Góbéfest, Manchester’s original international urban folk music and dance festival, is back for its ninth installment.
The three day event promises an expertly curated mix of bands and solo artists, folk dance troupes, choirs and more from central and eastern Europe and beyond.
FOOD & DRINK
Independent food and drink traders, including The Hungry Hungarian and Chimney Cake Paradise, will be serving up favourites from around the Carpathian Basin and beyond. Expect giant pans of paprika laden goulash, the fried sour cream and cheese-topped flatbreads known as lángos, stuffed cabbage, ciorba de burta (tripe soup thickened with egg yolks) and Transylvanian barbecued chimney cakes. Alongside a cocktail bar, there will also be a Hungarian wine stall and a palinka stand, which is a Hungarian fruit brandy.
FAMILY ACTIVITIES
Free activities in the family tent include traditional folk arts and crafts, zither and balalaika workshops and gingerbread decorating. Attend a baby music session and try out different folk dance styles, from Bulgarian to Ukrainian.
Highlights of the pay what you feel event include a Sunday headline slot from Rioghnach Connolly (current RTÉ1 Best Folk Singer) & her band Honeyfeet, Udvarhely Folk Dance Workshop from Transylvania, MIRO and Oojami.
Established in 2017, Góbéfest has its roots firmly in Transylvania, but over the years has expanded its reach to cherry pick some of the finest performing artists from central and eastern Europe, Ireland and the UK.
Festival lineup
Friday 12-11pm
Góbéfest 2025 kicks off with children’s orchestra and festival regulars Mátyás Király Zither Ensemble (3.30pm) all the way from Hungary.
Also on the bill are Salford University’s global music group Scattered Collective (7pm), making a welcome return, and the Hungarian-Japanese Römer Family (5.30pm): mum and dad Miki and Adam play classical and traditional folk music with their children Lorand and Lilia.
Playing a headline set from 8.30pm are ZAKVAS, previously known as From East to East. Their music is inspired by eastern Europe and the Balkans, with gypsy, klezmer, Turkish, Polish, and Russian influences.
Saturday from 11am-11pm
Starting off Festival Saturday are Tulipan Zither Band (11.30am), a group of young Hungarian-heritage enthusiasts aged 4-14 who rehearse weekly in Old Trafford.
Hungarian operetta singer, Elizabeth Sillo (12.15pm), who is a member of the BBC National Chorus of Wales, follows, plus a second performance from Hungarian children’s orchestra Mátyás Király Zither Ensemble (1pm).
From 2pm, Hunique, a group of Hungarian dance enthusiasts living in London will perform, accompanied by Folktone Band.
Travelling from Transylvania are the Udvarhely Folk Dance Workshop, who will be performing an original dance piece called Rare Hungarian at 3pm, followed by a traditional participatory dancehouse event at 4.30pm.
Early evening will see Tilia (6pm), a five piece jazz band from Budapest featuring founder Róza Hárs singing in both Hungarian and English.
Next up are Hebden Bridge’s Soma Music (7.30pm), who recently headlined the Todmorden Folk Festival, returning to Góbéfest for 2025.
Saturday’s headliners are La Mort Subite, a vibrant Transylvanian-fronted Balkan gypsy band, featuring accordion, double bass and hurdy gurdy, who last played the Festival in 2018. They are expected on stage around 8.30pm.
Sunday 11am-11pm
Making a welcome return to the Festival on Sunday at around noon are Chorlton’s all-ages Kalinka Balalaika Orchestra, formed in 1984 and the only regularly performing balalaika group in the UK.
Sunday afternoon, which has become known for its folk dance lineup, features a rainbow riot of groups: Podilya, from Ukraine, Tezaur, from Romania, Polonez, from Poland, Bulgarian Rhythms and TK Ripni Ka, from Bulgaria, Hunique, from Hungary, Perkunas, from Lithuania, and KaskoSan, a cultural group founded by eastern European Roma, living in Bolton and Oldham.
Sunday evening features Festival returners MIRO (Manchester International Roots Orchestra), a 2022 headliner, warming up for headliner Rioghnach Connolly & Honeyfeet, who will be on stage at around 7.30pm.
Playing out the Festival from 9pm, is Oojami, who describe themselves as a ‘pulsating blast from the global jukebox’. Fronted by Turkish musician Necmi Cavli, recently relocated to Manchester from London, they have been making waves on the electronic scene since the 90s.
