Free

Throughout the weekend many performances are free to watch and listen to. You are welcome to turn up to watch any of the free events. We recommend arriving early, to make sure you get a good view.

Click on any of the entries below to get more information. At the bottom of this page is a map of the festival locations.

These sessions are free to enjoy, although we welcome donations to cover our costs. The Festival is a non profit organisation run by volunteers, if we don’t cover our costs, they’ll be no more festivals! Please bring lots of change to donate on the day.

Loose women

Loose women

Loose Women was born in 1977 when an advert went out asking for Loose Women needed for a respectable pastime! In fact...

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Mendip Morris

Mendip Morris

Founded in 1956 as “Mendip Morris Men”, although since 2018 they've been a mixed side. They are based in Congresbury,...

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Marlings Morris

Marlings Morris

Marlings Morris are a mixed North West Morris side from Edenbridge in Kent. They dance in blue, purple, white and...

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Garston Gallopers

Garston Gallopers

Garston Gallopers are a mixed Morris dancing side based at East Garston in the Valley of the Racehorse, West...

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Hook Eagle Morris

Hook Eagle Morris

In 1991, Stuart Foster, Vicar of St John the Evangelist Church in Hook, held an auction of promises to raise money for...

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Wicket Brood

Wicket Brood

Wicket Brood are a Border side formed in 1994 who practice in the village of Bricket Wood, near St Albans in...

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The Salts

The Salts

Seasoned musicians The Salts create are creating one of the most exciting and energetic folk concepts. Their sound is...

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Krelys

Krelys

KRELYS are a high energy Irish trad band from Cornwall. They have a repertoire comprising the best of the tradition –...

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Purbeck Ukulele Band

Purbeck Ukulele Band

Purbeck U3A Ukuleles are a group of joyous people of mixed abilities all wanting to learn and play the ukulele. The...

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Buffalo Gals

Buffalo Gals

Buffalo Gals are an Old Time Country String Band, perhaps the UK’s favourite. They are at the forefront of the current...

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Blackrock

Blackrock

Blackrock School of Irish Dance are traditional Irish dancers. They wear Traditional Irish dancing dresses, hand made...

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Dr Turbevilles

Dr Turbevilles

Dr. Turberville's tend to go dressed as pirates when dancing in Swanage. Dr Turberville’s Morris is a mixed Morris...

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Winkleigh Morris

Winkleigh Morris

Winkleigh Morris is an inclusive and entertaining side presenting new dances along with the traditional. They have...

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Basingclog Morris

Basingclog Morris

Basingclog are clog side from Basingstoke who dance the North West style of clog, performing dances from the North of...

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New Forest Meddlars

New Forest Meddlars

New Forest Meddlars were formed in 1990 and are a mixed Morris side dancing mainly in the Border and Cotswold...

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Madder Mill Molly

Madder Mill Molly

Madder Mill Molly is a mixed gender Molly team based in the Carshalton/Wallington area, who, after much research and...

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Cry Havoc

Cry Havoc

Cry Havoc are a mixed side – mixed genders, ages, backgrounds, abilities; with a base of members who live in Botley,...

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Full Moon Morris

Full Moon Morris

Full Moon Morris are a mixed Cotswold Morris dancing side loosely based around South Wales, UK, although members come...

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Magog ladies

Magog ladies

Magog , from Horsham in Sussex, were formed in 1974 and will be celebrating 50 years in 2024. To begin with Magog...

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Phoenix Morris

Phoenix Morris

Phoenix Morris are a side of Morris dancing men and women based in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire and meet every...

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Anonymous Morris

Anonymous Morris

Anonymous Morris are a mixed border Morris side from Poole with an energetic, free-flowing dance style. Their tatters...

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Aurora

Aurora

Aurora are an Appalachian step team, based in Exeter. They have been performing for 4 years at various festivals and...

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Sarum Morris

Sarum Morris

Sarum Morris was founded in 1982; they're a group of Morris dancers - both men and ladies - based in Salisbury,...

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Taeppas Tump

Taeppas Tump

Tæppa's Tump is a Ladies North West Morris side which was formed in 1981. It's a women's Morris side based in...

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Southern Star

Southern Star

In 1936, a group of miners in the village of Lingdale in Yorkshire were filmed by Lady Trevelyn, performing their...

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Dorset Buttons

Dorset Buttons

Dorset Buttons is a women's NW side wearing red & green dresses, white shirts and red clogs, with straw hats...

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Moonlight Morris

Moonlight Morris

Moonlight Morris are a new small side of friends who formed to dance unusual and self-penned dances. Their tatters of...

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Hobos Morris

Hobos Morris

Hobos Morris was formed in 1993. They're female border dancers with a great band, based in Poole, Dorset. Their first...

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Baharah Dance

Baharah Dance

Baharah Dance are a Swanage based group of dancers, who respectfully share our love of Egyptian and middle eastern...

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Armaleggan

Armaleggan

Armaleggan are performing at the 2022 Swanage Folk Festival, in Multi-coloured tatters, black and white faces, top...

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Alton Morris

Alton Morris

Alton Morris will be in their red and green tatter jackets and bowler hats at Swanage Folk Festival September 2022...

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Spank the Planks

Spank the Planks

Spank The Planks was formed in 1988 and is based in Bournemouth, Dorset. They specialise in Appalachian clog dancing...

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Old Palace Clog

Old Palace Clog

Old Palace Clog are a North West style Morris side who are appearing at the Swanage Folk Festival 2022. Their dance...

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Ellington Morris

Ellington Morris

Ellington Morris are a Cotswold style Morris side who are appearing at the Swanage Folk Festival. They are a...

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Steps In Time

Steps In Time

Steps in Time perform several styles of English dance, including Step, Playford, Dorset dances. They all wear a...

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Holly Copse Molly

Holly Copse Molly

Holly Copse Molly are a Morris side who perform Molly from the Fens. Their kit is Magenta, yellow and black and...

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Kvet and Kvitek

Kvet and Kvitek

They all have traditional folklore costume including shoes from Czech and Slovak folk traditions. In Czech and Slovak...

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Rockhopper Morris

Rockhopper Morris

Rockhopper Morris perform Cotswold dances from the modern tradition of Raglan, first developed by Bantam Cocks, which...

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Mr Wilkins Shilling

Mr Wilkins Shilling

Mr Wilkins is a mixed gender North West Morris side based in Bath, England. They dance in Red and Black skirts, white...

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Quayside Cloggies

Quayside Cloggies

Quayside Cloggies are a North West style Morris side who are appearing at the Swanage Folk Festival 2023. They wear...

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These sessions are free to enjoy, although we welcome donations to cover our costs. The Festival is a non profit organisation run by volunteers, if we don’t cover our costs, they’ll be no more festivals! So, please bring lots of change to donate on the day.