to form an Anglo-German duo with Paul Walker, and Russian born Daria Kulesh has drawn heavily on her Eastern European roots in her remarkable music. Find out more
EDWINA HAYES
Dublin-born singer-songwriter Edwina is one of the most entertaining and engaging performers in the business, and has built a huge following in both the UK and the US. Described by the late great Nanci Griffith as having “the sweetest voice in England’ Edwina’s performances are also distinguished by her extraordinary and highly self-revelatory story-telling. She’s toured extensively with Van Morrison, Jools Holland, Loudon Wainwright and KT Tunstall and won over audiences from the Albert Hall to Nashville. Find out more
HONEY AND THE BEAR (feat: Archie Churchill-Moss)
Honey and the Bear are husband and wife duo Jon and Lucy Hart. They’ve been wowing audiences with their distinctive mix of traditional and self-penned songs since they first met at a song-writing event back in 2012. The delicately interweaving harmonies and hugely engaging songs captivate audiences wherever they play. Muli-instrumentalists Jon and Lucy were a big hit when they first appeared at Kimpton Folk Festival a few years ago and we’re delighted that this year they’ll be joined on stage by feature regular band guest Archie Churchill-Moss (diatonic button accordion), whose talent adds a dramatic and artistic flair. Find out more
CULVERAKE
Culverake are Kimpton favourite, singer-songwriter Lizzie Hardingham, alongside mandolin and melodeon player Matt Quinn and traditional singer, whistle player and uileann piper Seb Stone.
When they come together as a trio they pretty much put aside their song-writing and multi-instrumental talents and rely instead on stunning vocals and delicious harmonies to blast fresh life into a range of timeless British songs. Prepare to be blown away.
PATRON’S CONCERT – Nancy Kerr and James Fagan, introducing Bolt and Geoghegan
Kimpton Folk Festival patrons Nancy Kerry and James Fagan are, as our regular audiences are aware, two of the most talented and entertaining musicians in the business. They have played an invaluable role in our festival’s ongoing success, appearing over the years both as a duo and as half of the marvellous Melrose Quartet. This year they’ll be entertaining us with their usual rich mix of traditional and self-penned songs and tunes, but are also thrilled to be introducing an exciting new duo.
Bolt and Geoghegan are undoubtedly destined for great things. Their Instagram account sums them up very accurately: “High energy duo playing ferocious English folk music. Big sound, tiny package. Melodeon, fiddle, and voice.” They are truly amazing.
MERRY HELL
It’s party time all the way with the joyful, rousing music of folk rock band Merry Hell. Since forming in 2010, this enormously talented, energetic and often hilarious bunch of musicians from the North-West of England have become firm favourites on the folk circuit The line-up includes the Kettle brothers, John, Bob and Andrew, joined by charismatic singer Virginia Kettle, whose songwriting talents produced one of the bands most popular songs, the anthemic Bury Me Naked. The line-up is completed by keyboard player Lee Goulding, Colin Foster on bass guitar, Andy Jones on drums and fiddle-player Simon Swarbrick, nephew of the late great Dave Swarbrick of Fairport Convention. They are guaranteed to raise the roof. Find out more
SHERBURN, BARTLEY AND SANDERS
Sherburn, Bartley and Sanders have the kind of magical chemistry which only emerges when top musicians have played together for many years. Since forming as a duo back in 1993, Chris Sherburn (concertina) and Denny Bartley (vocals and guitar) have brought their unique sound to audiences across Europe and America. In 2016 they teamed up with Emily Sanders (fiddle/viola and vocals) to form this exciting trio, performing a rich mix of English and Celtic songs and tunes. Find out more
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
CONCERT ONE - The Church 11.00 - 1pm
Edwina Hayes / Sherburn, Bartley and Sanders
CONCERT TWO – Di King Stage / Memorial Hall - 13.30 to 15.45
Michell, Pfeiffer and Kulesh / Granny’s Attic
CONCERT THREE / PATRONS’ CONCERT – The Church 17.15 - 19.30
Nancy Kerr and James Fagan / Bolt and Geoghegan
CONCERT FOUR – Di King Stage / Memorial Hall - 20.00 - 23.15
Culverake / Honey and The Bear (featuring Archie Churchill-Moss) / Merry Hell
