2021

that saw our gates stay closed in 2020, we returned in 2021 with something that felt quietly miraculous: a sold-out weekend back home in Moseley Park. After months of uncertainty, tiers, steps, and false starts and constant re-planning, our return became a powerful celebration of resilience – for live music, for our community, and for everyone who had waited so patiently to gather together again.

The road back was anything but straightforward. We spent over a year plotting, adapting and preparing for every possible outcome, navigating ever-changing guidance while holding onto the belief that we would, one day, find our way back. The hard work of our entire team paid off, resulting in one of our strongest line-ups to date and a weekend that felt all the more meaningful for what had been lost the year before.

The journey through Covid was incredibly tough for any festival, and many didn’t make it. We only survived with the support of our community through a very generous Crowdfunder, and a large CBIL’s loan that we’re only just about to pay off this year. But throughout the dark days of 2020 and 2021, your positive messages and support kept us going, and actually, when September arrived, we were one of the first festivals in the region to go ahead unrestricted, and we were all rewarded with one of our best weekends in the Park.

Our 2021 line-up brought together long-awaited returns and world-class performances. Passenger finally made it to our stage after his postponed 2020 appearance, joining us on the Sunday with his unmistakable warmth. Frank Turner brought his punk-folk fire to Saturday night, while the weekend as a whole was anchored by an eclectic mix of artists we’re proud to call part of our story – including Richard Hawley, The Waterboys, Jade Bird, The Wonderstuff, Gruff Rhys, Nightingales and many more.

As ever, the music sat alongside a growing arts programme, reaffirming our belief in creativity in all its forms. We welcomed Rich Hall, Joe Lycett, in conversation with Cold War Steve, Jess Phillips, and Foka Wolf, who made his Moseley debut with a memorable presentation.

More than anything, 2021 reminded us why we exist. After a year without live music, the return of shared moments in the park carried extra weight – songs sung a little louder, connections felt a little deeper. It was a weekend shaped by gratitude: for our artists, our audience, and a team whose determination ensured that, against the odds, Moseley Folk & Arts Festival came back stronger than ever.

2021 saw the new Craft Cans concession offering cans and bottles from the region’s best independent brewers. Menus were upgraded, and a new cashless system was implemented across all our bars – the days of collecting suitcases of small change from Moseley Post Office were long gone!