Delighted to announce the winner of our band competition. Thanks to all who entered - we enjoyed listening and it wasn't an easy decision. However our 2024 winner is the Thomas Bradley Project. Check them out here: youtube.com/@thomasbradley… and opening the festival on Friday,

News of a special concert at the festival on Sunday curated by our patrons Boo Hewerdine and Brooks Williams and will feature them playing together and with friends and special guests. It's very secret - not even we know who's going to be there! We do know it'll be good though!

Another podcast from @suemarchantsrad Sue Marchant's Radio Shows, with Romy Gensale who will be playing the festival with her band Rome on Friday. Insights into her music, , what she'll be playing and what the festival means to her. Hope you enjoy. shows.acast.com/spotted-in-ely…

Here's a reminder of just how lovely our little festival is in the sun in our little 60 second video: youtube.com/watch?v=dT907u… Eddi Reader News Morganway O'Hooley & Tidow Peatbog Faeries Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage Breabach Boo Hewerdine Brooks Williams Rusty Shackle Nick Parker

On Friday our lovely talented stewards playing for your delight underneath our starshades and in the gin bar between 2.30 & 5. A virtual round of applause for Simon Tall, David and Barbara, Pat Kilbey, Paul Vaes, Patrick Hoskin, Simon Kelso, Liz Padgett and Martin Browne!

What a wonderful time we had at Eel Day. Huge thanks to everyone who came down to watch, dance, chat or hang out and also to our wonderful musicians Fil the Bass, Jo Ash, Erin Brown & Barry Watson and The Lost Hobos.

We're looking for a few more stewards to join our merry band. Particularly interested if you have bar experience or have stewarded at a festival (not necessarily Ely) before, but even if you haven't we'd love to see you in July. Info/application form: elyfolkfestival.co.uk/get-involved/

We'll be at Eel Day tomorrow between 11 and 4 in Jubilee Gardens. Festival organisers will be there to answer questions and there will be musical delights from Jo Ash Music at 12pm, Erin Brown & Barry Watson at 1pm, Fil The Bass at 2pm and The Lost Hobos at 3pm. See you there!

A podcast from Sue Marchant Sue Marchant with one of our patrons, ace guitarist/singer-songwriter Brooks Williams, talking about the festival and giving a few hints on the Patrons Concert that he and our other patron Boo Hewerdine are putting on this year. shows.acast.com/spotted-in-ely…

For young festivallers this year we have tales from marion leeper and Malcolm Busby, singing and percussion workshops with Faradena Afifi, magic from Sammy Magic Magic, recycled crafts with Ruth Marley from the Re-Imagine Resource Centre and Cary Outis's carnival arts workshops.

Today we're announcing our lovely non-food traders. We have Dandy Waistcoats, Groovy Sue's, Maddogg Designs, P J Music, Sense Of Wonder, Squeezebox Marketplace and ZozArtz. Check our Facebook page for more info.

Today we have another podcast for you, with Sue Marchant's interviewing Leon Lewis about his amazing vegan and vegetarian food that he'll be bringing to this year's festival. Hope you enjoy! shows.acast.com/spotted-in-ely…

... the legendary Leon Lewis with his gourmet homemade vegetarian and vegan meals, Maya Turkish Cuisine's wonderful street food, Moor & Coast's famous fish and chips and more and Sunrise Crepes freshly made crepes with a wide choice of fillings.

Today we're delighted to announce the food traders who'll be tempting you all with their delicious offerings. We have All Wood Fired and their delicious pizzas, East Coast Gelato's award-winning ice cream, Hunkydory's ace coffee, Little Panjab's Indian street food, and...

Details of our Nightingale competition. The winner opens Peregrine stage on Sunday evening as Isla Mae Music (below) did in 2023. Sign-up (a ten minute entry - two songs) is from mid-day Saturday in the bar, competition is in the Nightingale tent from 5pm Saturday. Good luck!

We'll be at Ely's Eel Day celebrations on Saturday May 4th between 11-4 in Jubilee Gardens. Festival organisers will answer your questions and there will be musical delights from Jo Ash Music (12pm), Erin Brown & Barry Watson (1pm), The Lost Hobos (2pm) and Fil The Bass (3pm)

Today we have a podcast with our Saturday Peregrine stage headliners Peatbog Faeries interviewed by Sue Marchant. Sue is a folk champion, one of the festival organisers and known for her work with the BBC, local radio and festival compering.
shows.acast.com/spotted-in-ely…

Boo Hewerdine and Brooks Williams reunited as State Of The Union for the Ely Folk Festival 2024 promotional gig at The Portland Arms in Cambridge on March 21. elystandard.co.uk/news/24208766.… 👇 Full story

We have a songwriting circle hosted by Jess Morgan, tunes w/David Savage, John Kirkpatrick on Playing for Dancing, a Brooks Williams guitar workshop, whistle and bodhran workshops, tune & song sessions and a ukelele for children workshop w/Nick Parker. And lots of singarounds

A great time last night with Boo Hewerdine , Brooks Williams (aka State of the Union), Tu-kay & Ryan, Rich Young and Myke Clifford at The Portland Arms . Awesome music, much hilarity, much beer, good times! Photos from official photographer and committee member Nikki Geast.