Countdown to Buxton’s Big Session Festival

Above: Blackbeard’s Tea Party

Following its sold-out success last year, The Big Session Festival will be back in Buxton this month, taking place for an extended four days over the bank holiday weekend, from Friday 28 April to Monday 1 May.

Eliza Carthy

Eliza Carthy

Hosted by the Oysterband in the beautiful spa town of Buxton, the gateway to the glorious Peak District, join a sparkling selection of musicians and welcome in May at the first folk festival of the summer! Weekend tickets have now sold out, but there are still plenty of events to enjoy including free entry to the Big Session Beer Festival, where music sessions will take place throughout the weekend, and concerts at the Opera House and Pavilion Arts Centre.

The Big Session line-up 2017 will once again feature the cream of English folk music with the Oysterband and special guests Eliza Carthy & Saul Rose, Blackbeard’s Tea Party, The Hut People, supported by Ray Copper and Nancy Kerr & the Sweet Visitor Band, with support from Jess Morgan. Staged within the glorious setting of the Pavilion Gardens at the exquisite Edwardian Buxton Opera House, its contemporary sister venue Pavilion Arts Centre and the Big Festival tent, the event has attracted visitors from all over the UK and overseas…

Free entry at the Big Session beer festival held at the Pavilion Garden’s Marquee, allows access to over 30 draft beers. For those who prefer other beverages there’s a gin garden and a selection of wine available. The beer Festival drinkers will also be treated to music sessions from festival artists including Oysterband and Eliza Carthy. TheHut People will bring everyone together for a Saturday afternoon percussive workshop linked to their music, with various instruments, for festival goers to pick up and join in!

To entertain those travelling to the festival by train (on Saturday 29 April), the dedicated ‘Folk Train’ will leave at 11.49, from Manchester Piccadilly, arriving just in time for the afternoon workshop and evening concerts. Buxton’s own Fuzzy Felt World will entertain passengers all the way with covers inspired by the 60s, 70s folk revivalist musicians such as Bob Dylan.

On Monday morning revellers can ‘blow the cobwebs’ away and take in the glorious Peak District countryside with The Big Session May Day Ramble led by Oysterband’s own John Jones.

Follow @BigSessionFest

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