Past Festivals

The festival has run since 1972, and we’re working on collating a full line-up over the years. In the meantime, here’s a selection of adverts promoting recent festivals, showing the range and quality of music we have booked: 

2023: Festival Number 50!

Three nights of pure magic in the town hall — Gigspanner Big Band, Kinnaris Quintet and Seth Lakeman (with Benji Kirkpatrick and Alex Hart), with support from Geoff Lakeman and Rob Merch, Our Atlantic Roots and Windjammer. Two intimate shows at the Betjeman Centre with Sarah McQuaid and Teyr, plus Chris Ostler and Cat Florence.

And such a variety of music at the FAR Stage and Shanty St — including River Blue, Humm, My Friend John, Mitzi Irish, Barry Hunt, Du Glas, Nicole Tesseyman, Mark Richards, Annown, Detta Kensie, Toby Webb, James Dixon, The Stowes, Figurehead, Gary Causland, Kana and Mandy Woods.

Dancing from Wreckers, Tatters and Tywardreath, and the return of in-pub sessions in the Ship, Swan and Social Club.

Plus workshops in the Cornish language  and improvising on trad tunes.

And a tribute to the late folk legend John ‘The Fish’ Langford from his many friends.

Click here for a line-up of who played when, and here for a low-res version of the programme.  

2022: After three attempts, the pandemic is over! Time for the Full Festival again!

Dougie Maclean, O’Hooley & Tidow, Merry Hell, Granny’s Attic, Angeline Morrison, Mike Silver, Du Glas, Fly Yeti Fly, Winter Wilson, Handpicked, Isyla, Steve Winchester, plus plethora of regional acts on FAR Stage and in Shanty St. Hurray!

2021: Outdoor-only festival due to Covid

Rising covid levels over the summer forced us to abandon anything indoors, so we ran a reduced festival with just the FAR Stage and Shanty St. It was Cornish songwriter and bard Harry Glasson’s 70th birthday year, so we celebrated with him and ‘Glassonbury’. As the first party that was not a work event, everyone had a ball!

2020: No festival due to Covid!

2019: The Unthanks, Steve Knightley, Midnight Skyracer, Granny's Attic...

Cornwall Folk Festival Line-up 2019

2018: Gretchen Peters, Eddi Reader, Roberts & Lakeman; Sam Kelly & Lost Boys ...

Cornwall Folk Festival Line-up 2018

2017: Dougie Maclean, Cara Dillon, Dosca, Dalla, Three Daft Monkeys, Jim Causley ...

Cornwall Folk Festival Line-up 2017

2016: Seth Lakeman, Martin Simpson, Rory McLeod & Familiar Strangers...

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Note: we originally had Ralph McTell as the headliner, but he had to pull out at the last minute due to a hand injury. Seth was a fabulous replacement!