Henley Folk - Mini Festival - Suffolk

FRI 7th AUGUST: The Orwellermen / Triptych Trio / ELLIE GOWERS

SAT 8th AUGUST: East Suffolk Morris / Tom & Angelo / Woods & Law / FILKIN'S DRIFT / FILKIN'S ENSEMBLE

Inaugural pub mini-festival, featuring the UK's finest & most exciting contemporary folk acts. With wonderful support from traditional and heritage performers. Along with exceptional, celebrated local artists and performers. All outside in our fabulous garden, with food & drink available to purchase, catering for all requirements.

Headlining Friday evening is Ellie Gowers. Releasing music since 2017, Ellie's debut album Dwelling By The Weir, was released in 2022. Exploring stories and folklore from Ellie's hometown area of Warwick. The album received national acclaim, recognition and airtime, from the likes of Radio 2, 6 Music and The Guardian newspaper, establishing Ellie as one of the most exciting emerging voices in contemporary English folk. Successfully followed by The Stars Are Ours EP and You, The Passenger EP & LP,  a new album is soon to be released. "Ellie’s new material sees her pushing into more emotionally spacious and contemporary territory, while retaining the grounded storytelling that first brought her acclaim with her debut album." A consummate and captivating solo performer, we are incredibly delighted to have Ellie with us over the weekend!

Filkin's Drift and Filkin's Ensemble close out the festival on Saturday evening. Filkin's Drift is the creation of Seth Bye and Chris Avery.

Seth is an incredibly accomplished violinist and composer, having performed in venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Cecil Sharp House and the Alexander Stadium and recently heard on BBC Radio 2, 3, 4, 6 Music and BBC World Service!

Chris is a classically trained guitarist. His performances across the UK and Europe have been praised for their “beautifully varied timbres, real virtuosity” and for being “simply mesmerising”. He has appeared on stages from Glastonbury to Shakespeare’s Globe, from BBC Radio 2’s Folk Show and Radio 3’s In Tune.

"From delicate Welsh folk-songs to traditional English dance tunes, the pair blend fiddle and guitar with their gorgeous close vocal harmonies".

Filkin's Ensemble is the expanded vision of Chris & Seth's Filkin's Drift. A 14 strong gathering, combining a string quartet, clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophone, guitars, recorder, orchestral percussion and more!. This unique spectacle promises to be a rousing and enjoyable end to proceedings. "The sheer joy and energy radiating from the stage combines with a sophisticated musicianship, Filkin’s Ensemble produces a musical experience like no other. In collaboration with singer Ellie Gowers, their distinctive style of orchestral-folk forges a new path for traditional music."

The Orwellermen kick off the festival on Friday evening! There's no better way to start proceedings than with Suffolk's fastest growing sea shanty crew, in both numbers and popularity. The Orwellermen combine stirring harmonies and infectious enthusiasm with crowd-pleasing performances, that will have you tapping your feet and singing along. Becoming part of the crew!

Friday sees Zinnia Smart of Filkin's Ensemble, bring Triptych Trio to perform, following The Orwellermen. Exceptional young musicians, exploring traditional folk music through rich harmonies, inventive arrangements with contemporary influences. A very welcome act to proceedings, beautifully tying in the connection to Filkin's performances on Saturday and the perfect way to proceed Fridays headline act of Ellie Gowers.

East Suffolk Morris kick off Saturdays proceedings! With bells ringing, sticks clashing and handkerchiefs flying, East Suffolk Morris present a joyful display of traditional English Morris dancing, celebrating a living folk tradition that has been passed down through generations. Formed in 1958!, they remain a much-loved part of East Anglia's folk heritage and are essential way to start day 2 of the festival!

Tom and Angelo follow East Suffolk Morris. Fresh from their acclaimed performance as The Garfunkels at Woodbridge Riverside Theatre, the duo bring their rich harmonies to our festival on Saturday afternoon. These two accomplished musicians put on a great engaging performance, that will see well known local and multi-talented artist, Tom Mumford, return to The Cross Keys for a well overdue performance.

Woods & Law features Charlie Law. An acclaimed local singer-songwriter, guitarist and community musician whose songs capture the people, places and experiences of everyday life and more lately parenthood. Combining rich vocals, accomplished finger-style guitar playing and a gift for storytelling. Charlie has built a strong reputation across the region through his engaging live performances and personal songwriting. Now joined by his lovely partner Lyndsey, a wonderfully talented and powerful singer, from a wonderfully talented family of musicians! This recently formed duo will definitely delight our Saturday afternoon audience!