The Wellerman sea-shanty, which has become a TikTok sensation, references the whaling ships owned by the Weller brothers, who originated from Folkestone before emigrating to Australia and New Zealand. Inspired by this connection and to celebrate Folkestone in the summer, The Sea Pavilion will bring together a specially curated celebration of live folk music with writings and readings about the sea, all to be performed at Casa Anacaona, one of the Folkestone Artworks.
Join us for live music and readings on Folkestone beach with the Harbour Arm and the area's iconic white cliffs in the background. Book a deckchair and have front row seats for this extra-special event.
This event will also be streamed online from Folkestone to the rest of the world. If you would like to enjoy this event (and the rest of the festival) from the comfort of your own home book a Digital Pass.
BUY A DIGITAL PASS HERE.
A starry line-up of folk singers and musicians, Seth Lakeman, Jon Boden, Ben Nicholls and Jack Rutter, are joined by best-selling writer and broadcaster Charlie Connelly, writer and novelist Madeleine Bunting and actor Evlyne Oyedokun.
- Seth Lakeman is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, who is most often associated with the fiddle and tenor guitar.
- Jon Boden is a singer, composer and musician, best known as lead singer and main arranger of Bellowhead.
- Ben Nicholls is acclaimed as a double bassist, singer, arranger and composer working with British folk traditions and beyond.
- Jack Rutter is a singer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist who, in addition to his solo work, has become a highly sought after collaborator,
- Evlyne Oyedokun is a recent graduate of RADA and a rising star; she has worked on stage with Daniel Radcliffe and on film with Sir Ian McKellen. Evlyne will read from some of the great classic writings on the sea.
- Charlie Connelly chooses an excerpt from his history/memoir The Channel: The Remarkable Men and Women Who Made It the Most Fascinating Waterway in the World and Madeleine Bunting reads from her work in progress, an exploration of the English seaside.
Creative Folkestone Book Festival is made possible thanks to the generous support of our funders and partners. We are proud to welcome the return of NewsNow as our Principal Partner for the Creative Folkestone Book Festival.
