FolkEast 2018: The A to Z guide of all you need to know
PUBLISHED: 13:32 07 August 2018 | UPDATED: 17:44 10 August 2018

FolkEast sign. Picture Gary Donnison (72372467)
Gary Donnison Photography 2017
Lindsay Want shows you how to get the very best out of Suffolk’s family-friendly festival at Glemham Hall
A… ARTY (stuff)
The Art Arcade in the ‘EastFolk’ community – over 60 local artists and crafts people. Meet, watch and learn from weavers and spinners, paper-cutters, stone-carvers, wood turners, felt-makers, leather workers, Celtic pyrographers, peg spinners and potters.
B… BANDS
A massive melting pot of music that’s much more than just ‘folk’. Award-winning performers and local talent, ceilidh bands in the dance marquee, the Southwold Harbour Inn Crowd in the beer tent and all sorts of offerings on Amy Wragg’s Soapbox stage. For the full line-up please click here.
C… CARBON CHARTER
Recently awarded the Suffolk Golden Carbon Charter, FolkEast looks to local businesses for its infrastructure and on-site food and drink – solar bus powering the Soapbox stage, biofuel generators, a mighty Jackalope created from plastic bottles to highlight the festival’s new plastics policy.
D… DANCE (your socks off)
Join the Circassian circle. Learn to Suffolk stepdance or Morris on down. Take to the dance marquee floor for a do-si-do, bit of French ‘bal’, Swedish, Kletzmer or just jig about in front of the great bands on stage. No experience necessary and special dance opportunities for all the family.
E… EXPERTS (in their own field)
The ‘Instrumental’ area is a market place for often world-renowned fine instrument-makers. A favourite with musicians and those with a love for traditional makers.
F… FOODEAST
Local food producers create everything from full-blown meals to must-try snacks. Peasenhall coffees, Woodbridge cakes, Lowestoft brews and tasty traceable tit-bits. Enjoy the street food market and vegan/veggie fare in the Soapbox restaurant.
G… GOLF (mini)
With real Minis – 9 full size vehicles incorporated into one crazy golf course.
H… HAVE A GO
Felting, printing a beer-mat, willow-weaving, mask-making, T-shirt printing, lino-cut, jig-doll dancing, circus skills, join-in-and-learn music, song and dance. Workshops are part of FolkEast.
I… ImaGin (bar)
Clear and fruity favourites all the way from Southwold. Beer and cider at The Hop Inn, Cobbold Arms and Halfway House.
J… JOLLY (time)
Enjoyed by all at FolkEast 2018.
K… KINODROME
Electric cinema with latest celluloid technology, projecting all sorts of fun local footage .
L… LITTLE FOLK
Kids under 11 go free. New ‘Imps’ area, Sports Day, climbing wall, mud kitchen, den building, storybook making, donkey rides, bug hunts, family ceilidh.
M… MUSIC (& song)
All sorts and everywhere. Entertain yourself. Entertain others. Above all, enjoy.
N… NOWHERE (like home)
Bring a tent or camper, Little Glemham’s estate is a fab, family friendly place to stay.
O… OPEN-MINDs
Try something new, hear something different. Flonk an East Anglian dwile, watch stand-up comedians or hard-hitting poets, or head to St Andrew’s (aka EastFolk Minster) for some quieter contemplation.
P… POP-UP PETANQUE
Learn the art of French ‘boules’ from the Suffolk Coastal Pétanque Alliance.
Q… Q & A
Horticultural conundrums solved at FolkEast’s version of Gardeners’ Question Time.
R… REFRESH
Free yoga, intimate concerts in historic St Andrews church.
S… STEAM-UP, sail away
Steam tractor, The Joker, from Leiston’s Long Shop Museum and Sae Wyfling, half-size replica of Sutton Hoo’s Anglo-Saxon ship.
T… TREACLE MINERS
FolkEast-fostered Morris side, brandishing sticks and hard hats. Just one of the many colourful and more or less traditional Morris dance sets.
U… (you)
The most important performer at FolkEast. No pressure – relax, do things your way.
V... Variety
If there’s one word that sums up everything that FolkEast offers, it is variety.
W... Where and when
See below Z for full details!
X… XCLUSIVE
Great EastFolk Pot Throw Down. Potter, Robert Rutherford will MC the celebrity show.
Y… YOUNG ’UNS (The)
Irrepressible festival patrons and BBC Folk Awards winners, Sean, David and Michael. Don’t miss Davey boy’s DJ set and live podcast.
Z… Zzzzzzz…
A beautiful new flower bed on the EastFolk in Bloom roundabout is practically a four-poster, created by Everyday ActivGardens community garden projects in Ipswich.
Where & when
Eight performance stages: Sunset (mega half-dome), Broad Roots (folk club talent and more), Moot and Village Halls, St Andrew’s Sanctuary, Soapbox (in the wood), Dance marquee, ‘Morris-in’ on’ dance stage.
Where: Glemham Hall Grounds, Little Glemham
When: August 17, 18, 19
How much: Adult weekend tickets from £120, children 11 and under go free. Family, youth and concessions rates available. Optional camping from £15 per tent/£25 per campervan or caravan.
How to get there: Car - A12 north of Wickham Market. Cycle - National Cycle Route 1, safe bike lock-up facilities available. Train – to Wickham Market Station, free shuttle to the festival site.
For more information go to folkeast.co.uk
_______________
Follow Suffolk Mag on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram