Gate to Southwell Festival to welcome artists from four continents to Kirklington stages

International artists from four continents will star at a festival this summer.

Gate To Southwell Festival, now in its 18th year, will return to its Kirklington Lakes site from July 3 to 6, bringing along leading folk, roots, and acoustic music performers from the UK and abroad.

Senegal’s “Hendrix of the kora” Seckou Keita will be one of the headline acts with his African Homeland Band, and there’ll also be a strong European contingent including Madrid-based Track Dogs, Barcelona world music stars El Pony Pisador, and returning Italian duo Veronica Sbergia and Max De Bernardi.

All the way from North America comes the cajun/zydeco Texan sounds of Ruben Moreno, and Broster and West — featuring festival favourite Mike West of Truckstop Honeymoon and Canadian songwriter Nick Broster.

Top Australian performers Hat Fitz and Cara also return to the festival, to perform their rich mix of delta Blues, folk and traditional Celtic styles, while acclaimed Australian songstress Lucy Gallant will bring her colourful brand of folk pop.

Led by English folk hero Richard Thompson — the famous Fairport Convention guitarist and celebrated singer-songwriter — UK stars will include Alabama 3, Katharine Priddy, Skinny Lister, Jon Boden and The Remnant Kings, The Magpies — featuring Bella Gafney, Holly Brandon and Ellie Gowers — The Rosie Hood Band, Sam Kelly and Jamie Francis, Banter, Sam Carter, up-and-coming five piece Evolution of Fishermen, and the alt-folk of Common Culture from Barnsley.

Adding to the international flavour, but hailing from North Yorkshire, are the New York Brass Band, and for everything from Carolan, to tango, to Vivaldi, there’s Simon Mayor’s Mandolinquents.

Gate to Southwell Festival is regarded as one of the UK’s best small music festivals, with more than 60 international folk roots and acoustic acts appearing over four days — and is also family friendly.

As well as the live music acts, festival goers can enjoy children’s entertainment, folk dancing and ceilidhs, a food and drink festival, craft stalls, poetry, and comedy.

There is also to be a drop-in session at Southwell Library, between 10am and 12pm on March 22, where families can get a taste of the festival through arts and crafts, parachute play, becky bops music and movement, storytelling, bubbles and 'try a ukulele'.