From 12 – 14 January, Blackpool will be taken over by some of the finest purveyors of British Folk, when The UK West Coast Folk Festival 2024 comes to town. The festival will feature sets by the incredible Eddi Reader, Tom Robinson Band, Cara Dillon, The Webb Sisters, Kiki Dee & Carmelo Luggeri, Dean Friedman and many more.
In tribute to the legacy of British Folk Rock, the weekend will be topped off by a rare headline set from the legendary guitarist Richard Thompson.
Holding a coveted spot in Rolling Stone’s “Greatest Guitarists of All Time”, Thompson counts Lifetime Achievement Awards from both the Americana Music Association and the BBC amongst his many accolades. Having performed at Glastonbury earlier this year, this will be a rare appearance from an icon of British Folk Rock; a show not to be missed.
“The finest rock songwriter after Dylan, and the best electric guitarist since Hendrix.”
Los Angeles Times
Three time winners of Scotland’s “Live Act of the Year” Award, Skerryvore are also set to appear,having evolved from their humble beginnings into one of the country’s leading forces in a thriving live music scene.
Celebrating over 40 years in the business – and having developed into one of popular music’s most thrilling and affecting performers – Eddi Reader has joined the lineup too, fresh from an extensive UK tour with Jools Holland’s Rhythm & Blues Orchestra.
She’ll be joined by the equally storied Tom Robinson Band, alongside newer and emerging talent of the genre, in the form of BBC Folk Singer of the Year, Bella Hardy, as well as Joshua Burnell and Honey & The Bear.
Since the 1800s, Blackpool has been Britain’s most popular resort destination. The seaside town has its very own creative sub-culture that’s waiting to inspire, with the world-famous spectacular Blackpool Illuminations light show, star-studded performances at The Grand Theatre and Winter Gardens, as well as a myriad of events, festivals and galleries that will appeal to “the arts” aficionados and curious first-timers alike.
Full lineup and tickets can be found here.
3 Day Festival tickets are available for £167, with a teenage ticket available for £77. (13-17 year olds must be accompanied by an adult).
Exclusive options for hotel accommodation across the weekend can be found here – with the nearest hotel just a 200-metre walk from The Winter Gardens.
