Introducing Venue 65 (previously the FDH) 

Venue 65 (1965 was the year the Festival was founded), has a bigger programme than ever and it's a lot more than just dance - so the name change. We are famous on the scene for the best energy driven party nights (remember the infamous Bellowhead broken floor?) In fact artists often site Towersey as the gig of the year (EII in 2010), for sheer atmosphere.

Well this year we have those BIG nights in abundance but we are also developing the venue further and introduce some afternoon concerts, longer evening gigs and a broader programme including Spoken Word, Americana and the very best new acoustic music.

Venue 65 will feature 

Bellowhead, Edward II, Abigail Washburn, Peatbog Faeries, Esquisse, Emily Barker, Roddy Woomble, Whapweasel, Ian McMillan Orchestra, The Chipolatas, Larkin Poe, Old Man Luedecke, Merry Hell and more.... book tickets now HERE

Chips are back - celebrating 20 years as global journeymen…  

The Chipolatas are celebrating 20 years this summer and Towersey was one of their first UK festivals back in 1992…so we are delighted to be hosting them in their birthday year! Custodians of an ever-evolving tradition, blending the old and the new, the Chipolatas continue to cross cultures and create new genres with their unique and universally-acclaimed shows.

We have also added more Towersey favorites and some great first timers to the ever-growing artist list. We welcome back the theatrical, comic weirdness of Reuben's Train as they bring their own brand of Americana for the whole weekend and then we offer something new and completely different in Larkin Poe who play progressive acoustic Bluegrass influenced music all the way from Georgia, USA.book now...watch a selection of artists at Towersey's YouTube page...

The South to open the Festival 

‘Song For Whoever’, ‘A Little Time’, ‘Rotterdam’. Just three of the hits from the dozens that The Beautiful South racked up over the years. Now The South are bringing their music back to the nation and open this year’s Festival on Thursday night. Dave Hemingway and Ali Wheeler [lead singers with The Beautiful South along with departed songwriter Paul Heaton] loved the songs and life on the road too much to just muse on past glories and so The South was formed. 

The Thursday night with The South is included in the Full Weekend Season ticket....buy yours now HERE.

Individual event tickets for The South will be available at a later date.

Welcome to the Big Club 

The very best concerts have long been a part of most people's Towersey so we have taken all that is good about our concert venue and added some of the magic of a club. More people can now get closer to the stage; a more flexible layout means easier access. You can come and go and drop in on just the bits you want to. The programme will have a mixture of longer concerts, shorter specials and films. Welcome to Big Club.

Big Club will include Martin Simpson Trio, Nic Jones with Joe Jones & Belinda O'Hooley, Kathryn Tickell: Northumbrian Voices, Session A9, Brass Monkey, Jon Boden, Melrose Quartet, Roy Bailey, Nancy Kerr & James Fagan, Jamie Smith’s Mabon, Pilgrim’s way, John Kirkpatrick, Jez Lowe, O’Hooley & Tidow and more...

Still the best for Ceilidh  

We hand pick the best bands, we (well, you really), create the best atmosphere and then we programme non-stop dancing all day every day for 4 days (plus an opener on Thursday). Now that is a whole lot of Ceilidh in a very special venue. Our Ceilidh venue has become legendary in dancing circles and it continues to be one of the best on the circuit.

2012 bands include Old Swan Band, Hekety, Peeping Tom, The Cock & Bull Band, Lebedek and many more.

The Line-Up so far 

The South - Bellowhead - Donal Lunny, Padraig Rynne & Sylvain Barou Kathryn Tickell: Northumbrian Voices - Edward II - Martin Simpson TrioPeatbog Faeries - Esquisse - Session A9 - Abigail Washburn with Kai WelchNic Jones with Joe Jones & Belinda O’Hooley - Roddy Woomble - The ChipolatasBrass Monkey - The Ian McMillan Orchestra - Jon Boden - Whapweasel - Old Swan Band Roy Bailey - Chipolatas - Hekety - Peeping Tom -Melrose Quartet - Old Man Luedecke Emily Barker & the Red Clay Halo - The Armagh RhymersNancy Kerr & James Fagan - The Cock & Bull Band - Larkin Poe - Jamie Smith’s Mabon - John Kirkpatrick Jez Lowe - Reuben’s Train - Merry Hell - Junk - Alistair Anderson - Walsh & Pound - O’Hooley &Tidow Pilgrim’s Way - Lebedek - Gavin Davenport - Jess & Richard Arrowsmith - Debs NewboldDavid Gibb & Elly Lucas - Paul ”Shez” Sherreard (Resident Festival Poet) - Stream of Sound - Chris CoeJake Jones & Dan Eccles - The Outside Capering Crew - Beltane Border - The WitchmenMoulton Morris - Boots 'n Banjos - Pig Dyke Molly - Maltby Phoenix Sword