Góbéfest

Góbéfest, Manchester’s original international urban folk music and dance festival, is set to take place on Friday 20-Sunday 22 September 2024.

Joint Friday headliners for the indie event, which turns eight this year, are gypsy folk band of the moment and Preston’s finest Mobius Loop and klezmer and Balkan music supremos She’Koyokh.

Whilst Saturday’s headliner is Magyar Banda, an 8 piece folk band all the way from Budapest.

Other acts playing across two stages for the three day event include Koszika & the Hotshots, Karolina Wegrzyn & Banda, Csjilla, Réka-Kata Regián & Szabolcs Horváth and Solymosi Duo. Further local and international acts are still to be confirmed.

The weekend promises an expertly curated mix of bands and solo artists, folk dance troupes, choirs and more.

Independent food and drink traders will be serving up favourites from around the Carpathian Basin, from giant pans of goulash, to the fried flat breads known as lángos and Transylvanian barbecued chimney cakes. Alongside craft beer, there will also be a Hungarian wine stall, a cocktail bar and a palinka (Hungarian fruit brandy) bar.

Free activities in the family tent include music and dance workshops, arts and crafts and storytelling.

Established in 2017, Góbéfest has its roots firmly in Transylvania, but over the years has expanded its reach to cherry pick some of the finest performing artists from all over the UK and Europe.

Returning to Cathedral Gardens, the festival will for the first time be selling day or weekend tickets for the Friday and Saturday. Sunday – which has become known as Folk Dance Day – will remain free.

Friday line up from 4pm

Mobius Loop, She’Koyokh, Solymosi Duo, Réka-Kata Regián & Szabolcs Horváth,

Saturday line up from 11am

Magyar Banda, Koszika & the Hotshots, Karolina Wegrzyn & Banda, Csjilla, Réka-Kata Regián & Szabolcs Horváth, Solymosi Duo, Hunique dance ensemble, Soma Music

Sunday line up from 11am

Hunique Hungarian folk ensemble, Romanian folk dance group Ansamblul Tezaur, Bulgarian folklore club Ripni-Ka, Podilya Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, Polonez Polish dance group, Monty Folk, Lazlo Baby, Kalinka Balalaika Orchestra, Tulipan Zither & Folk Arts

Keep an eye on the Góbéfest website or socials for updates as more acts are added to the bill.

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