Góbéfest, Manchester’s original international urban folk music and dance festival, is back for its ninth installment.
The three day weekend promises an expertly curated mix of bands and solo artists, folk dance troupes, choirs and more from Central and Eastern Europe and beyond.
Independent food and drink traders will be serving up favourites from around the Carpathian Basin, from giant pans of goulash, to the fried flat breads known as lángos and Transylvanian barbecued chimney cakes. Alongside a cocktail bar, there will also be a Hungarian wine stall and a palinka (Hungarian fruit brandy) stand.
Free activities in the family tent include music and dance workshops, arts and crafts and storytelling.
Highlights of the pay what you feel event include a Sunday headline slot from Rioghnach Connolly (current RTÉ Best Folk Singer & BBC Folk Singer of the Year) & her band Honeyfeet.
Travelling from Transylvania are the Udvarhely Folk Dance Workshop, who will be performing an original dance production called Rare Hungarian. Whilst Tilia, a five piece jazz band from Budapest features founder Róza Hárs singing in both Hungarian and English.
Festival regulars and returners include Mátyás Király Zither Ensemble from Hungary, Salford University’s global music group Scattered Collective (South Africa/ Portugal/ Bulgaria/ England/ Ireland/ Wales) and La Mort Subite, a Transylvanian-fronted Balkan Gypsy band, featuring accordion, double bass and hurdy gurdy.
Hebden Bridge’s Soma Music, who recently headlined the Todmorden Folk Festival, are returning to Góbéfest for 2025, as are Chorlton’s all-ages Kalinka Balalaika Orchestra, formed in 1984 and the only regularly performing balalaika group in the UK.
Returning for the second year are Tulipan Zither Band & Folk Arts Academy, a 4-14 group of young enthusiasts who play the citera, a unique Hungarian version of the string instrument.
Sunday, which has become known as dance day, will feature a rainbow riot of groups from six Central and Eastern European countries. Podilya, from Ukraine, Tezaur, from Romania, Polonez, from Poland. Bulgarian Rhythms and TK Ripni Ka, from Bulgaria, Hunique, from Hungary and Perkunas, from Lithuania, will showcase the unique costumes, rhythms and steps from their countries.
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.
Góbéfest
Music, dance, culture and cuisine from around the Carpathian Basin to the Baltics
Friday 20-Sunday 22 June 2025
Cathedral Gardens, Manchester M4 3BG
Pay what you feel
