Cleckheaton Folk Festival postponed again - but organisers vow to return 'bigger and better' in 2022

Organisers of the Cleckheaton Folk Festival have announced that sadly the event has been postponed for a second successive year due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.
Cleckheaton Folk Festival back in 2019Cleckheaton Folk Festival back in 2019
Cleckheaton Folk Festival back in 2019

But they have vowed to return in 2022 for the 33rd festival - and promise it will be bigger and better than before.

Jim Saville, of the Cleckheaton Folk Festival committee, said: “For over 30 years there has been a Cleckheaton Folk Festival at the start of July and, year-on-year, the standards have been raised to the point where the town was hosting one of the premier folk festivals of the UK. Not necessarily the largest, not necessarily the greatest but certainly one of the top contenders and worthy of its reputation as ‘The Biggest Little Festival’ in the country.

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“Sadly 2020’s festival had to be postponed because of the health restrictions in force at the time. Now in 2021 there seems to be a good chance that restrictions may be lifted but we cannot be certain of this yet and so sadly the 33rd festival has been postponed once again.

Cleckheaton Folk Festival back in 2019Cleckheaton Folk Festival back in 2019
Cleckheaton Folk Festival back in 2019

“However, the good news is that there will be a 33rd festival in 2022 and it will be even better than before.

"Knowing the reputation for quality at Cleckheaton, all the artistes approached have agreed to carry over their bookings from 2020 into 2022 and so ensure the quality that people have come to expect from our local festival. Many visitors are so confident of the quality of the event that they have already purchased tickets.”

As well as first class headline artistes in a variety of different concerts on July 1-3, 2022 there will be all the usual smaller concerts, music sessions, sing-a-rounds, street entertainment and dancers that make the event so popular with the whole family.

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Artistes will include Peter Knights Gigspanner Big Band, The Bella Hardy Trio, Bob Fox, The Wilson Family, Marie Little, Si Barron and many more. There will be the merrily manic Keith Donnolley and Les Barker (collectively known as Idiot & Friend). Also included will be many of the local artistes who have gained a national following such as Kimber’s Men and Den Miller and many, many more.

The perennial favourites will include the Saturday Parade, The Family Fun Day on Savoy Square, the Folk Service at the Methodist Church, and The Small Venue Initiative with performers in many of the eateries around town.

For more information and to book tickets, visit the festival’s web page - http://www.cleckheatonfolkfestival.org/index.html.

If you would like to get involved as part of the team, contact festival director Dave Minich via [email protected].