Góbéfest 2024: Manchester’s urban folk festival returns with vibrant line-up of international music, dance, and culture

Góbéfest, Manchester’s original international urban folk music and dance festival, is back in Cathedral Gardens from Friday 20-Sunday 22 September 2024.

Joint Friday headliners for the independent event, which turns eight this year, are gypsy folk band of the moment and Preston’s finest Mobius Loop and klezmer and Balkan music supremos She’Koyokh.

: Photo: Góbéfest

: Photo: Góbéfest

Whilst Saturday’s headliner is eight-piece central European folk outfit Magyar Banda, fronted by virtuoso Béla Szerény Jr., who also performs with the legendary Márta Sebestyén.

Mobius Loop. Photo: Góbéfest

Other acts playing across two stages for the three-day event include Koszika & the Hotshots, Karolina Wegrzyn & Banda, Csjilla, Réka-Kata Regián & Szabolcs Horváth and Solymosi Duo. Further local and international acts are still to be confirmed.

: She Koyokh. Photo: Góbéfest

: Magyar Banda. Photo: Góbéfest

The weekend promises an expertly curated mix of bands and solo artists, folk dance troupes, choirs and more.

Independent food and drink traders will be serving up favourites from around the Carpathian Basin, from giant pans of goulash, to the fried flatbreads known as lángos and Transylvanian barbecued chimney cakes. Alongside craft beer, there will also be a Hungarian wine stall, a cocktail bar and a palinka (fruit brandy) bar.

Free activities in the family tent include music and dance workshops, arts and crafts and storytelling.

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 all over the UK and Europe.

Photo: Góbéfest

Returning to Cathedral Gardens, the festival will for the first time be selling day or weekend tickets for Friday and Saturday. Sunday – which has become known as Dance Day – will remain free.

Góbéfest 2024 line up

Friday line up from 4pm: Mobius Loop, She’Koyokh, Réka-Kata Regián & Szabolcs Horváth Duo, Solymosi Duo
Saturday line up from 11am: Magyar Banda, Koszika & the Hotshots, Karolina Wegrzyn & Banda, Hunique Hungarian folk dance ensemble, Csjilla, Csige Ildiko & Friends, Solymosi Duo, Réka-Kata Regián & Szabolcs Horváth Duo, Soma Band, Berci Bíró
Sunday line up from 11am: Monty Folk, Lazlo Baby, Tulip Zither & Folk Arts, Kalinka Balalaika Orchestra, Hunique Hungarian folk dance ensemble, TK Ripni -Ka NW Bulgarian Dance, Tezaur Romanian Folk Dance Group, Podilya Ukrainian dance ensemble, Polonez Polish folklore group, Scattered Collective world music band

Keep an eye on the Góbéfest website or socials for updates as more acts are added to the bill.

More information on Góbéfest: