Plans for new date and location of Gate To Southwell Festival following this year's postponement
After its postponement this year, plans are being drawn up for the return of the Gate To Southwell Festival — with a new date and location.
In previous years, the event has taken place in June at Southwell Racecourse.
However, organisers are planning for next year’s festival to be held from Thursday, September 2, to Sunday, September 5, at Kirklington.
Having cancelled this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, organisers are confident the four days of folk, root and acoustic music will go ahead in 2021.
“We know it’s been a tough year for everyone and we have all missed families and friends and getting together to enjoy live music,” said festival director Mike Kirrage.
“We just hope this exciting news about our festival in September 2021, at a beautiful rural location, will really lift everyone’s spirits.
“We have already booked some excellent acts and now we are really looking forward to seeing all the familiar faces who help out, perform or attend each year.
“So keep well and here’s to a bright, healthy and musical 2021.”
The first acts have already been confirmed for the 14th Gate To Southwell Festival.
These include acclaimed supergroup the Gigspanner Big Band, formed by Steeleye Span fiddler Peter Knight.
Also on the bill are Galician piper-led Anxo Lorenzo Band, award-winning folk duo The Breath — featuring BBC Folk Singer of the Year Rioghnach Connolly — re-formed Bellowhead masterminds Spiers & Boden, and Chris Woods.
Glaswegian roots band Imar, veteran folk guitar legend Wizz Jones, ska stars Maroon Town, Madrid-based roots quartet Track Dogs and Scottish firebrands Talisk complete the line-up so far.
Despite the challenges of coronavirus, organisers are confident the main elements of the traditional festival will go ahead, including multiple stages, dancing, children’s entertainment, food and drink stalls, and workshops.
Tickets are already on sale via the Gate To Southwell 2021 website — www.gtsf.uk