With only a few weeks to go until the 19th Gate To Southwell Festival, fans are looking forward to this four-day event in rural Nottinghamshire which runs from 2nd-5th July. The festival features more than 60 musical artists across five stages, plus great family and kids’ entertainment, workshops, dance sides, market traders, and excellent food and drink facilities.
The headliners include Scottish duo The Proclaimers and legendary Fairport Convention singer-songwriter-guitarist Richard Thompson OBE (performing with his wife, singer-songwriter Zara Phillips). Gate To Southwell also presents the African vocal group Black Umfolosi, the Virginia, USA “string-band” sounds of The Hot Seats, and rising gothic folk act Amelia Coburn.
Also contributing to the rich mix of music on show are Peat & Diesel from Stornoway, Show of Hands’ Steve Knightley with his all-star Winter Yards Band, multi award-winning Scottish dance outfit Elephant Sessions, Honeyfeet featuring the fine vocals and flute of Rioghnach Connolly (who also performs as The Breath), celebrated Irish folk band Ranagri, plus the very best roots acts emerging from the East Coast of Canada: Campbell & Johnston from Nova Scotia, Toronto-born banjo/guitar man Old Man Luedecke, Rum Rugged from Newfoundland, acclaimed folk songstress Emilea May from Prince Edward Island, Matthew Byrne & Sherman Downey from Labrador & Newfoundland, Cape Breton duo Rachel Davis & Darren McMullen, and Aboiteau from New Brunswick, all performing as part of a special weekend-long ECMA showcase.
Among recent additions are Canadian live act The Fugitives and Kris Drever & Calahen Morrison. The kids and family entertainment will star comedy juggler Dan The Hat. Gate To Southwell Festival again takes place on farmland outside Southwell (NG22 8NX, midway between the A1 at Newark on Trent and the M1 near Mansfield). It’s a not-for-profit organisation run by enthusiastic and experienced volunteers; any surplus income generated is ploughed back into future events. Tickets for days, weekend, weekend extra, camping and glamping are all available here. You can see a video of selections from the 2025 festival below.
