'Family Nest' Fest

£21,056 raised for the Nest Fest musicians and Willow!

'Family Nest' Fest premiered online on Sunday 19 July but you can still enjoy the highlights video below

With no festival in 2020 we went online with a digital offering of distilled 'Folk by the Oakness' to enjoy at home! 'Family Nest' Fest brought a little Folk by the Oak magic into your houses and gardens; an online festival filled with exclusive material from a host of incredible folk musicians, art, craft, and shared moments of well-being, all raising funds for great causes.

Thanks to everyone’s generosity and kindness we have raised £21,056 to be shared between the Willow charity and the participating musicians. We can’t thank you enough and the team here are overjoyed at the great vibes that have emanated from this event. You have helped to keep the positivity alive during tough and unprecedented times. A great big socially distanced hug to you all!

Heartfelt thanks go out to everyone who donated

This not-for-profit virtual event raised money both for our Nest Fest performers, so many of whom have lost their livelihood due to the recent situation, and for our partner charity Willow who provide special days for seriously ill young adults.

Willow

Over the last 12 years Folk by the Oak have raised over £91,000 through ticket contributions, the generosity of the crowd on the day, and further donations, a phenomenal amount and all going to support Willow's vital work. With no festival this summer Willow faced a real blow to their fundraising efforts but 'Family Nest' Fest provided the perfect platform for us all to continue to show them support.

Willow beneficiary and musician Eirra was our ambassador for Willow at the 'Family Nest' Fest, as well as performing her own set.

Find out more about Willow at www.willowfoundation.org.uk

Highlights from 'Family Nest' Fest

Hyman Family share their 'Family Nest' Fest!

The Unwinding Stream

Watch The Unwinding Stream

Watch award-winning artist Jackie Morris create a beautiful painting in real time; a unique opportunity to see a visionary artist carefully breathe life into one of her more ambitious large-scale works of art.

We are overjoyed to have been joined by the 2019 Kate Greenaway medal-winning artist Jackie Morris (co-author of The Lost Words with Robert Macfarlane). Jackie conjured a peaceful painting of calm, hope and meditation inspired by her breath-taking new book The Unwinding, in real time, creating a unique 'chill-out' area for our online festival! Watch the painting gradually unfold, and relax amid an oak woodland soundscape created by sound artist Chris Watson. The Unwinding Stream is a place which slowly and gently inspires dreams, somewhere to dip in and out of as needed, to bring some day-time dream-time into your life!

Thanks to Jackie's generosity, everyone who donated to the Nest Fest Fund was entered into a draw to win this unique and exceptional painting.

The lucky winner has been contacted and is now the owner of something very special to treasure forever!

Performers

Richard Thompson

Mary Chapin Carpenter & Julie Fowlis

Seth Lakeman

Nancy Kerr & Jess Arrowsmith

Kris Drever

Talisk

Jim Moray

Seckou Keita

Spell Songs

Sam Sweeney Band

The Local Honeys

Kitty Macfarlane

The Bookshop Band

Katherine Priddy

Eirra

Shop

Buy Merchandise

Browse the stalls!

Support your Nest Fest performers and Folk by the Oak stallholders by purchasing direct.

Thank you for joining us!

Thank you for being part of 'Family Nest' Fest!

We were joined by thousands of followers from all around the globe for the live stream, and so many of you dug out your crowns, oak leaves, bunting, picnics, and twinkly lights to spread some joy in these strange times. Thank you so much, and we look forward to seeing you for real next year!