Events & Entertainment, Purbeck | Posted on August 8th, 2025 | return to news

Purbeck Valley Folk Festival next week

The festival runs from Thursday 14 to Sunday 17 August at Purbeck Valley Farm off the A351 between Corfe Castle and Harman’s Cross.

Purbeck Valley Folk Festival (PVFF) takes place from Thursday 14 to Sunday 17 August, and there is an impressive line up.

There will be hundreds of activities going on for all the family – ceilidhs, workshops, sessions, comedy, crafts, healing area, fire shows and lots more for children and teens.

This year’s festival is as usual at Purbeck Valley Farm off the A351 between Corfe Castle and Harman’s Cross.

This independent event is still going at a time when so many other grass roots festivals and struggling and having to cancel.

PVFF is set in the middle of the Purbeck hills with views across Corfe Castle, Swanage Railway’s heritage steam trains running alongside the site and the beautiful Jurassic Coast just around the corner.

The very broad definition of ‘folk’ at PVFF means that there’s loads of world music like Madalitso from Malawi, Kate Griffin & Matchume Zango (UK/Mozambique), The Zawose Queens (Tanzania), Theo Mizu & Banda (Brazil) and Mishra & Deepa Shakthi (UK/India) gracing the festival’s three main stages, as well as acoustic pop/rock acts including I am Kloot’s Mercury-music award nominated singer songwriter, John Bramwell.

For those who like their folk a little more traditional, major acts playing include Elephant Sessions, Dervish, Kathryn Tickell & the Darkening, Ranagri, Gadarene, Edgelarks, Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman, Pons Aelius, Man the Lifeboats and Jim Moray.

Plus Quinns Quinney, Rigmarollers, Fly Yeti Fly, Threepenny Bit, Owl in the Sun, Wareham Whalers, Kelp and the Bierfass Band will beraising the barn roofs.

There are a greater number of kids’ activities than ever before, including: The Circus of Science; the Activity Zone with slacklining, archery and a climbing wall; the expanding teen hangout tent; storytelling; circus skills and crafts. New this year is the Happy Baby, Happy Me sensory baby singing group and the Maddie’s Miracle Breastfeeding Support Bus.

Then there is plenty of comedy, ceilidhs, jam sessions, busking, the Purbeck Rising music contest, workshops, a beard-off, poetry, fancy dress (the theme this year is the letter F), a healing area, adult crafts and fire shows.

Festival Director Catherine Burke said: “PVFF is a festival that’s loved by everyone because there’s loads for kids to do, loads for parents and loads for the old folkies.

“We have four evenings and three full days of outstanding, original young folk, roots and world music across five stages thanks to a brilliant musical line-up.

“Purbeck Valley Folk Festival is so much more than just a great music festival. There is also an unprecedented number of activities for children, a huge craft area for adults, a perfect location and a great selection of real ales and ciders.

“Tickets have been selling fast already with record numbers of festivalgoers buying tickets for this year’s festival before they even left the site last year – so hurry if you want to attend.”

Advance tickets are on sale now including camping. Tickets will also be available on the gate. Book via www.purbeckvalleyfolkfestival.co.uk.