'Fantastic', 'positive' and 'celebratory' are among the words being used by the organisers of this year's Sidmouth Folk Festival to sum up the week-long event that finished on Friday, August 6.

The scaled-down event, called 'A Celebration of Sidmouth Folk Festival', was designed to keep within Covid guidelines and avoid crowded indoor gatherings. It featured ticket-only outdoor evening concerts, along with plenty of daytime entertainment in the usual locations – the Esplanade, Blackmore Gardens, the Ham and the Market Place. Running alongside the real-life festival was the online version, with virtual concerts and more than 50 Zoom workshops that will be available to view until this Sunday, August 15.

Sidmouth Nub News's photos and a video can be seen here.

In a statement published today, the organisers said: "Wow! What a fantastic return for folk music and for happy audiences in Sidmouth this week. A great time has been had by all and the atmosphere has been so positive and celebratory. Heartfelt thanks to all of you who have joined us back in Sidmouth – both in person and online."

Highlights of the Folk Festival week

The sold-out evening shows included Show of Hands, the Eliza Carthy Trio, Jackie Oates & John Spiers, Hannah Martin & Miranda Sykes, Jez Lowe, Seth Lakeman, Granny's Attic and Banter. The festival's organsisers said it was a 'total joy' to see the 'enthusiastic dancers' at Talisk's gig.

Daytime performances in Blackmore Gardens included Jim Causley, Narthen, Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage and Cohen Braithwaite, along with young artists in 'English Folk Dance and Song Society Presents' including Zoe Wren, George Sansome and The Wilderness Yet.

Around the town centre, people were entertained by street theatre from artists including Granny Turismo, The Pigeons and Beach Patrol, while at The Ham, a festive atmosphere was provided by sessions from Shooting Roots, music from Will Pound, Saul Rose and David & James Delarre and various walkabout acts.

The online festival

Online stage shows premiered daily through the week with performances from Martin Simpson, Fara, Brighde Chaimbeul and many more, including sessions from the festival's dedicated studio in Sidmouth with Alice Jones, Jez Lowe, Jack Rutter and Ben Paley and interviews with Richard Thompson, Steve Knightley and Eliza Carthy.

These performances, along with a bonus show from Tim Edy, are available on the Sidmouth Folk Festival Live website.