FolkEast expands its 2026 programme with a vibrant wave of artists and the return of the Second Cousins Stage, as the festival continues its new chapter at the stunning Sotterley Estate.

Following the announcement of its headline artists, FolkEast is delighted to reveal a further array of outstanding performers joining the bill for the weekend of 21st, 22nd and 23rd August 2026, deepening an already rich programme of traditional and contemporary folk and boundary-crossing collaborations.

A Line-Up Rich in Energy, Collaboration and Discovery

Among the newly announced acts are FolkEast stalwarts Sam Kelly and the Lost Boys, Knight and Spiers and David Eagle alongside trailblazing Irish folk collective Jiggy, indie-trad trio Project Smok and The Waeve, the celebrated project from Graham Coxon and Rose Elinor Dougall.

The weekend will also see performances from the likes of Bonfire Radicals, Mark Flannagan, Emily Portman, Tamsin Elliott & Tarek Elazhary, Luke Wallace, Pressgang Mutiny, Jim Ghedi, Gwenifer Raymond and The Trouble Notes

Returning favourites Sam Kelly and the Lost Boys will be helping close out the weekend on Sunday. One of the most exciting bands to have entered the UK folk scene in the past twenty years, Sam’s band The Lost Boys has gained a reputation as one of the best live acts in the UK and they have packed out festival tents and venues the world over since they started in 2016. Surely one not to be missed.

Irish trailblazers Jiggy, a ground-breaking collective whose mercurial line-up fuses Irish traditional music with world rhythms and cutting-edge dance grooves will light up the Sunset Stage on Friday night with their electrifying, high-energy performance. With a reputation for infectious stage presence and musical virtuosity, Jiggy continues to redefine contemporary folk on an international scale.

Returning to where it all began 10 years ago, Knight and Spiers will mark their tenth anniversary with a special, one-off, FolkEast performance, bringing a decade of exceptional musicianship and interplay, redefining English traditional music with performances that are both intricate and deeply expressive.

Project Smok, the boundary-pushing indie-trad trio of Ali Levack, Ewan Baird and Pablo Lafuente, bring a thrilling fusion of Scottish and Irish traditional music with contemporary influences. With Levack’s award-winning whistle and piping at the core, alongside driving bodhrán and inventive guitar, their sound is both explosive and emotive. Known for their high-energy performances and genre-defying approach, the trio have amassed millions of streams and are at the forefront of a new wave in traditional music.

Internationally acclaimed The Trouble Notes bring their cinematic, globe-spanning instrumental sound, blending folk motifs, classical precision and driving rock energy. Having performed in over 35 countries and shared stages with artists including Jethro Tull and Rodrigo y Gabriela, the trio create performances that feel expansive and orchestral, yet remain deeply human, inviting audiences into a shared journey of rhythm, melody and connection. Their powerful live shows, coupled with their “More Violins, Less Violence” campaign supporting War Child, underline a commitment to music that resonates far beyond the stage.

A unique cross-cultural collaboration, supported by FolkEast, comes from Tamsin Elliott & Tarek Elazhary. The duo unite Egyptian and English folk traditions in a project grounded in friendship and connection, blending instruments like harp, accordion, whistles, and oud into a distinctive, forward-looking sound. Their acclaimed debut album So Far We Have Come earned major recognition, and their upcoming second release (autumn 2026) deepens their partnership, fusing Maqam and Western musical traditions. Inspired by nature and climate, their work balances themes of reflection, grief, and hope in a richly expressive musical journey.

SECOND COUSINS RETURNS TO FOLKEAST… AND GETS EXPERIMENTAL

Last year, Jon Wilks’s Second Cousins stage brought the story of London’s legendary Les Cousins folk club to FolkEast for the first time, a day of performances, talks, exhibitions and living history that became one of the festival’s most talked-about events. In 2026, Second Cousins is back. And this time it’s taking the spirit of that basement on Greek Street somewhere altogether more unpredictable.

Les Cousins was always at its best when nobody quite knew what was going to happen next: when a singer-songwriter might dissolve into psych-blues, or a folk set might veer into jazz or avant-garde noise. That anything-goes energy is what this year’s Second Cousins stage is built around.

The line-up could hardly make the point more forcefully. The Waeve, the celebrated project from Graham Coxon and Rose Elinor Dougall, bring their singular blend of cinematic folk-rock, freefall jamming and orchestral drama.

Sheffield’s Jim Ghedi stands at the forefront of a new generation of experimental folk artists. While rooted in tradition, his acclaimed 2025 album Wasteland moves into darker, more electronic terrain, combining drone, contemporary classical textures and stark lyrical themes drawn from social observation and history. His growing reputation has seen him tour extensively across the UK and Europe and collaborate with leading figures in modern folk.

Emily Portman, the BBC Folk Award-winning singer and songwriter, conjures darkly surreal worlds where folklore and fairytale collide with the contemporary, while Welsh instrumentalist Gwenifer Raymond brings awe-inspiring technique and intensity. Her forthcoming third album explores a striking fusion of ancient folk forms and cosmic, experimental soundscapes, earning praise from The Guardian and The Observer and cementing her place as one of the most compelling voices in instrumental folk today.

Spitzer Space Telescope, London-based songwriter Dan MacDonald, arrives with a barnstorming style that blends traditional balladry with bold, genre-crossing influences, while Cara Elin, a whimsical force from South Wales, brings contemporary folk infused with the magic of Welsh myth and storytelling. Joined by her band, her performances weave spellbinding melodies with rich folklore, creating an atmosphere steeped in Celtic mysticism.

Jon Wilks, who curates the stage, said:

“Last year was about honouring a place and its history. This year I asked myself a simpler question: would Andy Matheou have booked them? He had a questing, questioning mind, and no patience for the gatekeeping that fenced folk music in. I think he’d have had every one of these artists down those stairs.”

Second Cousins takes place on Saturday 22nd August at FolkEast, Sotterley Estate, Suffolk, 21–23 August 2026.

This expanded programme further strengthens FolkEast’s commitment to showcasing both established names and emerging talent, offering audiences a weekend where tradition meets innovation in one of the UK’s most beautiful festival settings.

Full line-up to date: Richard Thompson with Zara Phillips, Eddi Reader, Elephant Sessions, The Young’uns, Jiggy, Sam Kelly and the Lost Boys, The Magpies, Project Smok, Sam Carter sings Nic Jones, The Waeve, Ellie Gowers, Bonfire Radicals, Tim Edey & Michael McGoldrick, Tamsin Elliott & Tarek Elazhary, Knight and Spiers, SykesMartin, The Trouble Notes, Luke Wallace, Pressgang Mutiny, David Eagle (DJ set), Cara Elin, Ed Blunt, Mark Flannagan, Honey and The Bear, Gwenifer Raymond, Emily Portman, Jim Ghedi, Spitzer Space Telescope, The King Driscolls, The Busking Sharks, Lost in the Loop, Adam Clark Trio, Blake Morrison and the Hosepipe Band, Kit Hawes, George Bell, Reema, Kyson Point, ATOM (DJ set), Hearken, Notorious Jig, Sound Roots Artist Mentoring Showcase

Tickets

Weekend tickets can be found at www.folkeast.co.uk, with options for adults, over-65s, youth tickets and family passes. As always, children aged 11 and under go free, and a range of camping options will be available. Day tickets will be available from May.

For further information please visit http://www.folkeast.co.uk,