The award-winning podcast Folk on Foot has announced the line-up for a second Front Room Festival to take place on Spring Bank Holiday Monday May 25th.
It follows the success of the first festival on Easter Monday which raised nearly £110,000 through a crowdfunding appeal to support musicians who can’t play gigs during the lockdown.
Folk on Foot Front Room Festival 2 will start at 2pm BST and run for 7 hours on YouTube and Facebook, featuring 30 minute sets recorded in their front rooms by Cara Dillon and Sam Lakeman, Chris Wood, Duncan Chisholm, Eliza Carthy, Frank Turner and Jess Guise, Gwilym Bowen Rhys, John Smith, Johnny Flynn, Kate Rusby and Damien O’Kane, Kathryn Tickell, Kitty Macfarlane, O’Hooley and Tidow, Richard Thompson and Zara Phillips and Rioghnach Connolly and Ellis Davies. The festival will also feature the online premiere of a behind the scenes film showing the Unthanks and their families on tour and featuring beautiful unaccompanied performances recorded at London’s Union Chapel.
Like the first festival, a crowdfunding appeal will be launched with 50% of the money raised going to the charity Help Musicians and 50% being divided equally between the participating artists.Folk on Foot host Matthew Bannister said: “We were completely blown away by the reaction to our first Front Room Festival, but the hardship faced by musicians who can’t play gigs during the lockdown is just as acute as ever. So, we’ve put together another amazing line up to offer great bank holiday entertainment and raise money for a really important cause. “
Help Musicians Chief Executive James Ainscough said: “We have made payments of £500 to nearly 16,700 musicians experiencing financial hardship – that’s £8.35 million across just four weeks. Next we’re focussing particularly on those who will not be protected by the government safety nets – they will need support for many months. This will require many millions more which is why I am so grateful for the fundraising of Folk on Foot and these brilliant artists.”
Donations can be made at www.folkonfoot.com/festival where there is more information.
