‘No fancy stage, just great local talent’: Folk festival returns after five-year absence

ROOTSY: A session in the Minerva pub

By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor

Hull Folk and Maritime Festival is set to make a long-awaited return this weekend after a five-year absence.

The event, taking place around the Humber Street and pier area on August 23 to 25, will bring top local folk and roots performers, along with a celebration of traditional sea songs and shanties, back to the north bank of the Humber.

Festival organiser Mark Pollard said the event had come up against numerous insurmountable challenges in recent years.

ATMOSPHERE: Folk fans outside the Minerva

He said: “We’ve had a few rough years since our last event in 2019. The festival fell victim to Covid in 2020 and 2021, and in 2022 we were railroaded into cancelling due to the Queen’s death. Last year, we just got sick of coming up against obstacles, and the will had dissipated for many of the organisers.

“But the old organising gang were roused again a few months ago, and here we are now, on the cusp of having it ready to go for 2024.”

This year’s festival, while modest in its approach, promises a line-up brimming with local talent, as well as music sessions and workshops.

Mark said: “As usual, due to the perennial scratting around for funding, it’s a late promo push for this year’s festival. There’s no big fancy stage, and the line-up is comprised of mostly local performers rather than bringing in ‘name’ acts from further afield, which cost us a lot more to book.

“However, every single one of these acts is worthy of your attention. We also really want everyone to show their appreciation for the fact that they are all performing for fees far below what they would ordinarily play for – and deserve – but they all understood the situation we were in, and we are of one mind in the belief that having a festival is the most important thing.”

In keeping with tradition, the Folk in Hull charity, which organises the Hull Folk and Maritime Festival, will not profit from the event, maintaining its status as a free-access, non-profit festival.

TALENT: Edwina Hayes, who will be appearing on the main stage

Mark said: “Despite some outside pressures, we want it to remain a free-access, non-profit event, rather than charge people to attend, and long may that continue. It does seem to get more and more difficult to achieve this every year though, and we might have to update our approach next year while still keeping it free access.”

This year’s festival holds special significance as it marks the first opportunity to honour the memory of two much-loved stalwarts of the folk and maritime scene, Mick McGarry and Dan Thomas, who were integral to the festival’s success over the years.

“We are absolutely delighted that we will finally be able to honour the contributions they made to our event, and we are very proud to have the two main performance areas named in their honour,” Mark said.

AUTHENTIC: Main stage act Hillbilly Troupe

The organisers are calling on the community to support the festival by spreading the word, sharing the festival website, and encouraging friends and family to attend.

Mark said: “Please, please, please help us out by spreading the word and sharing the festival website on your pages, and encouraging people to come along to have a look, a listen, and a drink, hopefully in the sunshine. It’s always a fabulous couple of days out.”

For more information, visit the festival website: hullfolkmaritime.org.