The Robin Hood’s Bay Folk Weekend 2025

he Robin Hood’s Bay Folk weekend has been a highlight of the Robin Hood’s Bay year for decades, and this year is going to be no exception – from The Bay Hotel to Boggle Hole, the area will be full of music and creativity.

The 2025 Bay Folk Weekend will be held between Friday 6 June and Sunday 8 June at venues all around the village. This year’s amazing event will feature old faces and new, including the Café Dash, a concert by the Fylingdales Folk Choir, open mic sessions, singarounds, acoustic sessions and a writing workshop. 

The Bay Folk Weekend began in the 1970s, attracting folk music, dance and song from across Yorkshire and further afield. In the past, the weekend has included ceilidhs, ‘Survivor’s Sessions’, and dancers on the Dock. The Café Dash started in 2016 and has raised much money for the RNLI.
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The Bay Folk Club, or Bayfolk, will be hosting open mic and singaround sessions at Wainwright’s Bar, Bay Hotel on the Friday and Saturday night. Bayfolk was born out of the 1960s folk revival, with Brian Krengel, the warden of Boggle Hole Youth Hostel, as one of its founders. Bayfolk has inhabited almost all the pubs in Robin Hood’s Bay at various times in its history, including the Bay Hotel, Ye Dolphin, the Laurel and the Victoria Hotel, with appearances from The Young ‘Uns, Flossie Malavialle, Reg Meuross, Briege Murphy, John Connolly, Liz Law and Terry Conway, Bernie Parry, Duncan McFarlane, and our local legend Martin Carthy. It is now in Wainwright’s Bay every Friday night at 7 pm hosted by guitarist Garry Burnett, a club regular for over 20 years.
 
Friday 6 June – Robin Hood’s Bay
Wainright’s Bar, The Bay Hotel – live music

7 pm – The Smuggler’s Inn (upstairs) – singaround, open mic, all welcome
 
Saturday 7 June – Robin Hood’s Bay and Boggle Hole
10.30-1.30 pm – Boggle Hole Youth Hostel - A Way with Words, a fun and creative writing workshop inspired by Robin Hood’s Bay history and environment. Everybody welcome, from beginners to experienced wordsmiths, hosted by Suzanne Elvidge & Steve Hoey at the beautiful Boggle Hole Youth Hostel, walking distance (at low-tide or on the Cleveland Way) from Bay. Free to attend but bring some money for coffee and cake. Any questions email [email protected]

11 am to 4 pm – RNLI Café Dash (various venues around Bay) featuring Colin & Pip Whiddett, Ian Tyzack, Debra Simpson, Chris Denley, Derek Waudby, Anya Wiltschinsky &James Nicholson, Steve & Mary-Anne Hindley, Phil Friend & Lynne, and John Windle. The Smugglers band will be performing and collecting for the RNLI midday onwards in the Laurel

PM – Wainright’s Bar – informal singaround and open mic

12ish onwards – The Dock – dance display with Thieving Magpie Morris

2-5 pm – Boggle Hole Youth Hostel – acoustic open mic led by Garry Burnett & Rob Parker

7 pm – Wainright’s Bar, Bay Hotel – informal open mic session – all welcome – hosted by Garry Burnett

7 pm – Tea, Toast and Post – Guthrie & Friends, a themed session hosted by John Tunaley, Steve Foster & Ken McCall

7 pm – Fylingdales Village Hall – Fylingdales Folk Choir, with special guests Glaisdale Clog, who will be performing traditional dances. Everyone welcome to join in a feast of folk music and song. Entry is free, with a voluntary donation in aid of the RNLI
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Sunday 8 June – Robin Hood’s Bay
10.30 am – Folk Service at St Stephens Church, Robin Hood’s Bay led by Steve Foster & Rob Parker

11 am to 4 pm – RNLI Café Dash (various venues around Bay) featuring Edwina Hayes, Eddie Marrion, Suzy Bradley, Ian Walker, Mathew Stringer, Dave Hume & Lucia White, Wolf Housman, and George and Jane Smith

12ish onwards – The Dock – dance display with Thieving Magpie Morris
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