The Marine Theatre

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

Sam Sweeney Band

We are very lucky at Lyme Folk Weekend to have already seen Sam Sweeney twice on stage at the Marine Theatre. Sam first played at our festival in 2019 when we were privileged to witness the last ever performance of his Unfinished Violin show, and then last year he was part off the amazing Fay Hield Trio along with squeezebox virtuoso Rob Harbron.

Now Sam returns in his own right with his full band to play music from the acclaimed album Unearth Repeat. The new band brings together Sam’s unique fiddle playing, the double bass of Ben Nicholls and the keyboards of Dave Mackay. They will be joined by guitarist Jenn Butterworth, voted Musician of the Year at the 2019 Scots Trad Music Awards.

Sam, nominated four times, and winner in 2015, of Musician Of The Year BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, is a veteran of the mighty Bellowhead, former and inaugural artistic director of the National Folk Youth Ensemble, founder member of the acclaimed instrumental trio Leveret, and a superb instrumentalist at the forefront of the revival in English traditional music.

TICKETS: £22 in advance, £27 on the door (or included in a Weekend Pass). Doors open at 7.30pm.

​

​

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

Ranagri 

Plus Steve Dagleish

There are not many bands on the folk scene who can claim a unique sound - but Ranagri are definitely out on their own.

Four superb Irish and English musicians, combining voices, guitar, bouzouki, flutes, whistles, harp and percussion, Ranagri return to Lyme Folk Weekend for the first time since wowing the Marine Theatre audiences in 2018.

They were described by presenter BBC Radio 3 and BBC Proms presenter Katie Derham as having 'a sound that's completely new, which has great energy and immediately makes you want to dance.'

Their album ‘Playing For Luck’ was released to great acclaim in 2019 and they have embarked on a nationwide tour in 2022, culminating in our headline show in the Marine Theatre.

And in a special treat, opening the show on Saturday night will be Lyme Folk favourite Steve Dagleish. Steve has been a big part of our festival for many years, appearing at several of our Revisited fundraisers and headlining our seafront stage. It promises to be a memorable night.

TICKETS: £22 in advance, £27 on the door (or included in a Weekend Pass). Doors open at 7.30pm.

​

​

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

Seth Lakeman with Alex Hart

When you think of folk music and the West Country, there is really only one name that springs to mind - Seth Lakeman.

Award-winning singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, Seth has been the undisputed leader in his field since the 2005 Mercury Prize nomination for his stunning album Kitty Jay catapulted him into the forefront of the new British folk movement, followed by his gold-selling Freedom Fields in 2006.

His new album Make Your Mark, written during his enforced 18 months off the road, features 14 powerful, brand-new songs including the first single Higher We Aspire which was playlisted on BBC Radio 2.

Seth will be joined on stage by Alex Hart. If you think you've seen Alex at Lyme Weekend before, you have a good memory! Believe it or not, Alex was the first voice ever to be heard at our festival, when she performed with her band on the opening night of the inaugural event in 2013. Welcome back, Alex!

TICKETS: £25 in advance, £30 on the door (or included in a Weekend Pass). Doors open at 7.30pm.

​

​

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 (Matinee performance)

Magellan Circumnavigation

Bob Whitley & Lee MacKenzie

Bob Whitley is a Poole-based songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and composer who has been delighting audiences across the Dorset folk scene for over 20 years.

His Magellan Circumnavigation is a brilliant blend of theatre and musical storytelling, bringing to life the story of the greatest voyage of human exploration, at a time when sailors believed in gigantic sea monsters, demons, boiling seas at the Equator and magnetic rocks that drew the nails out of the timbers.

Bob is joined by Dorset based cellist and vocalist Lee MacKenzie, who regular Lyme Folk visitors will know from his appearances in folk band Kadia.

TICKETS: £15 in advance, £18 on the door (or included in a Weekend Pass). Doors open at 11.30am.