IMcIntosh

We have been attending Folk by the Oak for several years and managed to see some pretty great artists at this festival.  I have only included our favourite bands and artists although many more have appeared at Folk by the Oak.
2014 This was the first year that I visited Folk by the Oak and what an introduction with Richard Thompson, Beth Orton and Seth Lakeman. This year we travelled by train down to Hatfield, but decided in future to take our own transport as parking is free and it is so much easier to get there and back.
Beth Orton at Folk by the Oak

2015 This the first time that we had seen the The Unthanks and they were not a disappointment since this festival we have seen them several times and each time they are a treat. The Keston Cobblers’ Club were the find of this festival and over the next few years we have seen them several times mainly at the Stables in MK but also a La Scala in London.  Also appearing on the bill were Nancy Kerr, Lady Maisery, Mary Chapin Carpenter. The Sun shone on us this festival, after the showers of the previous year.

Any festival is lucky to have Bellowhead as they are sure fire bet to get any audence up and dancing. This year the crowd was really bouncing.
Bellowhead closing the show in 2015
The closing fireworks at FbtO.
Every year FbtO has fireworks to close the day and send the crowd home.
  • Afro Celt Sound System
  • Cara Dillon & Friends
  • Lau

This year the Afro Celtic Sound System closed the festival they are a band that knows how to entertain a crowd with rousing music that you cant help but dance to well jump around in the crowd.

One plus about Folk by the Oak is the the atmosphere the people at a festival makes the festival and the atmosphere at The Oak is always friendly and welcoming, never any hassle its a real feel good festival.

2017 was the year of the Levellers this I think was one of the best Folk by the Oak’s that I have been to. The Levellers always put on a great show and this was no exception they carried the crowd with anthem after anthem.
Other bands on the bill included Kate Rusby and Show of Hands.

2020 Unfortunately due to covid the festival was cancelled but I did manage to see the headliners Seasick Steve and Richard Thompson over the next two years at FbtO.

2019 Elephant Sessions, this band was a real find the are a bonus to any festival giving you music that you can’t help yourself to have a jump around too.
Topping the bill this year was Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls. Click on the image for a short video of Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls.

2018 This year we discovered CC Smugglers and what a find they were, and even better they were a local band were near to Hitchin and we were fortunate enough to see them a couple of times before they disbanded. Hopefully we will see something from members of the band in the future when they rise from the ashes.
Other bands performing this year Amy MacDonald, Billy Bragg, Eliza Carthy & The Wayward Band and The Young’uns.

Seasick Steve is one of my go to artists having seen him several times he is always special when on stage, mainly sitting but occasionally you maybe lucky enough to see him stand a jump around a bit.
Also performing were Kate Rusby and Skinny Lister.

2021 This year the festival brought us The Proclaimers, I was a little apprehensive about them closing the show but I soon found that this apprehension was unfounded and they know how to carry and audience.
We mainly went to Richard Thompson again and of course the The Unthanks, both were magical again and luckily I seen The Unthanks later in the year at Beautiful Days.