Dance
Le Vendredi danse (balfolk)
This year we are delighted to have 'Metheglin' playing for us on Friday night at the Civic Hall
(upstairs) from 8.30 - 10.30 pm. This wonderful Band warmed up the Eurobal crowd at the Gower Folk Festival, prior to Blowzabella, last year.
Le Vendredi Danse, our local eurofolk group will start the evening (musicians) 6.30pm, dancing from 7.00pm
(doors open 30 mins before), there will also be a bar.
Le Vendredi Danse always support the Festival by usually playing for the Friday night dance every year and this year are supporting the Festival by not only playing at the beginning of the evening, but also partially sponsoring this Band in conjunction with the Festival.
Admission £10 on the door or via Festival ticket.
LVD regulars and guest musicians only £5 on the door
Ceilidh dances
If you like Ceilidhs, there are two on offer ! Saturday evening at the large Civic Hall we present the fabulous Wanton String Band with our favourite caller John Brown. Holmfirth Civic ! tickets £10 and £6 u/16
On sunday at 2pm until 3pm we offer our free family ceilidh at the Methodist Church. Music by the Moonraker Ceilidh Band with Jill Bond calling.
Morris Dance
There is some doubt regarding the road closure on Hollowgate both Saturday and Sunday, due to the impending works. We won't know this, nor the precise route of the parade, until much nearer the day. Meanwhile dancing will also be in various spots in and around the small town centre all weekend. On Saturday, there will be a grand procession, culminating in a spectacular show dance performance in Victoria Park overlooking the town centre. We also hope to have dance workshops for people to join in with. If you want to have a dance yourself, there will be a French music and dance session on Friday evening, a ceilidh on Saturday evening and a family ceilidh on Sunday afternoon. (see above)
Dance sides for the 2025 Festival so far - it's early days yet in the Morris world. Keep checking for updates !!

400 Roses & T'Thorns, formed in 2005, are a group of belly dancers and musicians from Yorkshire and Lancashire based in Shipley, West Yorkshire. Their unique style is a fusion of tribal belly dance with UK folk dance formations, danced to traditional UK folk music - expect something a little different!
Boggarts Breakfast are a Border Morris side from Sheffield. They are known for their elaborate face-paint and mostly self-written dances, and have their own twist on the Border Morris tradition.
Bourne Borderers are a mixed Border Morris side, from Bourne in Lincolnshire. They have a base in the traditional Border Morris, with a few new and more modern dances and tunes to reflect the evolving nature of Border Morris. The side is very open and inclusive, and more than happy to welcome any new dancers and musicians - beginners or experienced!
Halifax based Bradshaw Mummers are a mumming side, formed in 1972. They perform traditional and self-written mumming plays, up and down the country. Traditionally when performing, to prevent being recognised, mummers would blacken their faces with soot, but now being more sensitive, they find other colours or ways to disguise themselves. This year they will be bringing their latest play, ‘The White Rose Play‘ written by one of their team, to Holmfirth Festival.
Cricket on the Hearth, are based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. They are an Appalachian step dancing team that was started in September 2004. You will see them dancing to mainly old time American music played on the fiddle, banjo, and guitar.
Formed in 1982, Crosskey was initially a woman’s North West side, and later became mixed. Their kit has the crossed keys from Peterborough's coat of arms, navy skirts or breeches, socks/tights, white blouse/ shirt, and red waistcoat. Crosskey have danced at many festivals up and down the country, including their local event, Whittlesey Straw Bear, but also have danced in Portugal. If we’re lucky they may perform some clog step dances.
Flagcrackers of Craven are a mixed Border side, wearing clogs, tatter jackets, decorated hats and bells. As is the Border Morris tradition, they disguise their faces using red and black face paint. They are supported by a merry band of talented musicians, performing and entertaining in their unique Flagcracker style. They are looking forward to meeting up with friends old and new to share music and dance.
Foxs Morris started in 1999, when a group of friends got together with a mutual interest in the tradition of folk dance and music. This small group were all members of 'the Friends of Cookley School' or FOCS. This evolved into FOXS Morris. As Foxs grew, they moved to the nearby town of Kidderminster, Worcestershire. They dance the ‘Border’ Morris tradition, which is apt given their proximity to the border with Wales.
Hadrian Clog are based along the Tyne Valley, in Northumberland, and perform a wide variety of clog and hard shoe dances from the North East of England and beyond. Traditional steps (with a 'Hadrian' twist) are paired with some of their favourite folk tunes, performed on concertinas, fiddles, ukulele and melodeon. A family-friendly team, they are passionate about teaching dances to members of all ages, and keeping clog dancing traditions alive.
Milltown Cloggies are based in Dukinfield, Greater Manchester and have been dancing, both locally and across the country, since 1989. Still having 5 of their founder members, they dance in the North West tradition, wearing clogs. Many of their dances originate from the mill towns of Lancashire and North Cheshire, hence their name. Their eclectic band provides lively music.
Mons Meg Sword Dancers are now legally allowed to drink, having turned 18 last year. With their distinctive tartan sashes and blue socks, they have danced Rapper Sword regularly in Leith and Edinburgh’s centre. They also dance Longsword, and recently picked up one of Kirkburton’s dances. Happy to dance anywhere but give them a tight space, a wooden floor, and beer – that’s what makes them very happy.
Penistone Folk Ensemble and Regency Rhubarb are a group of musicians who meet in
Penistone. They perform a mixed folk repertoire including some Playford manuscripts and other European traditions. Having developed a repertoire of music from the 17th and 18th century, they welcomed the dancing skills of ex Rhubarb Tarts, a Molly Dancing side, who now perform as Regency Rhubarb! They have danced and played together at Wentworth Woodhouse.
Formed in 2001, Powderkegs are a mixed side of Border Morris dancers and musicians based in Whaley Bridge in the Peak District. They take their name from the old gunpowder mills near their home, and their red, yellow, and gold tatters symbolise fire. The side’s evolving repertoire includes an explosive mixture of traditional and more modern dances, including a number of dances written by the side’s own members.
Slubbing Billys are the local mixed North West Morris side who wear a distinctive purple woollen kit, and hats decorated with fresh flowers. They practise in Slaithwaite Community Centre on Tuesday evenings from 8-10pm. They dance regularly at various folk festivals in Yorkshire and further afield, and also outside pubs in the local area on summer evenings. New members are always very welcome - no dance experience necessary! Folk musicians are welcome too.
T’owd Man Border Morris have been dancing Morris with Attitude (in a Border tradition) since 2020. T'Owd Man is the affectionate name given to the medieval bas-relief carving of a lead miner, currently found in St Mary's Church, Wirksworth, Derbyshire and believed to be the earliest existing depiction of a miner. Their tatters of black, silver and grey pay homage to the lead mining heritage of their local area.
Formed in 2006, Thieving Magpie are a mixed Border Morris side from Marsden in the Pennine hills of Yorkshire, who like to wave big sticks and yell. They may not be a vision of terpsichorean delight, but do give it some welly. The collective noun for Magpies is a ‘murder,’ but they haven’t murdered anybody, yet.... Their motto is: leave nowt but wood, blood and feathers.
Harlequin Morris was formed in June 2013 by a small group of friends from around the country,who wanted to learn and dance more difficult and challenging traditions in a polished manner. They consider themselves a tribute to the living traditions of the Cotswolds, and their dances are exciting, energetic and uplifting for both dancers and audience members. Their kit is an array of different coloured shirts, black waistcoats, and trousers
Hathor Dance Troupe performs a mixture of traditional and (slightly) more modern belly dance styles. Over the last 25 years they have performed at hundreds of community and charity events as well as private functions, and they always encourage audience participation. They rehearse at a dance studio in Huddersfield where troupe leader, Ann Wear, runs her dancing classes.
Hailing from the market town of Otley, West Yorkshire, Kitchen Taps Appalachian formed after a discussion in a founder member's kitchen, 30 years ago. They dance traditional Appalachian clog steps to Old Time music from the Appalachian mountains in the USA. This is a fun form of step dance where the feet provide the percussive beat to lively music. Their dances have roots in others, alongside original choreography inspired by UK folk dance.
Ringheye Morris of Mobberley is a mixed north-west Morris side, founded in 1983. Their home is the Cheshire village of Mobberley. Most of their dances come from Lancashire or the Cheshire Plain; some from further afield, and a few of their own. Sometimes they resort to more familiar Morris tunes but whenever possible they play their own, self penned music.