Hello Ely Folk! Did you know that you can spread the cost of tickets over three instalments interest-free via Klarna? 😀 Head over to the tickets page on our website, open the instructions and off you go. Less strain on your bank balance and we'll see you for our 40th! 💃 Photo by Nigel Graver.

Hello Ely Folk! Thanks to Mike East Anglian Festival Network we were delighted to speak to Open Air Business recently about how the festival works behind the scenes. Do have a read if you're interested in that sort of thing. Some great pictures too. www.yumpu.com/en/document/...

Hello Ely Folk! Some non-Ely news as we're delighted to draw your attention to the opening night of the Royston Arts Festival. It features Tin Giants, who played an wonderful set at Ely in July and the equally wonderful Bird in the Belly for a mere £13. Check out their website for more great stuff.

Hello Ely Folk! Delighted to share this podcast from Mike Wistow of folking.com and Wistow's world, with music from this years acts and an interview with one of the festival organisers (me!). Well worth your time, hope you enjoy it. www.mixcloud.com/MikeWistow/w...

Hello Ely Folk! Delighted to announce the first artists for our 40th in 2026. We have our wonderful patrons Boo Hewerdine and Brooks Williams plus Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage with full band and the frontline folk of Seize The Day. Much more including headliners to come. Early bird tickets available!

Hello Ely Folk! It's time to announce the top 3 acts at the festival as voted for by you! Third, the thunderous Dhol Foundation, second the legendary @oysterband.bsky.social, and top of pile the amazing @samkellymusic.bsky.social and The Lost Boys. Photos by @nikkigeast.bsky.social and Sue Gwynne.

Hello Ely Folk! We've just about finished our tidying up and putting away after the festival and we still have some unclaimed lost property. If you lost anything, in particular a musical instrument, whether in the photos or not, comment here or PM us on Facebook so we can arrange it's return.

Hello Ely Folk! Today we thought we'd show you some pictures of the Saturday Morris parade. A beautiful day, brilliant sunshine, great costumes and amazing dancing! Photos by Sue Gwynne and Nigel Graver, and more on our Facebook page.

Hello Ely Folk, we've had another review! Thanks very much to Mike Wistow of folking.com for his words on "a splendid event". Mike seems to have managed to see almost everyone and everything, which must deserve an award! Read his thoughts here: folking.com/keeping-it-l... Photo by Andrew Moore

Hello Ely Folk! These lovely people are happy because they've done our survey. 😀 If you haven't we'd really love it if you would: www.surveymonkey.com/r/6JFBMHX before it closes Friday at midnight. We value your opinions and they help us improve things. Thanks all. Photo @nikkigeast.bsky.social

Hello Ely Folk! A quick reminder that our photo competition close on Thursday 31st July at midnight. Don't miss out on a chance to win weekend tickets for next year's 40th festival. Details here: elyfolkfestival.co.uk/workshops-co... Good luck! Photo by Andrew Moore.

Hello Ely Folk, photos from a fab Saturday night with @oysterband.bsky.social The Dhol Foundation @dannyandthechamps.bsky.social Paul McClure Gaz Brookfield Sound of the Sirens @eveselis.bsky.social Ags Connolly. We should do it again in 2026! Photos @nikkigeast.bsky.social Andrew Moore Sue Gwynne.

Hello Ely Folk, it's time for our first batch of photos from Festival Saturday! And what a great afternoon it was with Keith Donnelly, @isleaveashanty.bsky.social Roswell Road, Nick Lawrence, The Cain Pit and more. Photos by @nikkigeast.bsky.social Andrew Morgan and Nigel Graver.

Hello Ely Folk, as some of you will have seen we have another review, this time from Ely first-timer Neil King and the excellent @fateamagazine.bsky.social. Lots of photos too. Click on the link to read. Spoiler 2: he liked us as well 😀 Many thanks to Neil and additional photographer Mal Thomas.

Hello Ely Folk, we've had a review! Many thanks to Danny Neill for an interesting and thoughtful piece with plenty of focus on lesser-known acts. Well worth your time to read. fruit-tree-records.com/2025/07/17/e... Spoiler: he liked us! 😀 Photo by Nigel Graver.

Hello Ely Folk! Has it really been a whole week since we opened our gates and all these wonderful performers filled our Friday with glorious music? Seems like only yesterday. @samkellymusic.bsky.social Photos by @nikkigeast.bsky.social and Andrew Morgan

Hello Ely Folk! We're going to be posting a LOT of photos over the next few weeks and where better to start with some of the unsung heroes who make everything happen. Photos by Andrew Moore and @nikkigeast.bsky.social

Morning Ely Folk. This is our site on another lovely morning. Not litter picked, not cleaned, just immaculate. Huge thanks to everyone who attended, performed and worked for leaving it this way and for making it such a brilliant weekend. We hope to see you all next year for our 40th. Big love ❤️

Hello again Ely Folk! We try to improve the festival every year and your opinions are a really important part of that. Some of you have filled out paper surveys on site but we also have it online: www.surveymonkey.com/r/6JFBMHX It takes five minutes and we’d be really grateful. Thanks very much.

Hello again Ely Folk! We hope you’re all having a great time and can’t wait to come back next year. If so, our Early Bird tickets are now on sale here: elyfolkfestival.co.uk/tickets/ Just sayin…😃

Hello Ely Folk, it’s competition time! If you fancy bagging a couple of tickets for next year’s festival (our 40th!) then have a go at our photo competition. All details here: elyfolkfestival.co.uk/workshops-co... Good luck!

Well that was fun Ely Folk! @oysterband.bsky.social The Dhol Foundation Sound of the Sirens Danny & The Champions of the World Paul McClure Ags Connolly Eve Selis Gaz Brookfield and more. And more to come today! Keep an eye out for a competition and 2026 ticket announcement later this morning.

Morning Ely Folk! A hot one today again so please take precautions. Not many photos from yesterday - too busy! - but we were delighted to welcome Dotty McLeod from BBC Cambridgeshire, Matthew Hudson from ITV and see Kelvin Davies & Chloe Turner kicking things off in fine style. More pics later!

Hello Ely Folk! It’s starting to look a lot like a festival. 😃 Our newly decorated Nightgale stage awaits performers, there’s music in the bar and starshade, the Ali Harris Therapy & Co Teen Tent is hosting a game of Jenga and the children’s area is almost finished!

Morning Ely Folk, today’s the day! Still stuff to do but the gin bar ‘s built, the bar is ready to go (you can’t drive into it though!) our lovely traders have arrived and you can just see Leon Lewis already up making fabulous food. See you later!

Hello Ely Folk. It’s going to be scorching on Saturday so we have decided to cancel Dog Bingo for this year. We know how much owners and participants enjoy it but it’s simply not fair on the dogs to be out in the sun all day. We’re sure you understand and rest assured, it will be back next year.

Hello Ely Folk! Going to be another hot one but work continues apace. Here you can see our sign, with lovely decorations from Jo Pluckrose, one of our two starshades, our first trader, the inside of Kingfisher complete with floor for ceilidhs. Onwards!

Hello Ely Folk! It’s a glorious day and the site is taking shape. Our Peregrine stage, complete with roof, is up and in the second picture you can see, from the left, the children’s tent, the Teen Tent (courtesy of Ali Harris Therapy), the Kingfisher stage and the Nightingale stage. See you soon!

Morning Ely Folk! The Festival camp site will open at 11am on Friday. Please don't arrive early as it leads to queues on the main road. The postcode is CB7 5TR and the entrance is next to Ben’s Yard. What3Words code is ///headlight.blip.courage. Looking forward to seeing you! Photo by Andrew Moore.

Hello Ely Folk and Happy "Seven Days To Go" Friday! A reminder that our online box office closes at midnight on Tuesday. We will have a limited number of tickets of all types available on the gate but when they're gone they're gone. elyfolkfestival.co.uk/tickets/ Photo by @nikkigeast.bsky.social

Hello Ely Folk! Today was all about fencing, tenting and building. Starting to look recognisable now. 😀

Hello Ely Folk! We’re on site starting festival set-up and our palatial HQ caravan has arrived. 😂 The eagle-eyed may spot a few poles in the ground, the first of many. Not long now!

Hello Ely Folk. Our barbecue position is that open fires, firepits and ground level barbecues are not allowed. Charcoal barbecues must be at least 45cm off the ground and not lit within 15m of the boundary or trees. Leave spent coals until completely cold then put in a metal bin at a fire point.

Hello Ely Folk! Mackeral is sad as we haven't got quite enough dogs for Dog Bingo. He hopes dog owners read this elyfolkfestival.co.uk/workshops-co... and want to take part. He says it's fun and if you'd like to join in just drop us a PM with your dog's name. Let's make it Make Mackeral Happy Day!

Hello Ely Folk, today's the day many of you have been waiting for, Beer List Day! We will of course have more lager, cider, low alcohol, soft drinks and of course gin and cocktails but today it's about the beer! Lots of fine ales from the excellent breweries below. Bar photo @nikkigeast.bsky.social

Hello Ely Folk! A few late additions to the festival for you today. First we're delighted to welcome Chloe Smith from The Beauty Room Ely and her wonderful jewellery. Then we have the very welcome return of Isle of Ely School of Irish Dancing and Gog Magog Molly for your delight. See you there!

Hello Ely Folk! Apologies for a mistake on Friday when we posted an old version of the site plan. This is the right one! It's the same apart from adding the taxi drop-off point and no pedestrian signs on the roadway.

Hello Ely Stewards! You'll be emailed on Thursday or Friday with your duties and shifts. Please only contact the Ely Stewards email before the weekend if you are unable to come and haven't let anyone know yet. Thank you all very much, looking forward to seeing you. Photo by @nikkigeast.bsky.social

Hello Ely Folk! We were delighted to visit Emmaus Cambridge to present them with a donation of £1051.47 from our charity collection in 2024. Huge thanks to all of you who contributed. Photo by Rich Young with Trish Reed, EFF CIC chair (right), Joan Kearns, CEO Emmaus Cambridge and Emmaus Companions.

Happy Sunday Ely Folk! We're still looking for a few dogs for this year's Dog Bingo competition. Full details are here: elyfolkfestival.co.uk/workshops-co... so if you would like to take part drop us a message here. Mackerel (below) would love you to join in!

Hello Ely Folk, it's our last day split announcement and a splendid day it is. Just £62 gets you folk legend Martin Simpson, folk supergroup The Magpie Arc, @blackbeardstp.bsky.social plus all those other lovely people. Tickets: elyfolkfestival.co.uk/tickets/ Festival photo by Andrew Moore.

Hello Ely Folk, it's Saturday line-up day and what a line-up! Folk legends @oysterband.bsky.social, The Dhol Foundation, an amazing Americana evening headlined by Danny & The Champions of the World and loads more, free parking and free Under 12s. All for £64! Tickets: elyfolkfestival.co.uk/tickets/

Hello Ely Folk, it's day split time! We start with Friday, which is perfect if you just want a taster as you get @samkellymusic.bsky.social, Honey & The Bear, Tu-kay & Ryan and more, plus our real ale bar, gin bar, fabulous food and free parking for only £34! Tickets elyfolkfestival.co.uk/tickets/

Hello Ely Folk! Delighted to share today the details of our children's programme. Loads to do for kids of all ages including our new this year Teen Tent, kindly sponsored by Ali Harris Therapy, storytelling, magic, crafts, Dog Bingo and much more.

Hello Ely Folk! Unfortunately Songs of the Folk are no longer able to be at the festival. However we're delighted that Roswell Road will be replacing them. They deliver "rich harmonic beauty" (Americana UK) and "enchanting joyful Americana" (Earmilk) and we're really looking forward to seeing them.

Hello Ely dog owners! Dog Bingo will be returning in 2025! Info here elyfolkfestival.co.uk/workshops-co... If you're interested please send us a message with your dog's name. Previous and new participants all very welcome. Plus your dog gets a fab bandana as modelled here by Mackeral.

Hello Ely Folk! New for 2025 will be the Fenland Young Folk Collective, open to all musicians and singers aged 8-25. Led by Erin Brown & Barry Watson, there will be two practice sessions and a performance, all in our Nightingale stage. Full details here: elyfolkfestival.co.uk/workshops-co...

Hello Ely Folk, particularly those in Ely with small children! Finish off half term in style with a trip to see the wonderful Daria Kulesh and have a magical afternoon of fun and frolics! Parking, parents and Under 3s are free, ticket info here: elyfolkfestival.co.uk/calling-fami... See you there!

Hello Ely Folk! This is our fabulous tshirt design by @nikkigeast.bsky.social for this year, based on our three stages which are of course Peregrine, Kingfisher and Nightingale. Available in our merch tent while stocks last, which won't be long. See you in the queue!

Hello again Ely Folk! Today we're announcing our almost all of our lovely non-food traders who'll be tempting you with their wares in July. Some returning, some new. We still need one - see Wednesday's post - but in the meantime check out our Facebook page for the line-up!