Blowzabella Festival

We are delighted to announce the return of international folk legends Blowzabella for a fourth festival weekend of workshops, sessions, concerts and dances at Halsway Manor. The band are very pleased to invite Duo-Vargoz as their guests for the 2026 event. The Vargoz brothers showcase music and dance from the French Alps where they live. We're delighted to welcome both bands to Halsway in 2026.

“If ever a band was overdue a lifetime achievement award it is Blowzabella. Not only have they written a stack of what have become standard tunes in sessions on both sides of the channel, but they have also been largely responsible for reviving English Bagpipes and hurdy-gurdy, instruments that played a foundational role in traditional music.” Andrew Letcher, SONGLINES.

An outline programme for the weekend will be available in advance, and will include all your favourite dance and instrumental workshops, bals, sessions, relaxed activities, and the Halsway Cream Tea.

An extra night is available on the Sunday night for those wishing to extend their stay, for £65 per person (£45 for campers). Please add this to your booking form in the 'Other Comments' section.

All events take place in the Manor or on the Marquee Stage in the gardens (accessed by steps). Camping is onsite in the water gardens.

Who is it for?

Blowzabella have been staging folk music and dance workshop events in Britain and abroad since 1984. The aim is to encourage people of abilities to participate at whatever level they are comfortable with. Many participants have gone on to form bands and dance groups as a result of attending Blowzabella workshops. All the members of the band are highly experienced at teaching people of all ages and abilities. The band are joined by their invited guests, the Due-Vargoz, who will both play for dancing and offer workshops too! Due to the number of guests on site, and with safety and wellbeing in mind, participants must be aged 16 or above.

The Artists

Blowzabella is a genuinely unique band that makes an inimitable, driving, drone-based wall-of-sound played with a fabulous sense of melody, rhythmic expertise and sheer feeling They compose their own music which is influenced by English and European traditional folk music and song – a shared culture with ancient roots.

Andy Cutting – diatonic button accordion;  Jo Freya – vocals, saxophones, clarinet; Paul James – vocals, bagpipes, saxophones; David Shepherd – violin; Barn Stradling – bass guitar; Jon Swayne – bagpipes, saxophones.

Many of their tunes are “standards” in the modern British/European folk repertoire and are played by people all over the world. Bands across Europe who experiment with folk music often cite Blowzabella as a major influence. Much loved and respected, there is no one else quite like them.