Bromsgrove Folk Festival – Bromsgrove, England 2026
Overview
Bromsgrove Folk Festival is a cherished, intimate celebration of folk, roots, and acoustic music in the heart of Worcestershire’s market town of Bromsgrove, drawing hundreds of enthusiasts for a long weekend of heartfelt performances, singarounds, and workshops that foster a “small and friendly” spirit amid the town’s medieval High Street and rolling countryside. Organized by the local Bromsgrove Folk Club since 1990, this not-for-profit event has become a beacon for the West Midlands folk scene, blending established artists with emerging talents in a 350-seat marquee for “up close and personal” concerts, complemented by a 120-seater for even more intimate sets, all while highlighting community through ukulele and choir workshops; for 2026, building on its 36th edition’s success (July 17-20, 2025), anticipate a return to its mid-July timing, fostering an inclusive haven of melody and merriment in a setting where the town’s cobbled charm harmonizes with every reel.
What sets Bromsgrove Folk apart is its unpretentious communal pulse—volunteer-driven with a focus on accessibility through on-site camping and no-fee singarounds, it nurtures a space where strangers join tunes in the pub bar or sway to buskers amid the marquee’s glow, honoring its 35-year legacy with a festival that champions local accessibility and joy; as a beacon of rural creativity, it’s a ritual that celebrates folk’s timeless power to connect in England’s woven heart.
Event Highlights
- Main activities or performances: A lineup of 10-15 folk, roots, and acoustic acts across the main 350-seat marquee and 120-seater intimate space, featuring concerts, ceilidhs, and open mics; past editions showcased artists like Blackbeard’s Tea Party, Colum Sands, and Hat Fitz and Cara, with 2026 announcements pending but expected to continue the eclectic mix in daily waves from Thursday openers to Sunday closures, program-guided for seamless town-center hopping.
- Special traditions or features: Annual Ukulele Workshop (BUMS) and Festival Choir (BOTOMS) highlighting community participation; volunteer-driven with camping bundles (£30/~$39 USD for tents, £52/~$68 USD for caravans); accessibility through family-friendly sessions and pub bar storytelling; ties into Bromsgrove’s market-town heritage with gigs amid the High Street’s medieval walls, blending music with the area’s cider orchards and canal-side charm.
- Unique attractions for visitors: The marquees’ “up close” acoustics for personal concerts; family-friendly with children’s workshops and choir sessions; the festival’s compact town layout fosters serendipity, from pub busks to market picnics, in a setting as welcoming as its Worcestershire warmth.
Why attend
Bromsgrove Folk Festival is a harmonious hug from Worcestershire’s market soul, where fiddles fret over cobbled lanes and voices rise like the Rea Brook’s murmur, offering a festival that’s less spectacle and more town-wide serenade—perfect for folk families craving accessibility through camping bundles, far from festival frenzy. Its 35-year legacy of volunteer passion turns the marquee into a canvas where Colum Sands’ strums meet Hat Fitz’s blues in a whirl of sound and soul, fostering a space where locals and wanderers tune as one amid market charm and meadow brews.
Beyond the bands, it’s a catalyst for communal kinship: kids joining choir sessions in the 120-seater, strangers circling for impromptu reels in the pub bar, and the quiet thrill of a Sunday singaround that blurs stage and street; as a not-for-profit rite of resilience, attending sustains a Bromsgrove legacy, leaving you recharged, with a program full of scribbled setlists, and humming harmonies on the homeward towpath—ideal for rediscovering music’s buoyant power to gather, groove, and glow in England’s woven wonder.
Date & Duration
Dates: July 16 – July 19, 2026, Duration: 4 days
Venue / Location
- Primary Venue: 350-seat marquee for main concerts
- Additional Locations: 120-seater marquee for intimate sets, Central Stores for camping, pub bar for sessions; all within Bromsgrove town center; no additional off-site
- Main Google location address: Central Stores, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B60 1DW, United Kingdom
Ticket Information
- Tickets: Online via bromsgrovefolkclub.co.uk (no admin fees); full weekend £54 (~$70 USD); individual concerts from £18 (~$23 USD); camping bundles £30 tents (~$39 USD), £52 caravans (~$68 USD)
- Admission: Paid; all-ages with some adult content; under-16s with adult
- Special seating or VIP options: No formal VIP; accessibility through email for needs (e.g., Blue Badge seating); marquees wheelchair-friendly
- Minimum and maximum ticket price range: Minimum £18 (~$23 USD, single concert); Maximum £106 (£54 + £52 camping, ~$138 USD)
Booking with Euro Travelo
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Contact Information
- Email: info@bromsgrovefolkclub.co.uk (general inquiries, tickets)
- Phone: 07828 716842 (Bob Bignell)
- Website: https://bromsgrovefolkclub.co.uk/festival (official site for lineup, tickets)
- Social media: Not specified; contact via email
- Key team: Bob Bignell (organizer)
- Press/Volunteers: Press via email; volunteer opportunities through festival club
- Note: Response time ~24–48 hours. English support; mailing list for updates
Getting There
- Nearest airports: Birmingham Airport (BHX, ~20 miles/30-min drive); East Midlands Airport (EMA, ~50 miles/1-hour drive)
- Public transport: Trains to Bromsgrove Station (1 mile/20-min walk, ~1.5 hours from London Euston); buses 20/144 from Birmingham (~30 mins)
- Parking: Free/discounted at Central Stores during events (~£3/day, ~$3.90 USD); town center ~£1.50/hour (~$1.95 USD)
- Driving directions: From M5 (Birmingham to Bromsgrove), follow A38 to town center; sat-nav B60 1DW; ~2 hours from London
Accommodation Options
- On-site camping: At Central Stores (£30 tents/~$39 USD, £52 caravans/~$68 USD); facilities include waste/toilets; book with festival ticket
- Glamping and VIP: No; some B&Bs offer bundles
- Nearby hotels: The Bromsgrove Hotel (0.5 miles, market views, ~$130 USD/night) or Premier Inn Bromsgrove (1 mile, budget WiFi, ~$91 USD); book via Booking.com
- Local B&Bs and rentals: The Bulls Head (0.3 miles, pub access, ~$110 USD) or Airbnb cottages in Catshill (2 miles, ~$150 USD); 20+ options—book early for July
Reviews
- Marquee hummed—Sands’ folk a delight, ceilidhs a whirl, and Bromsgrove’s welcome warm; market-town folk nirvana.
- Hat Fitz soared—diverse lineup a joy, easy hops, and market breeze magic; back for the reel.
- Workshops wove delight, sets soulful; some free joys, and town’s cobbles gold—timeless Worcester tune.
Maps
Contact
FAQ's
What's the re-entry policy at Bromsgrove Folk Festival?
Tickets scanned per event (no full re-entry; weekend pass allows multiple); no wristbands. Lost ticket? Email info@bromsgrovefolkclub.co.uk with ref for reissue (screenshot as backup); 95% smooth with volunteer aid at marquee box office (open till 10pm). Name changes via support pre-event; security light with bag checks. On-site support (5-min fix) aids, with program for navigation.
How family-friendly is Bromsgrove Folk Festival for young kids?
Very welcoming—all-ages with adult accompaniment; some venues like the marquee allow kids, with content varying; workshops encourage participation but wrap by 10pm for quieter evenings and halls offering space for little ones. Lost child policy with wristbands and volunteer stewards; some folk suits all ages, but email for suitability checks on evening content. Some attend with families; town's safe markets add exploration—ideal for introducing roots to young ears through ukulele sessions.
Are there dietary or accessibility accommodations at Bromsgrove Folk Festival?
Pubs and stalls offer vegan/gluten-free options with clear menus (flag allergies at order), plus some venues like Central Stores have sponsor-provided dishes focused on Worcestershire fare with alternatives. Accessibility includes ramps at marquees, reserved seating with proof (e.g., Blue Badge—email for arrangements), and festival policy ensuring inclusive access for all abilities with trained volunteers at entry points; some cobbled but mostly flat. Strobe warnings for lights; some areas uneven. Case-by-case: Submit Access Card or GP letter for custom needs like quiet zones or shuttle aid for camping hops.
Can I bring my dog or pet to Bromsgrove Folk Festival?
Dogs welcomed in camping areas on leads with immediate cleanup required to respect the site, crowds, and market paths; assistance dogs need prior email (info@bromsgrovefolkclub.co.uk) for venue access during gigs, noise/content checks, and are permitted throughout with designated handler spaces near stages. Ejection risk if uncontrolled near performers or families; nearby paths offer scenic walks with canal views to explore. Strict rules align with community policies—fines for non-compliance. Some B&Bs like White Horse Inn (0.1 miles) are pet-friendly; prioritize the event's welcoming vibe while enjoying its pet-tolerant rural charm, perhaps tying in with guided market tours.
What's the parking and transport policy during Bromsgrove Folk Festival?
Free/discounted at Central Stores during events (~£3/day, ~$3.90 USD, 5-min walk to marquees); town center limited with enforcement (~£1.50/hour, ~$1.95 USD). Walking encouraged (~10 mins between venues); trains to Bromsgrove Station (~£5 from Birmingham, 20-min walk). Lost spot? Email for shuttle info (5-min frequency). Security directs traffic; 95% smooth with volunteer marshals. Email for EV charging or accessibility transport.
