Moseley Folk and Arts Festival (Friday 30 August to Sunday 1 September 2024) has revealed it’s ‘Arts’ line-up. Among those heading to the festival’s Speaker’s Corner stage this summer are comedians Mark Steel, Zoe Lyons and Lindsey Santoro, historian Carl Chinn, and CBeebies’ Nick Cope.
They join an already packed music bill that includes the previously announced Levellers and Flogging Molly (Friday); Dexy’s, CMAT, The Staves and Katherine Priddy (Saturday); and Belle and Sebastian, and Kate Rusby (Sunday).
The Birmingham-based event’s ‘Arts’ strand spans the full three days of the festival, with day one (Fri 30 Aug) headlined by comedian, broadcaster and writer Mark Steel.
Mark’s award-winning BBC Radio 4 series … In Town sees him create a live show in response to various locations, and has been running for 15 years, while his topical podcast, What The F*** Is Going On?, ponders the state of the UK and has amassed over 120 episodes.
Also on Friday, Brum historian Carl Chinn peels away fact from fiction to reveal the real Peaky Blinders, and award-nominated film documentary The Black Country Cowboy sees Stourbridge country singer Pete Boddis reflecting on his life and career.
Saturday (31 Aug) night closes with a stand-up double-bill in collaboration with The Glee Club Birmingham featuring Northfield’s very own comedy superstar, Lindsey Santoro (Comedy Central Live, Unforgivable), and the deadpan Matt Bragg.
Others appearing throughout the day include writers Lucy Cooke (author of Bitch: A Revolutionary Guide To Sex, Evolution and The Female Animal) and Kit De Waal (whose latest book, childhood memoir Without Warning And Only Sometimes, is out in paperback on 13 April). Also lined-up for a talk is rediscovered folk icon Vashti Bunyan (who was previously set to visit the festival in 2022, but unable to appear).
There’s another top-notch comedy double-bill on Sunday (1 Sep), this time in conjunction with Birmingham Comedy Festival, featuring stand-up, radio and TV star Zoe Lyons and emerging newcomer Peter Brush.
They’re proceeded by CBeebies legend (and genius tunesmith) Nick Cope, podcasting duo The Folk Detectives, and musician-turned-writer Helen O’Hara – best known for being Dexys Midnight Runners violinist during the ’80s, she’s also the author of an insightful memoir, What’s She Like.
John Fell, Moseley Folk and Arts Festival’s Manager, said: “While the big-name musical acts often grab people’s attention, Speakers Corner has always been a hugely popular stage at the festival, so we’re very proud to announce another strong line up this year.
“With three days of leading comedians, authors, performers, and more, it’s one of the elements that really makes the festival so truly unique.
“Away from our three main stage areas, we’ll also have a range of workshops and other activities too,” he adds, “including wood carving and folk music workshops, face painting, storytelling, and a few more surprises.”
Moseley Folk and Arts Festival runs from Friday 30 August to Sunday 1 September 2024, at Moseley Park and Pool, Moseley, Birmingham. Tickets on sale from Friday 9 February 2024. See: moseleyfolk.co.uk
FRIDAY 30 AUGUST 2024
Levellers
Flogging Molly
Beans On Toast
The Scratch
Odie Leigh
Maddie Morris
Man The Lifeboats
Cat Clyde
Dani Larkin
+ Winner of Hello You! The Janice Long Bursary 2024 (act TBA)
Mark Steel
Carl Chinn presents The Real Peaky Blinders
Pop Up Puppet Cinema
The Black Country Cowboy
SATURDAY 31 AUGUST 2024
Dexys
CMAT
The Staves
Bess Atwell
Katherine Priddy
Dawn Landes & Friends Perform The Liberated Woman’s Songbook
Brian Lightning
Dominie Hooper
Jon Muq
The Glee Club Birmingham presents Matt Bragg & Lindsey Santoro
Lucy Cooke
Vashti Bunyan
Kit de Waal
Pop Up Puppet Cinema
SUNDAY 1 SEPTEMBER 2024
Belle & Sebastian
Mdou Moctar
Lisa O’Neill
Smoke Fairies
Hejira: Celebrating Joni Mitchell
Brown Horse
Cut A Shine
Frankie Archer
Niall McNamee
Birmingham Comedy Festival presents Zoe Lyon & Peter Brush
Nick Cope
The Folk Detectives
Helen O’Hara
ABOUT MOSELEY FOLK & ARTS FESTIVAL
Moseley Folk and Arts Festival is an annual family-friendly immersive event, exploring the very best of contemporary Folk, Arts and Crafts, which is held in Moseley Park – a stunning 11-acre woodland glade in the heart of Moseley Village.
Although the site is just two miles from the centre of Birmingham, it’s a world away from city life, and the perfect setting for a festival – with sloping grounds, creating a natural amphitheatre in front of a stunning lake.
Established in 2005, each year Moseley Folk and Arts Festival brings incredible artists, workshops, arts, crafts, and a selection of Birmingham’s most loved street food and drinks vendors to Moseley, for one epic weekend.
Previous headliners have included Wilco, Laura Marling, Don Mclean, The Waterboys, The Monkees, The Jayhawks, Richard Thompson and Supergrass.