Plenty of opportunities to enjoy learning something new, or get expert tips on improving your existing music and dance skills

Sidmouth Herald: Workshop at FolkWeekWorkshop at FolkWeek (Image: Contributed)

Fancy having a go yourself?

More than 250 workshop events offer participants of all experience levels the opportunity to improve their skills alongside leading musicians and dancers like Saul Rose, Paul Sartin, Kirsty Cotter, Jon Dipper and Kerry Fletcher.

The legendary John Kirkpatrick will be here to take the lead instrumentalists in the Festival Concert Band through a progressive series of five sessions.

Singers can join the glorious Sidmouth Festival Choir, conducted throughout the week by Sandra Kerr, while those with an inclination to shake, rattle and roll can beat a path to Jo May’s Persusstra!

Dancers can enjoy a range of styles including European, Scandinavian, Balkan, Irish Set, Appalachian and Cornish as well American Squares and Contras, English Country Dance, Regency Dance and Early Dance.

Or try Cotswold, North West or Border Morris or Rapper Dance, Social Stepping or Molly Dance.

There’s plenty for musicians too, with fiddle, guitar, brass, whistle, flute, percussion, accordion, concertina, uilleann pipes, pipe and tabor and more on the musical menu.

Singers are not neglected, with two series of choir workshops plus Shape-note and Traditional Song, and there are storytelling workshops with Pat Ryan.

Something different? Try Beast Making, Writing Funny Stuff, Theory for Folkies, Mumming or the new Poetry sessions.

Beginners are well catered for with series on melodeon, fiddle, bodhran, bones, tin whistle and specially tailored dance workshops to get you started.

For those seeking to expand their knowledge, FolkWeek offers a series of fascinating talks covering a diverse range of topics including Dorset Song Collecting, Carnival Morris, Gypsy Caravans, Mummers and Dry Stone Walling.

Workshop Ticket

Admission £10 on the door for most individual workshops (£12 for some longer workshops and £8 for some shorter workshops).

Alternatively, a book of six workshop passes can be bought either from the Festival Box Office or at the door of workshop venues.

The pass costs £50 for six workshops (of any length/price) and can be ‘traded in’ at all workshops marked with a W in the Festival programme.