Swanage Folk Festival hands out big cheques

Raising more than just a smile during the Swanage Folk Festival in September 2024 despite the wet weather, the organising committee was able to donate thousands to local good causes.

And in order to celebrate the success, an event was held on Saturday 25th January 2025 in The Showbar at The Mowlem in Swanage, to hand over some of the money raised.

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Swanage Folk festival agm

Sea shanty group Kelp take to the stage

Local bands The Savage Underdogs and Kelp

Although wellies were an essential addition to any folk dancing outfit for much of the festival, the rain didn’t put people off, so after all the costs had been covered, there was an impressive £7,000 left to give away.

But rather than make a dull January afternoon even duller with official AGM business, the folk festival team invited local bands The Savage Underdogs and Kelp to perform.

Swanage Folk festival agm

Chair of Swanage Folk Festival Jon Baker (left) gets ready to distribute the donations

“Great to support local good causes”

Chair of Swanage Folk Festival Jon Baker said:

“In the past we’ve held AGMs, which to be honest weren’t very exciting and therefore very few people turned up, so we tried something different by booking some bands and making an event of the occasion.

“We weren’t expecting it but we quickly gave away 80 tickets and everyone has turned up!

“January is a quiet month – not only are we providing some entertainment but we are also helping to support The Mowlem as a local business and filling The Showbar with customers.

“This year we’ve got £7,000 to give away and we’re able to hand out cheques for £4,000 at this event. It’s great to support local good causes as well as share some great music!”

Swanage Mayor Tina Foster, town crier Andrew Fleming and Wareham Town Crier Jacquie Hall led off the soggy parade

Keep calm and carry on despite the rain at the Swanage Folk Festival parade in 2024

Folk festival donations

  • 4th Swanage Scout Group: £1,000
  • Swanage Food Bank: £1,000
  • Swanage Disabled Club: £500
  • Swanage and Purbeck Rotary: £500
  • Allsort’d: £500
  • Dementia Friendly Purbeck: £500
Swanage Folk festival agm

Swanage Scouts get £1,000

Swanage Folk festival agm

Swanage Food Bank receives £1,000

Swanage Folk festival agm

Swanage Disabled Club get £500

Swanage Folk festival agm

Swanage and Purbeck Rotary collect £500

Swanage Folk festival agm

Allsort’d happy to receive £500

Swanage Folk festival agm

Dementia Friendly Purbeck collect £500

Acts booked for 2025

At the event Jon Baker was able to confirm some top names already booked for this year’s Swanage Folk Festival which is taking place from Friday 5th to Sunday 7th September 2025.

On the main stage will be the Bonfire Radicals, a contemporary folk band performing original and traditional tunes from Britain to the Balkans, as well as the duo Kate Griffin on banjo and Matchume Zango from Mozambique playing multi instruments.

Another big name in the world of folk who will be performing are the traditional Irish trio, Mike McGoldrick, Dezi Donnelly and Tim Edey.

In order to get a taste of what was to come, local band The Savage Underdogs, who will be appearing at the festival, performed at the event in The Showbar to much acclaim.

Sea shanty group Kelp also entertained the crowd but the show stopper of the afternoon was when the two groups combined to deliver a powerful performance together.

Savage Underdogs at the Swanage Folk Festival event

The Savage Underdogs with lead singer Matthew Williams join forces with Kelp

“Explore another dimension”

Lead singer of The Savage Underdogs and also member of Kelp, Matthew Williams from Swanage said:

“I’m still part of Kelp but The Savage Underdogs allows me to explore another dimension. It’s all folk music, so it all blends well together but there’s more of a rock vibe to the Savage Underdogs and we compose our own original material.

“We’ve actually recorded an album which is available to buy, and before the Swanage Folk Festival, we’ll be performing at Swanage Railway’s Roads to Rail steam rally in June 2025.”

Swanage Folk festival agm

The amazing Swanage Folk Festival committee (left to right)Virginia Payne, Matt Piper, Linda Corlett, Sandi Williams, Steve Williams, Angie Phillips, Jon Baker, and Claire Norman

“Volunteer for just a few hours”

Jon added:

“We’ve got a great line up organised for this September already and we’d welcome more people to come and get involved with the festival.

“It’s good fun and you can volunteer for just a few hours, while helping to raise money for worthwhile local causes and enjoying good music!”

Further information

  • Get in touch with The Savage Underdogs to buy the new album
  • More about Kelp and upcoming performances on Facebook
  • Swanage Folk Festival website for more about volunteering and the 2025 line up

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