Indoor Festival of Folk

Start: Saturday, February 7, 2026 1:00PM
End: Saturday, February 7, 2026 10:30PM

A day-long winter feast of music and very special guests under Cecil Sharp House’s historic roof, co-hosted by EFDSS and folk rock supergroup The Magpie Arc. Come rain or come shine the fourth Indoor Festival of Folk takes place under the roof of the spiritual home of British folk music, Cecil Sharp House. Co-hosted by EFDSS and the UK's folk rock "supergroup" The Magpie Arc (so said Mark Radcliffe on his BBC Radio 2 show!) come and join us for a day of the country's finest folk artists (including a very definite major musical coup!) and a unique interview session from BBC and Folk On Foot videocast presenter Matthew Bannister with a UK folk great. And so, we are delighted to announce that joining us on the day will be.... Maddy Prior and Peter Knight As legends of British folk music Maddy and Peter require absolutely no introduction and to list their achievements would fill an entire website. The only thing to say is that we are absolutely over the moon to have them playing a unique and specially prepared duo set for us and the only word to describe this is "unmissable"! Chris Wood A self-taught musician, composer and song writer, Chris is a lifelong autodidact whose independent streak shines through everything he does. Always direct and unafraid to speak his mind, his song writing has been praised for its surgical clarity. He cites his major influence as “Anon” and collaborators include Martin Carthy, Dizraeli, Billy Bragg, Andy Cutting, Andy Irvine, Karine Polwart, Jean Francois Vrod, The Imagined Village, Hugh Lupton, Martin Butler and many others. On stage, he has the air of a craftsman who?no longer needs to be precious about his art and without any apparent effort he reaches deep into an enviable repertoire of songs before revealing another gem. Lisa Knapp and Gerry Diver This dynamic duo fuses their deep-seated love for English and Irish folk traditions into a vibrant project that’s as grounded in tradition as it is daring in innovation. With Lisa's distinctive voice and her skill in weaving the ancient with the contemporary, alongside Gerry’s fiddle virtuosity and trailblazing production, they’re crafting an auditory journey that honours the past while boldly stepping into new musical territories. This partnership is poised to enchant traditional folk purists and new seekers alike, promising a fresh, exhilarating spin on folk music’s timeless tales. Ellie Gowers Since emerging on the UK folk scene with her 2022 debut album Dwelling by the Weir, Ellie has captivated audiences with songs rooted in folklore, ecology, and the nuanced stories of her hometown, Warwick. Lauded by The Guardian as “full of delicacy, precision, and gentle delight,” the album established her as a compelling new presence on the UK touring circuit. While she remains deeply connected to the folk tradition, Ellie’s latest music marks a bold evolution in her sound, drawing inspiration from the likes of MIPSO and Jeff Buckley. Written in the wake of a demanding year on the road, her new material explores themes of distance, longing, and emotional duality, signalling a more expansive and contemporary direction in her songwriting. The Magpie Arc A cross-border band from Sheffield, Edinburgh and Arran featuring award-winning musicians Nancy Kerr, Findlay Napier, Tom Wright, Alex Hunter and tour guitarist, BBC Folk Award-winning Sam Carter. Formed to blend their songwriting and musicianship into a fresh take on the British folk rock sound of the '60s and '70s, the band quickly gained recognition for its unique mix of folk, rock, country, and prog-rock elements. Their debut album, Glamour In The Grey (2022), spent 12 months on the UK Official Folk Chart, debuting at number 9 and Mojo magazine compared it to Fairport Convention's ground-breaking 1969 release, calling it “Liege and Lief-affirming” with “an elemental racket.” Mark Radcliffe described The Magpie Arc on BBC Radio 2 as “Folk Rock with Led Zeppelin vibes” and Spiral Earth magazine noted “You owe it to yourself to catch this band as soon as you can. Capability, flair and originality rarely come so well wrapped.” To be announced over the next few weeks will be Matthew Bannisters very special interview guest! Please note that there will be a strict finishing time curfew of 10.30pm.