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THE GATE TO SOUTHWELL FESTIVAL

19th International Roots & Acoustic Music Festival

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NEW LAKE STAGE COVER

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​Shortlisted in the 2024 UK Festival Awards.

 

"I'd say it rivals Cambridge Folk Festival, albeit on a smaller scale, in terms of the diversity of the acts, the ambition of the programming, and the wide definition of folk it encompasses" Left Lion Magazine 2024 

This isn’t just a festival. It’s four days each year when the ordinary world can wait outside the gates. GTSF is "quite possibly the best small folk and roots festival in the UK" — not because we say so, but because our audience does, and you return year after year to prove it. If you come too, then from the moment you arrive — by festival bus or pitching up with your car by your tent — you step straight into the heartbeat of the festival. Nine performance areas including three main stages of genre-busting music. 60+ acts, with many playing multiple stages, and more to participate in than you could ever imagine over 4 celebratory days: the laughter, late-night sessions, pints of great beers and ciders, wonderful street theatre and kids' entertainment, and the sense that you’ve stepped into something rare and real. From 2nd to 5th July 2026, our 19th festival returns to its beautiful lakeside home near Southwell, Nottinghamshire. And what you carry away won’t fit in your bag: songs, laughter, and a little magic. 

By the way, GTSF is a not-for-profit organisation, run by enthusiastic and experienced volunteers, and we love putting on this festival. Any surplus income goes straight back into future events.

NEWS...

Tickets for 2026 are now on sale. Early Bird and Tier 1 tickets sold out in record time, so please hurry if you want Tier 2 tickets. We have also released a limited first batch of single day tickets. See here.

Follow us on Facebook too, to keep up to date, and join our mailing list via the link at the bottom of the page. Our latest news posts are below.

LINE-UP 2026
The first of 60+ artists for GTSF 2026...
(see previous line-ups here)

THE PROCLAIMERS

The Proclaimers have gone from strength to strength over the past 30+ years, gaining an international audience and an incredible reputation for emotional honesty, political fire and wit

FRIDAY

RICHARD THOMPSON with ZARA PHILLIPS

His guitar mastery, & onstage energy and wit, continues to win new fans and is confirmation he’s one of the most distinctive virtuosos and writers in Folk Rock history. He’s joined on stage by Zara Phillips.

THURSDAY

RIOGHNACH CONNOLLY & HONEYFEET

Swampy jazz, raucous brass, fractured funk, blues balladry, and folkloric textures, held together by a groove and a commitment to musical freedom.

SATURDAY

BLACKBEARD'S TEA PARTY

"Contemporary folk rock at its most infectious" RNR.
"York’s answer to The Pogues, but with cleaner fingernails" The Telegraph

SATURDAY

EDWINA HAYES

Edwina brings together English folk, Americana and the rich Northern singer/songwriter tradition to create a sound that’s truly her own.

THURSDAY OR SUNDAY TBC

THE HUNCH

Musical creativity and crafted arrangements of well-known and original songs and their close knit 5-part harmonies and excellent musicianship come together to bring you that ‘Hunch’ sound.

FRIDAY TO SUNDAY

RIOGHNACH CONNOLLY

A remarkable singer and flautist...who can ease from Irish traditional influences to soul. Duo with Ellis Davies.

SATURDAY

COUNTER'S CREEK

Four musicians from different backgrounds, united by a love of acoustic folk music, great tunes and earthy dance grooves.

SUNDAY

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2ND - 5TH JULY 2026

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Member of the Association Independent Festivals.

Copyright, The Gate to Southwell Folk Festival Ltd. Gate to Southwell Festival | Nottinghamshire, England. Reg 06242562 

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Various images via vecteezy.com

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