Moseley Folk & Arts Festival celebrates 20 years in Moseley Park

Twenty years ago, a small two-day folk festival took place in a hidden park in Moseley. In September 2026, Moseley Folk & Arts Festival celebrated its 20th edition, having grown into one of the West Midlands' best-loved weekends of music.

The anniversary festival ran from Friday 4 to Sunday 6 September in the private Moseley Park, about two miles south of the city centre. Co-founder Carl Phillips summed up the mood when the first acts were revealed: "We can't believe it's 20 years since the very first Moseley Folk."

The line-up was a fitting birthday present. Rising Irish band Kingfishr headlined on the Friday, and Welsh favourites Super Furry Animals topped the bill on Saturday, returning to live performance after almost a decade. The weekend also featured Frank Turner, the Juno Award-winning Canadian bluegrass band The Dead South and multiple Grammy winner Lucinda Williams.

Folk heritage ran right through the programme, with Jacqui McShee's Pentangle, The Longest Johns and the sibling duo Johnny and Lillie Flynn among the names. Birmingham talent was well represented too, including folk singer-songwriter Katherine Priddy, whose album These Frightening Machines was due out on 6 March 2026, as well as Bonfire Radicals, Gingham and Aayushi. Further down the bill, newer names such as Goblin Band, The Wran and Folk Bitch Trio gave festival-goers plenty to discover. In a lovely nod to the festival's roots, Birmingham band The Destroyers, who played the very first Moseley Folk in 2006, were back on the bill, while regular hoedown callers Cut A Shine kept feet moving.

The festival was founded by Gerv Havill, who is also co-director, and Carl Phillips. Over the years it has welcomed headliners such as Father John Misty, The Waterboys and Supergrass.

It has always been a festival for all ages, with family weekend passes available and children under 12 admitted free.

Co-director Gerv Havill said: "This year, we're very proud to celebrate 20 years of Moseley Folk and Arts Festival!" The anniversary year also brought stand-alone concerts alongside the main September weekend.

News about the next festival will appear on the Moseley Folk website.