Duncan Sime : Early Career Promoter Fund
Concise Description of activity: New Folk Festival an all-day event showcasing new voices and diverse perceptions of contemporary UK folk music for audiences in the Colne Valley and beyond
Bio:
The New Folk Festival: A Bold New Gathering for Folk Music in the Colne Valley.
Red Deer Club is proud to present the New Folk Festival, a one-day pilot event taking place on Saturday 28th March at Slaithwaite Civic Hall. This exciting new initiative brings together a vibrant mix of artists from across the UK folk scene, celebrating the rich diversity, experimentation, and storytelling at the heart of folk music today. New Folk is more than a concert — it’s a community-focused gathering designed to reimagine what folk music can be. With a strong emphasis on grassroots culture, artist development, and immersive experiences, the festival showcases performers who push the boundaries of tradition through sound, heritage, and political voice. This pilot event is the first in a planned series of intimate, day-long festivals across the Colne Valley, activating civic halls, libraries, and arts centres as spaces for live performance, artist talks, and informal networking. Each edition of New Folk will offer a fresh take on folk music, encouraging dialogue and supporting the sustainability of the local music scene.With its roots in tradition and eyes on the future, New Folk Festival invites audiences to experience folk music as a living, evolving force — inclusive, experimental, and deeply connected to community.