Góbéfest: Celebrate Transylvania and Hungary in Manchester in June!

Source: Góbéfest

Góbéfest, Manchester’s original urban folk music and dance festival with strong Central and Eastern European leanings, is back!

Established in 2017, Góbéfest has its roots firmly in Transylvania and Hungary, but over the years has expanded its reach to cherry pick some of the finest performing artists from around the Carpathian Basin and beyond.

Returning to Cathedral Gardens from Friday 21-Sunday 23 June 2024, the festival will for the first time be selling day or weekend tickets for the Friday and Saturday. Sunday – which has become known as Dance Day – will remain free.

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 flat breads known as lángos and Transylvanian barbecued chimney cakes.

Alongside craft beer, there will also be a Hungarian wine stall and a palinka (Hungarian fruit brandy) bar. Free activities in the family tent include music and dance workshops, storytelling and crafts.

Friday’s headliner, Parno Graszt has been described as ‘the source of gypsy music’ and will be performing exclusively at Góbéfest in what will be the band’s first UK appearance in a decade.

Saturday’s dual headliners are klezmer and Balkan music supremos She’Koyokh and Manchester’s own Rioghnach Connolly and Honeyfeet.

On Saturday 22 June 2024, Márta Sebestyén, Judit Andrejszki & Béla Szerényi Jr. will be in concert at Hallé St Michael’s as a Góbéfest special event.

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

Early bird tickets for Friday 21 and Saturday 22 June are £25 (£12.50 child over 5) until the end of March. After that, tickets are £35 (£17.50 child over 5). Family tickets are also available for £60 (early bird) and £80. Sunday 23 June is free entry all day. Tickets at gobefest.com/tickets.