Allen Valleys Folk Festival

07/06/2026

Frankie Archer’s debut album ‘The Dance of Death’ is out now …

Congratulations to Frankie. It’s brilliant!

See original post about how to get your hands on a copy!

Frankie Archer Music

06/06/2026

Hello from the beautiful Allen Valleys …

The Valleys are alive with the plaintive ‘courl-eee’ calls of the curlew, the drumming of the snipe, the loud peep-ing calls of the oyster catcher and the lapwing, with their peewits, teeacks, chewits.

It’s a noisy old place, the Allen Valleys!

Whatever you’re up to this weekend, have a great couple of days.

(Photos: curlew, snipe, oyster catcher and lapwing)

05/06/2026

Happy National Sausage Roll Day from us all at the Allen Valleys Folk Festival …

And Vegan options are available!

A little know Sausage Roll fact for you …

Did you know? 1809 saw the first reference to a “Saussage roll” in print.
A recipe for “Saussage roll” appears in Maria Rundell’s influential cookbook A New System of Domestic Cookery, giving one of the earliest clear references to a sausage wrapped in pastry in Britain.

04/06/2026

The Allen Valleys Folk Festival Workshop and Guided Walks Programme …

Our 2026 festival features an exciting mix of workshops and guided walks designed for everyone. These are free of charge and anyone can join. No festival ticket is required. Spots are filling fast, so book now!

https://www.allenvalleysfolkfestival.co.uk/post/our-festival-guided-walks-and-workshop-programme-bookings-now-open?fbclid=IwdGRleASOXnZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xNzM4NDc2NDI2NzAzNzAAAR742fNSpt17aoWinHwcWWpmA4vjcQNqGiMhpO6NxxyvcNjXxBkbqtsMpwsp1g_aem_N5-UTE6N4S_FH_3uf_f50w

Our festival features an exciting mix of workshops and guided walks designed for everyone. These are free of charge and anyone can join. No festival ticket is required. Spots fill fast, so book yours early. Guided Walks and Workshops on Friday 25th September A walk in the East Allen Valley with Chri...

03/06/2026

A home gig for Saul …

James Delarre and Saul Rose at Allendale Village Hall

We are delighted to welcome James and Saul back to Allendale on the evening of Thursday 25th of June.

With the timeless combination of fiddle and box, James and Saul have been making music together for a long time now. The duo intertwine seamlessly; dancing around the tunes between the notes, finding space and air, and breathing fresh life and energy into the music.

Tickets are £12 and available at Allendale Co-op and via the link in the comments.

Buying tickets in advance does get you a guaranteed spot in heaven🪽

Doors will open at 7:00pm with the music starting at 7:30pm.

02/06/2026

Celebrating our wonderful volunteers …

It’s National Volunteers' Week! We're celebrating the incredible volunteers who make the Allen Valleys Folk Festival such a special event.

It takes lots of hard-working, talented and passionate people to keep the Allen Valley Folk Festival going and without our community of volunteers, this magical festival could not exist.

Throughout the festival weekend, our dedicated team of volunteers act as the public face of the Allen Valleys Folk Festival, welcoming our visitors to our spaces for performances and events and ensuring they have a safe and enjoyable experience.

Thanks to them all!

01/06/2026

Fancy a dance?

Described as ‘The future of Folk’, Banter take English traditional music to the next level with their iconic interpretations of classic songs and dance tunes.

Equally in demand as a dance band, Banter will treat us to a ceilidh at Allendale Village Hall on the evening of Thursday 18th June.

Doors open at 7:00pm, with dancing from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. Tickets are £12 and available online (See link in comments) or via Allendale Co-op. Those aged 14 and under are free but must be accompanied by an adult.

31/05/2026

Travelling to the Appleby Horse Fair …

Gypsy Cobs at the Atchin Tan (stopping place) near the Cart’s Bog at Langley, Northumberland.

(Photo by Craig Atkinson)

30/05/2026

Hello from the beautiful Allen Valleys: Travelling to the Fair …

Appleby Horse Fair is the annual gathering of Gypsies and Travellers in the town of Appleby in Westmorland.

A number of Gypsies and Travellers journey through the area on their way to and from the Fair and rest up locally at the Atchin Tan (stopping place), near the Cart’s Bog at Langley.

Have a great weekend from all of us at the Allen Valleys Folk Festival.

(Photo by Craig Atkinson)

29/05/2026

The Allen Valleys Folk Festival Workshop and Guided Walks Programme …

Our 2026 festival features an exciting mix of workshops and guided walks designed for everyone. These are free of charge and anyone can join. No festival ticket is required. Spots fill fast, so book yours early.

Our festival features an exciting mix of workshops and guided walks designed for everyone. These are free of charge and anyone can join. No festival ticket is required. Spots fill fast, so book yours early. Guided Walks and Workshops on Friday 25th September A walk in the East Allen Valley with Chri...