Kelso Folk Festival

Kelso Folk Festival 2025

Welcome to Kelso for our 2025 Folk Festival! Click on the pictures to learn more about our great line-up! Tickets are now available on-line from: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/ETOU

As from Sept 1st, only limited number of tickets remain for Friday 5th.

Following requests – the trad music session in the Cross Keys Saddlers bar will now begin at 2pm on Saturday afternoon – not morning. This lets players attend the workshops in the morning. Note there are three workshops – vocal, guitar and then a trad workshop led by Freya Rae.

The doors for both lunchtime concerts will now be open at 11:30 to ensure you can get comfortable for the local support acts – bring your lunch or a cuppa. On Saturday we have the lively WooHoo band, country from Rebecca and a traditional set from Elsa and friends. Sunday will be David and Allan (say no more), award winning Dan and then the family team of Aidan and Eric.

To download a printable PDF of the programme (2 sides A4 folds to DL) click here

Divergence - opening artists, Friday evening concert. Divergence is a project led by Freya Rae on flute, whistles and clarinet. Joined by Siannie Moodie on clarsach and Tim Lane (Hidden Orchestra) on kit percussion and the tongue drum, the trio take Freya's own traditionally inspired melodies and twist them into sets and riffs using acoustic instruments and electronic effects making use of non-traditional instruments in traditional music. See: https://www.freyaraemusic.com/
Friday evening concert Kris Drever - As an acclaimed songwriter and interpreter of Scottish songs both old and new, Kris brings a unique voice to his guitar accompaniment as well as his rendering of tunes. With a family musical heritage and roots in Orkney, he combines virtuosity with powerful expression of the feeling and meaning behind the lyrics of the songs he performs. A rare chance to be an audience in our acoustic environment with Kris performing solo. See: https://www.krisdrever.com
Saturday lunchtime concert, Jon Doran and The Northern Assembly - Newcastle based Jon Doran is a rising star interpreting and arranging traditional songs and tunes. With a light and distinctive guitar and bouzouki style, he is joined by Jordan Aitken (whistles) and Heather Ferrier (accordion). See: https://www.jondoranmusic.co.uk/jon-doran-and-the-northern-assembly
Saturday evening, opening act - Skelpt. ‘Fiery Scots folk’ from trio Skelpt fae north of the Forth – Iain Anderson (fiddle, vocals), Andrew Gordon (guitar, vocals), and Euan Johnson (guitar, vocals, bodhran). Wake up your ears with what Scottish folk does best! See: https://www.skelpt.com
Saturday evening - The Haar. Anglo/Irish folk band The Haar brings the formidable singing talent of All-Ireland Scór na nÓg winner Molly Donnery combined with three of the most exciting instrumentalists on the folk and traditional music scene in Cormàc Byrne (Show of Hands/Seth Lakeman), Adam Summerhayes, and Murray Grainger (both of the FATEA award-winning The Ciderhouse Rebellion). See: https://www.thehaar.ie
Sunday lunchtime - We Mavericks. We Mavericks are a duo from Australia, Victoria Vigenser and Lindsay Martin. Vic plays guitar and takes most of the vocal leads. Lindsay plays mandolin and fiddle, sings mostly harmonies. The instruments are joyous. Vic’s driving guitar holds the rhythm while Lindsay’s fiddle and mandolin soar in and out, dazzling, sweet, or intricate, and always brilliantly played. See: https://www.wemavericks.com.au/
Early bird? Thursday September 4 – 20:00-23:00 Cross Keys Hotel, Saddler’s Bar traditional tune session. Informal sessions before, between and after concerts at The Cobbles Inn, Cross Keys, Rutherfords and other pubs. Friday September 5 Opening Concert 19:30-22:30 Divergence opening for Kris Drever Old Parish Church (Kirk) doors open 19:00 22.30 on Cobbles Inn, Rutherfords songs & tunes Saturday September 6 10.30-12.00 Sessions in Square, Cross Keys, pubs Workshops Instrumental and Vocal at Abbey Row Centre Lunchtime Concert 12:30-14.00 Jon Doran & The Northern Assembly Old Parish Church doors open 11:45 – local support 14:00-17:00 Singaround in Oak Room 14:00-14:30 Rag Bag Morris in the Square 14:30-15:00 Small Hall Band in the Square 15:00-17.00 Open Air Mic at Rutherfords 15:00-16:40 Andrew Gordon Concert for 3-7 year olds Abbey Row Centre (free, must be with responsible adult) Evening Concert 19:30-22.30 Skelpt opening for The Haar Old Parish Church doors open 19:00 Sunday September 7 Lunchtime Concert 12:30-14:00 We Mavericks Old Parish Church doors open 11:45 – local support 14:30-17:00 Cross Keys – Songs & Tunes Farewell Sessions
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Venues are all in Kelso’s historic centre – so our historic Wood’s Map of 1823 still works! 1 – Old Parish Church 2 – The Cross Keys. 3 – Rutherfords 4 – Cobbles Inn 5 – The Square. 6 – Abbey Row Centre 7 – Brown’s Newsagent for tickets. Extended stay parking free in the Knowes. Caravan site at Border Events Showground, TD5 8LS – email info@borderseventscentre.co.uk or phone +44 (1573) 224188 Club web page kelsofolk.co.uk Festival web page kelsofolkfest.org Friday evening concert – £20 Saturday lunchtime concert – £15 Saturday evening concert – £20 Sunday lunchtime concert – £15 Combined ticket for all events – £60 Children’s Concert free, limited number available, please email kelsoflmc@gmail.com for this and all other queries, and to join our mailing list Workshops at Abbey Row Centre, £5 on door Freya Rae – traditional tunes Clare Watson – singing and harmony Donald Knox – guitar Tickets available – online from June 1st at https://www.trybooking.com/uk/ETOU (booking fees apply), at some club nights, and from Browns Newsagent, Kelso.

For updates on the festival and our year-round weekly Thursday (tune session) and Friday (singaround followed by pub session) nights please send an email to the club requesting addition to our mailing list [email protected]

Kelso Old Parish Church is the main venue for the festival concerts. It’s an octagonal kirk where the seating wraps round to face the stage from left, right and centre and it has superb acoustics. This is actually the stage door – the audience entrance is at the opposite side – but with northern lights behind it, a good view!

The artists for 2025 have now been booked so agents and artists should only contact the club for future years or possible bookings on our Friday nights in 2025 or 2026. These are most likely to be either local, or additions to tour schedules which can include Kelso, either promotionally or for a small professional fee – we welcome up and coming musicians and singers to showcase a short acoustic set as a highlight of our one song/tune in turn running order, by arrangement.

Contact club chair and 2025 festival lead David Kilpatrick – [email protected]

Festival Manager – Louise Krug [email protected]

Festival Host & Compere – Allan Connochie [email protected]

Kelso also has a highly regarded Music Society with monthly classical to contemporary concerts and recitals, and a lively Box & Fiddle Club also meeting monthly. From Spring to Autumn – or even winter when weather welcomes us – outdoor seating is popular with performers and customers alike at Rutherfords Micro Pub in the square.