Although the lead singer of the 1980s band Fairground Attraction, famous for singing ‘It’s got to be Perfect’, has pulled out of the Purbeck Valley Folk Festival, the show will still go on.
The popular four day festival takes place from Thursday 20th to Sunday 23rd August 2026 at Purbeck Valley Farm, just off the A351 between Corfe Castle and Harman’s Cross in Dorset.
Eddi Reader, formerly lead singer with Fairground Attraction, has had to pull out of her 40-year anniversary tour to Purbeck
“My apologies to everyone”
Eddi Reader became an overnight star in 1988 as her band soared to number one with the single Perfect before embarking on a 40 year solo career, and fans were looking forward to her Purbeck performance.
However she has now cancelled her appearance citing unforeseen and challenging circumstances. In a message to festival goers Eddi said:
“I will miss performing for you all this summer – my apologies to everyone who has made travel plans. Right now I need to be at home to give my undivided love and care. See you all later in the year. Much love, Eddi xx”
Bristol based sea shanty group The Longest Johns have wowed Purbeck Valley Folk Festival in previous years
Swanage sea shanty singers Kelp! will be appearing at the Purbeck Valley Folk Festival this year
Purbeck’s sea shanty favourites
Despite the cancellation of the headline act Eddi Reader, there’s still an impressive number of leading folk musicians including Jiggy, Baskery, Santou Susso and the Gambian Superstars, Sam Kelly and the Lost Boys and Martha Tilston.
This is alongside emerging performers through the festival’s Purbeck Rising programme, which encourages new talent.
International stars include Irish folk rock band the Roving Crows, bluegrass band the Martha Spencer Wonderland Trio from Virginia, USA, Turkish folk duo Destan Donemi and Brazilian friends the Holandestinas.
Purbeck’s sea shanty favourites Kelp and the Wareham Whalers will both perform at the festival, along with the Purbeck Rising winners from 2021, Dead Horse Bay, who have since made a big name for themselves.
The Bierfass Oompah Band area promising to make a big noise at the festival
The Folk Orc band invites festival goers to join them in making music
Promising to make a big noise
The Bierfass Band, 12 Dorset musicians in Bavarian costume who serve up a mix of oompah classics, polkas, waltzes and drinking songs, blended with British pop favourites and featuring trumpets, trombones, euphoniums, sousaphone, horn and percussion, also promise to make a big noise.
One of this year’s returning favourites is Folk Orc’s Festival Band, which invites people of all ages and abilities to join in, either by bringing along their own instrument or borrowing a fiddle, mandolin or banjo to learn a few tunes and experience playing as part of a group.
Even teenagers are being catered for, at The Hangout, a dedicated space offering creative projects, board games, music jams and even Dungeons and Dragons sessions where young people can meet others of a similar age.
Fancy dress is always positively encouraged at the festival
There’s always something unexpected round every corner
“A festival that’s loved by everyone”
Festival director Catherine Burke said:
“Purbeck Vally Folk Festival is a festival that’s loved by everyone because there’s loads for kids to do, loads for parents and loads for the old folkies!
“We have four evenings and three full days of outstanding, original young folk, roots and world music across five stages, thanks to a brilliant musical line up.
“We are so much more than just a great music festival, as we always make sure there’s an unprecedented number of activities for children, a huge craft area for adults, a perfect location and a great selection of real ales and ciders.
“Tickets for 2026 have been selling fast already, and actually record numbers of festival goers bought tickets for this year before they even left the site last year, so hurry if you want to attend.”
The festival features five professional stages across the farm and a weekend of camping in the Purbeck Hills
Professional stages in barns
Catherine added:
“We always encourage young up and coming musicians, as well as booking national and international folk acts and a good variety of local music, to make sure there’s something for everyone.
“We have three full days – and Thursday evening – of brilliant music across five stages, as well as music workshops and sessions.
“It was always important to us to have entertainment for children, so there’s an area with a climbing wall, archery, crafts, storytelling, puppet shows, theatre, games, circus skills, and clowns, along with youth music workshops.
“And we have also built up our craft area, which now includes pottery, blacksmithing, crochet, origami, candle, jewellery and tutu making!
“We have a unique farm arena, with professional stages in barns. Because it’s a little farmyard, it doesn’t take long to walk from one stage to the other, and it’s always easy to find your friends – and of course, camping here is in an idyllic landscape with beautiful views!”
Further information
- More about the Purbeck Valley Folk Festival
- Adult weekend tickets, including camping, cost £195, with youth tickets for 13 to 17 year olds priced at £95, and children’s tickets for four to twelve year olds at £40. Under fours go free, but still require a ticket to be booked
