top of page

Who we are

 

Saltburn Folk Festival is a friendly, multivenue festival, set in a historic seaside town on the stunning North Yorkshire coast.
We are a non-profit, volunteer ran organisation.

 

We are here to champion creativity, tradition and opportunity across the folk arts- from nationally acclaimed musicians, to dance and storytelling, Saltburn Folk Festival has something for everyone. Community is key, and we celebrate the power of people coming together to immerse themselves in creativity with a folky flair.

 

The North East has a wealth to give, and we are perfectly placed to show you a slice of what the region has to offer. We are proud to be part of our community, and welcome locals and visitors alike.

​

In 2025, the main festival will run from Friday 8th August to Sunday 10th August 2024. The campsite will be open from Thursday afternoon (7th) to Monday morning (11th). As usual, there will be a sing around for any early birds and locals on the Thursday evening to kick off the festival in style!

 

 

Our mission

 

Our Festival is an innovative and inclusive platform for the folk arts, and we strive to build innovation and inclusivity into everything we do. Through this, our mission is to connect communities across our native Tees Valley, North Yorkshire and the North East, and give a  friendly welcome to those who join us from further afield.

​

 

Our story

 

2024 saw the 25th live Folk Festival in Saltburn by the Sea! Before our move to Saltburn, we’d been in nearby Redcar for three decades. When Covid caused a two year break from live festivals, we maintained our links with performers and audiences by staging a Virtual Gathering.

Around that time, responsibility for organising the Festival was passed to a new group of Directors, determined to continue the tradition of folk and fun by the seaside. We bounced back with full scale live festivals in 2022 and 2023, each bringing hundreds of visitors to Saltburn, and providing entertainment for local residents too. In 2024, we celebrated the past, present, and future of Saltburn Folk Festival and the creative community surrounding it.

​

Our team

Elinor
Atwood

Artistic Director

Nigel
Carden

Operations Director 

Lesley Piearcey

Festival Secretary

Sir Steve Bullock​

Director and Patron

Rupert Philbrick

Youth Programme

Shez
Wright

Volunteer Coordinator

Ellen
Mather

Design Director

Tim
McElwaine

Treasurer

Get Involved!​

​

 

​

Contact us

​

General Enquiries

festivaloffice@saltburnfolkfestival.com

​

Follow us

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
bottom of page