Cromer's much loved annual music festival - Folk on The Pier - will celebrate its fifteenth anniversary this year with a prestigious array of the UK’s top folk and acoustic artists. The three day event  takes place over the weekend of 10 – 12 May in the comfort of the Pavilion Theatre at the end of Cromer’s legendary pier, and in several venues around the town. 

The celebrations start on Friday with both afternoon and evening concerts headlined by two multi award-winning acts – guitarist Martin Simpson and Devon’s sons Show of Hands. 

Since its inception Folk on The Pier has unashamedly flown the flag for English folk rock and acoustic music and regularly brought together UK and international and especially Breton acts. This year is no exception as the organisers have persuaded one of Brittany’s premier league folk rock bands Sonerien Du to make an extremely rare appearance outside of western France.  This seven piece band has recently been celebrating its 40th anniversary and will headline the Saturday night concert. 

The evening also features the ‘largest’ act ever to play the festival: Joe Broughton’s forty piece Conservatoire Folk Orchestra which showcases young players will be closing the show. 

“The bedrock of programming over the years at Folk on the Pier has always featured top UK folk rock acts” says festival organiser Scott Butler “so we are delighted that in our special year Fairport have agreed to the unique Sunday programme and that Sonerien Du has accepted our invitation, “I’m sure all the guys are going to ‘folk rock’ our faithful audience and make it a weekend to remember!” 

The special Sunday concerts will be the ultimate anniversary celebration. Under the banner ‘Beyond Convention’  each current member of legendary folk rock band Fairport Convention, who inspired the  launch of the first festival in 1999, will showcase their individual side projects in a unique and special series of performances for Cromer. From Chris Leslie's solo set of traditional acoustic music and the stories behind many of the songs he has written for the Fairport repertoire, through Ric Sanders Trio’s love of jazz and swing to the rock influenced Bob Dylan songs from Dave Pegg and Gerry Conway’s ‘Dylan Project’. 

Changing the tempo to start the evening concert Fairport founder members Simon Nicol and Ashley Hutchings will somewhat quirkily treat the audience to out of season christmas songs with the Albion Christmas Band show before all the current band members reconvene to bring the festival to a storming finale. 

Three day and individual afternoon and evening tickets for the festival are available from the Pavilion Theatre Box Office on 01263 512495.

Tickets

3 day subject to availability £85

Afternoon concerts only (each day) £16

Evening concerts only (each day) £18

Available from the Pier Theatre Box Office 01263 512495 or online HERE 

Main Programme 

Friday 10 May Afternoon (2.00pm onwards)

Mawkin

Seize The Day

Martin Simpson 

Evening (7.30pm onwards)

Miranda Sykes and Reg Preston

ColvinQuarmby

Show of Hands 

Saturday 11 May Afternoon (2.00pm onwards)

Fraser Nimmo

Rainbow Chasers

Billy Mitchell Band 

Evening (7.30pm onwards)

Alan Reid and Rob Van Sante

Sonerien Du

Joe Broughton's Conservatoire Folk Orchestra 

Sunday 12 May Afternoon (2.00pm onwards)

Chris Leslie Solo

Ric Sanders Trio

Dylan Project  

Evening (7.30pm onwards)

Albion Christmas Band

Fairport Convention