Cromer’s ever popular music festival Folk On The Pier will be celebrating its twenty fifth production in the town’s Pavilion Theatre on the 9th – 11th May 2025. What started as a toe-in-the-water twenty-seven years ago has grown into one of the UK’s most enduring and popular annual events attracting some of the best known artists on the folk rock music scene.
This year the festival bids a fond farewell to its original patron Ashley Hutchings MBE to welcome Richard Digance in his stead. Ashley, who will be celebrating his 80th birthday with a big celebratory event in 2025, says. “Richard is the perfect choice to take over as festival patron. I know he loves the event, and he is well loved by the audience. I have been proud to be the festival’s patron over many years and have welcomed the opportunity to introduce some very talented young artists who have graced the stage with me”
Richard is no stranger to the festival having performed many times both at the event and local solo shows, Richard will be on stage during the Sunday evening concert.
It’s a great honour to be the new patron of Folk On The Pier. I can boast a BAFTA Nomination and a British Academy of Songwriters Gold Award, plus creating the New Forest Folk Festival and presenting Britain’s first commercial radio folk programme on Capital Radio BUT this new honour is above them all! After 55 years, I’m finally recognised by the folk scene where I learnt my trade! So, I thank Scott and his team for such an honour – Richard Digance
Folk on The Pier has always championed a diverse programme of artists. Favourite and oft requested artists include OYSTERBAND, HOME SERVICE and MERRY HELL who take their place alongside new and different faces. Many of these – including BOUNTY HOUNDS. JOE & MARY and ERIC SEDGE are from the local area and East Anglia. THE LOST TRADES, DORIE JACKSON, KING’S GAMBIT, will make their debut appearance on the Pavilion stage along with former Pentangle vocalist JACQUI MCSHEE who will be performing as a duo with guitar maestro KEVIN DEMPSEY.
The rest of the line-up features returning artists SAINTS AND SINNERS, BROOKS WILLIAMS, MEGSON, HUW WILLIAMS and the URBAN FOLK QUARTET with the northeast well represented with BOB FOX SONGMAN FROM WARHORSE and JEZ LOWE AND THE BAD PENNIES.
Full weekend passes to cover all six concerts are available now priced £140 offering a £20 discount on the cost of six individual tickets. Tickets for individual concerts will go on sale from 2nd December priced at £30 for the Friday evening and £26 each for the other five. Available to order from the box office on 01263 512495 or via www.cromerpier.co.uk
If you are looking for a place to stay for Folk on The Pier then check out our interactive accommodation map below. Just add in the dates you want to stay and venue and you will be able to see what’s available nearby!
