Stop Press

One of our regular venues, the Red Lion on Kirkgate has unfortunately closed at short notice. Concerts and events scheduled to take place there will be resited to the Whittaker's beer garden, or the Civic Centre Room 4. Details will be posted in the Festival Office, and, hopefully, at The Red Lion. See details here.

Please note that up to last Saturday the camping fields were saturated. PLEASE DRIVE SLOWLY and make sure you avoid marked areras. Only go where the stewards tell you to.
Dogs are allowed, but must be under control at ALL times. There is livestock in adjacent fields.
There are mains showers at theCricket club, check notices for times. There will be on-site catering from Thursday night. Shuttle buses will run from Friday evening.

Vin Garbutt

Vin Garbutt is reputed to have said that he is not interested in becoming a big star in the accepted sense. Nevertheless in the area of music where he performs, there is no bigger star. He prefers to be a big fish in a small pond. What the world realised long before Vin did, was that the small pond had grown over the years into a considerable lake. All this has happened without the hype from big Record Companies, and without the usual publicity from the mass media. He has performed all over the globe, and in parts of countries that the biggest stars will never see. For those of us who know and love him, his visits to Otley are always a delight. If you have never seen his amusing, energetic, and demanding performances, you have a great deal to look forward to.

http://www.vingarbutt.com

Kerfuffle

Kerfuffle are one of the premier young folk acts in the UK today. Their music cannot easily be categorised and their vibrant arrangements draw on influences from across Europe, incorporating tunes, songs and dances. Kerfuffle perform their music with immense vitality and style. Kerfuffle have played venues as diverse as Towersey & Bromyard Festivals, Fairport's Cropredy Convention, Radio 3’s “Late Junction” and the bar under the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. In 2008 they are playing many venues and festivals - Otley is lucky to get them and looks forward to welcoming them.

http://www.kerfuffleonline.co.uk/

Coope Boyes and Simpson

CBS, since their arrival on the UK folk music scene in the mid 1990s have been the premiere male acapella group in the English-speaking world. Their consummate abilities in lyric writing, composition, arrangement and performance are unbeatable, and continue to amaze fans both new and old. Spell-binding.

http://www.coopeboyesandsimpson.co.uk/

Chumbawamba

Chumbawamba started out playing Anarcho-punk, but over a 25-year career have gone on to play music ranging from pop-influenced dance music and world music to acoustic folk music. The band are well known for their song "Tubthumping" and are generally influenced by anarchist political stances and an irreverent attitude to authority

http://www.chumba.com/

Les Barker

Unfortunately, because of health problems, Les will be unable to appear at Otley this year. We hope to have him with us in the future.

http://www.mrsackroyd.com/

More Artists

Otley is renowned for its exceptional range of artists, from the internationally famous, to the talented local. Find out more on the artists page.

more artists

Our Patron

We are delighted to have as our patron one of the greatest folk artists of his generation, Nic Jones. This is a wonderful thing for us, and we are doubly delighted when Nic comes down to enjoy parts of the festival with us.

http://www.nicjones.net/