Following its biggest spring event to date, Manchester Folk Festival is thrilled to announce its highly anticipated return from Thursday 19th – Saturday 21st March 2026. Continuing to build its reputation as “the UK’s leading urban folk festival” (Mark Radcliffe), this unique alternative to the typical folk gathering trades campsite mud for the cosy surrounds of the Northern Quarter and Ancoats.

The three-day celebration will once again bring together the best contemporary and traditional folk, roots and acoustic artists from across the UK. Performances will take place at some of the city’s most beloved venues, including Band on the Wall, Hallé St Peter’s, New Century Hall, The Stoller Hall, Night & Day, The Castle, Hallé at St Michael’s and The Smithfield Market Tavern.

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British-Ugandan singer-songwriter Daudi Matsiko‘s debut album, ‘The King Of Misery,’ is a hauntingly beautiful exploration of depression, bipolar disorder, and finding hope in that experience.

His fragile yet powerful vocals, evocative lyrics, and modern folk melodies have earned high praise from Gilles Peterson, Lauren Laverne, Jamz Supernova, Dean Jackson, Sian Eleri, Jamie Cullum, Tom Robinson, John Kennedy, Simon Phillips, and comedian and podcaster Adam Buxton.

After a standing ovation at The Great Escape Festival, and with support from POWER UP, PRS Foundation, and Alberts Favourites, Matsiko set up his own label, ‘Really Good,’ to release his debut.

Since its release, ‘The King Of Misery’ has received 4 stars in Mojo Magazine and Far Out Magazine, has been featured on several Spotify editorial playlists, been a headline feature on Bandcamp Weekly, and continues to captivate audiences worldwide. Matsiko also delivered an unforgettable performance and insightful interview on episode 215 of The Adam Buxton Podcast and gave a mesmerising live session at BBC Maida Vale for Gilles Peterson on BBC 6 Music.

With every performance life affirming and memorable in equal measure, Matsiko is not to be missed live.

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Raised in the East Yorkshire flatlands on the fringes of Hull, Katie Spencer’s landscape has always been that of open skies and widening rivers.

It is this sense of space and movement that flows through her assured guitar style and songwriting. Now, as Katie steps into this new era with a third album, her focus turns to those deeper inner spaces, inviting the listener to engage with her heartfelt and intricately-crafted songs.

Her writing, and most notably her guitar playing stems from a time when the steel-stringed instrument was truly finding its voice. Artists like Joni Mitchell, Judee Sill, Julie Byrne and perhaps most evidently Michael Chapman, weave into her sound. Katie absorbs these influences into her songwriting and with her distinctive deep vibrato and crystal-clear guitar style, she makes the music inimitably her own.