- Friday 31 July to Sunday 2 August 2026
After the success of the inaugural Kirkbymoorside Gateway to the Moors Music Festival last summer, the 2026 Kirkbymoorside Music Festival is going to be bigger and better, whilst still retaining the warmth and welcome of the community in this historic market town.
Encompassing and celebrating ‘Yorkshire Day’ as the focal point of the festival, the 2026 dates are Friday 31st July – Sunday 2nd August. Events will take place across town centre venues and Church Street, and, as with last year’s festival, will be a mixture of ticketed, ‘for donations’ or free events with something for everyone.
There will be more dance this year, with both Bollywood and Line Dance classes back by popular demand, 400 Roses Morris side and a Ceilidh. Also returning on the Saturday night are the Maestros who last year performed as the ‘Bootleg 60’s’ and gave an unforgettable night of live dance music. This year they will perform the music of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, and the evening is bound to sell out. Another likely sell-out is the town’s own amazing Kirkby Soul band playing live on the Friday night.
Two other ‘must-see’ acts are the Whitby singer songwriter John Drakes whose moving songs and ‘voice like warm honey’ enraptured audiences last year, and the wonderful singer songwriter ‘Boo Hewerdine’, an international star performing at the festival as a special favour to the organisers. John is supported by Lost in Eve, a female singer songwriter duo with wonderful harmonies. Boo is supported by Hull singer songwriter Tymisha who has an incredible voice, making it an unforgettable evening.
As well as Tymisha, other emerging artists to be showcased are Casper and Emma Lynne, talented young singer songwriters performing on the same bill. For Jazz fans we have the return of the John Lane on Saturday evening in All Saint’s church.
On Saturday 1st August, Yorkshire Day, the Methodist Church will be a venue dedicated to folk/ acoustic/traditional music, starting off with ukulele and then bodhrán lessons, followed by two brilliant duos, Mills and Farrell and The Browns and then local folk singer Nessy Williamson (who many enjoyed last year when she performed in the Moorside Coffee House). To finish the day off in that venue will be the Celtic Music Circle followed by a ‘sing-around’ where anyone can play.
Over the weekend, the White Swan is showcasing some of Kirkbymoorside’s own fabulous acts, including Alkelda, Spanking Monkeys, Diva Strop, the Moorside 3, the Infernos, Grayson and Jacobs and the Cover Ups.
Downstairs in the Memorial Hall all weekend will be an Acoustic Bar with free entry and specially brewed “KirkbymoorCidar” on sale. Performing amongst others are the Cox Brothers, Accord, Stubbsie, Chief and Aquarian Moon Music and across the town there will also be free performances in pubs and cafes.
On Sunday morning there will be a free two-hour children’s disco party in the Memorial Hall, due to the generous sponsorship of Little Years Nursery. There will be Country with the Howard Hebron Band in the Memorial Hall on Sunday afternoon, followed by the return of the Jackhare Ceilidh Band.
Organisers say they are delighted to have the return to All Saints Church of the Weighton Waytes Choir on Sunday afternoon, an extraordinarily moving choir that sings from the sacred to the contemporary. We are also delighted to be able to offer History Walks again, on both Friday afternoon and Sunday morning. This fascinating insight into the long history of the town was very popular last year and this year we’ll also have the new History Trail in place which is freely available for everyone.
The incredible Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band will play outside around midday on Saturday and, as a stunning finale to the festival on Sunday Evening in the James Holt Concert Hall, they will be joined by singers and musicians to perform the first ever ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts BRASS Band’.
Tickets are on sale for ticketed events at Eventbrite, with some great Early Bird and BOGOF deals. Further information and links to ticketing is available on the town website: https://www.kirkbymoorsidetown.co.uk/kirkbymoorside-music-festival-2026.
