World of Music at the Gate 2020

Blues, Ska, Soul, Country, Reggae, Americana, Jazz, Classical, World… the fourteenth Gate To Southwell Festival will be the most diverse and eclectic in its history!

Alongside classic English acoustic roots and folk acts such as Show of Hands, The Breath (featuring BBC Folksinger of the Year 2019 Rioghnach Connolly), Blair Dunlop and Greg Russell with Danny Pedlar in Field & Dyke, there’s a whole host of global-sounding British, Irish, European and International artists from as far afield as Canada and California.

The inaugural event back in 2007 focused predominantly on folk music, but Gate To Southwell 2020, Thursday 4th to Sunday 7th June near the weather-proofed Southwell Racecourse, guarantees something special for all music lovers. Starting with Thursday Night Blues artists Ian Siegel, Wizz Jones and the Daniel Smith Blues Band, the great long weekend will showcase more than 50 Spanish, Breton, Scots, Irish, North American, Jamaican and French acts across four main stages.

Friday welcomes the Anxo Lorenzo Band led by the award-winning Galician piper, plus Canadian duo Pierre Schryer & Adam Dobres, the French reggae of Simawe and Italian ragtime blues duo Veronica Sbergia & Max De Barnardi.

Saturday sees Show Of Hands supported by Glasgow-based Imar, London-based ska masters Maroon Town, Californian Americana from The Nell & Jim Band plus returning Southwell favourite Blair Dunlop. Then Sunday promises the Buena Vista-inspired Celtic Social Club (a rousing mix of Scottish and Breton music), The Breath, star Canadian country duo Madison Violet, young Californian bluegrass band AJ Lee & Blue Summit (who shone at the 2019 festival), Scotland’s Talisk and The Jellyman’s Daughter, and last but not least English folk legend Chris Wood.

Recent additions to the high-quality ever-expanding bill include the Afro-pop of Stone Jets from South Africa, The Henry Girls and Ceolta from Ireland, acclaimed young trio The Wilderness Yet, mysterious alt-folk from The Last Inklings, young folk duo Thorpe & Morrison, glorious harmonies from Teeside’s The Wilson Family and rising folk singer and musician Iona Lane.

And alongside other talented local artists appearing this year, the massed ranks of the excellent Nottingham Youth Orchestra will also be playing the festival for the first time.

As usual there’ll be open mic sessions, dance displays and ceilidhs (from Rum Ram Ruff and Frog On A Bike), workshops for all ages , craft and trade stalls, street theatre, the beer and cider festival, Minster concerts and Southwell pub sessions, a special children’s festival, plus on-site camping with showers and flush toilets from Thursday through to Monday lunchtime.

For discount tickets and more information please go to: www.gtsf.uk or call 01636 816678.

Published March 2020