Great North Folk Festival and Whitby Sea Festival, (Whitby Ahoy!), are events  managed by Festival on the Moor, a non profit organisation founded in the year 2002 by a small group of dedicated individuals including Richard Grainger ( Musician and Artistic Director)  and Jeanette Grainger ( Festival Administrator)  

Great North Folk festival is located in the magical Botton Village, a Camphill Community  set  in the heart of the North York Moors. The village and surrounding area offers  the very best in venues and hospitality  ensuring a friendly welcome to all.

You will find CAMPING and CARAVAN space  available on site but please book in advance.

The festival was originally founded to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the North York Moors National Park,  and  is now a fully independent event attracting music lovers from the local community, and around the folk world.

We encourage  local performers from the Yorkshire/ North east region and, in addition ,have included  many of the great names of  'Acoustic and Folk'   familiar to folk fans such as Martin Carthy,  John Kirkpatrick , Woody Mann, Hughie Jones ( The Spinners), Bob Fox, Tom McConville, Maeve McKinnon, Steve Tilston and The Wrigleys.

The Great North Folk Festival is outstanding for its beautiful location, its friendly atmosphere and a really amazing mix of music , with  enough variety to please everyone.

Whitby Ahoy, our annual sea song and shanty festival, is set in the old town of Whitby, the ideal place to celebrate our maritime heritage and hear music dating back to the days of sail. First established in 1994 as part of the Captain Cook Festival Celebrations in Whitby.

Apart from our  two annual festivals, we also encourage and promote folk music in education, and through our local  village halls by means of our 'Music on the Moor' concerts series.

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Enjoy your music and we'll see you soon

The Festival Team