🗓️ Thursday 14th – Sunday 17th August 2025
This family-friendly, intimate festival is set on a farm just outside Swanage and is one of the most popular events of its kind on the Jurassic Coast.
Kick back to the sounds of world and roots music, and dust off your dancing shoes for some toe-tapping traditional folk at the festival’s two annual ceilidhs.
The festival spans three (and a bit!) days with music across five stages – kicking off on the Thursday evening for a celebration of all things folk – and on top of great national and international musicians there’s also Purbeck Rising, which welcomes new, emerging and local talent.
As well as a great musical line-up, expect a load of other festival favourites, such as children’s activities and craft workshops including candle-craft, origami and even tutu-making.
There’s a chance to make your own music at the busk station and flex your vocal cords at the open mic sessions, as well as have-a-go instrument sessions and music workshops.
And if you have a beard it’s time to start growing it and/or coming up with creative grooming techniques for the annual festival Beard-Off, with categories such as ‘Biggest, Bestest & Fullest’ to Most Creative. And of course, there’s girls’ and kids’ categories too.
And the ever-popular Purbeck Poetry Slam is back – to submit your entry, email cath@purbeckvalleyfolkfestival.co.uk.
2025 Line-Up
Thursday 14th August
- Opa Rosa
- Man The Lifeboats
- Bob & Connor Burke
- Quinns Quinney
- Threepenny Bit
- Owl Light Trio
Friday 15th August
- John Bramwell & The Full Harmonic Convergence
- Rainbow Girls
- Gadarene
- Urban Folk Quartet
- Gilmore & Roberts
- Matuki
- The Rheingans Sisters
- Opa Rosa
- Taff Rapids
- Edwina Hayes
- Juniper
- Madalitso Band
- Ruth Theodore
- Helian
- Fly Yeti Fly
- Dave Fidler
- Izzie Yardley
- Paul Cherryseed & Band
- Arlo Anwin
- Luke Russ
- Devon Youth Folk Ensemble
- Larkspur
- Something Sleeps
- Purbeck Youth Tradfolk
Saturday 16th August
- Elephant Sessions
- Dervish
- The Zawose Queens
- Jim Moray
- Gadarene
- Gonora Sounds
- Mishra
- Mishra & Deepa Shakthi
- The Shackleton Trio
- Juniper
- Raka
- Kai Carter’s Old Time Trio
- Ruth Theodore
- Eleanor Dunsdon & Gregor Black
- Remorae
- Kitty Stewart
- The Bomo Swing
- Rholben
- Swamp Stomp String Band
Sunday 17th August
- Kathryn Tickell and The Darkening
- Edgelarks
- Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman
- Ranagri
- Pons Aelius
- Ushti Baba
- Ellie Gowers
- Theo Mizú & Banda
- Kate Griffin & Matchume Zango
- The Shackleton Trio
- Sound of the Sirens
- Kai Carter’s Old Time Trio
- Eleanor Dunsdon & Gregor Black
- Maddie Morris
- Kitty Stewart
- Owl in the Sun
- Quinns Quinney
- Threepenny Bit
- Arlo Anwin
- Apple Trio
- Wareham Whalers
Also playing is Swanage sea shanty group Kelp! (dates/times tba).
For the latest line-up visit the Festival website: www.purbeckvalleyfolkfestival.co.uk/line-up/line-up2024/
Highlights
The Purbeck Valley Folk Festival features a fantastic mix of home-grown and international musicians each year, with music playing across its various stages all weekend long.
Here’s a small selection of highlights from years gone by…
Workshops & craft-making
Whether you’re staying for the whole festival or only have a day, the craft area is a must-visit.
Most activities are fun for kids and grown-ups alike and operate a cash or card donation system.
Try your hand at something new like raku-fired pottery, cyanotype craft or even blacksmithing, or get crafty with the children making your very own henna tattoos and tutus for your own, unique festival look, or put these pesky odd socks to good use by transforming them into a hobby horse.
Kids’ activities
As well as all that crafting, there’s loads of other things going on for kids.
Sit back and listen to a story, get your face painted, have a go at the circus skills area and lots more…
Food & drink
Start your day with some delicious homemade food on-site; stoke the engines for exploring with a great range of snack vans & refuel after working up an appetite at the ceilidh at one of the bars and various food outlets, which all stay open till late.
Find the best local cider to go with your stone-baked pizza, venison burger or vegan burger, or have a fruit-filled smoothie to accompany a sugary treat like donuts and crêpes.
For campers, there’s also a variety of breakfast stalls and of course the all-important freshly-made morning coffee.
Every year the festival has a themed fancy dress competition, held on the Saturday afternoon at the Fire Stage.
The theme for 2024 was the letter Y.
Here’s a flavour of what to expect at this music festival in the heart of the Purbeck countryside:
Tickets
Tickets are available on a first-come-first-served basis, with early bird options and locals’ discounts for residents of BH19 and BH20 addresses.
There may be some tickets available on the gate, but this is a popular little Dorset festival, so booking in advance is the best option.
Earlybird tickets are now available, but selling fast:
- Adult: £155 (early bird) or £175
- Youth (age 13-17): £75 (early bird) or £85
- Child (age four-12): £30 (early bird) or £40
- Gate prices: On-the-day tickets are £195 for adults & £95 for kids/£40 for little kids
- (2024 prices)
Buy tickets online for both day tickets and camping tickets via the PVFF website: www.purbeckvalleyfolkfestival.co.uk/shop/tickets/
Festival location
Nestled in the beautiful Jurassic Coast countryside underneath the dramatic backdrop of the Purbeck Ridgeway, both farm and festival are situated just outside Swanage on the Valley Road.
Purbeck Valley Farm will be on your left as you leave the village of Corfe Castle, just before you reach Harman’s Cross.
If you’re coming from Studland/the chain ferry the turning will be on your right just after Harman’s Cross village.
