Gather Round: Different Folks

"Different Folks is a celebration of the history and diversity of this island, and a chance to think about what 'folk' means to us now, and for the future" - Nabihah Iqbal

Different Folks is a concert series that will celebrate the heritage and diversity of folk music across an entire weekend at Brighton Dome’s Concert Hall. Headliners include one of folk’s most innovative figures, Martin Carthy, whose career spans over 50 years, alongside his daughter, Mercury Prize-nominee Eliza Carthy; and celebrated folk and blues musician Shirley Collins MBE will also perform with her Lodestar Band. The line-up is completed by a new wave of folk artists, including Stick in the Wheel, combining folk, electronics and psychedelic guitar and Laura Groves, who mixes traditional songwriting with electronic layers.  

We speak to Brighton Festival 2023’s Guest Director Nabihah Iqbal about curating the Different Folks series and to The Guardian’s Folk Album of the Year Award winner Angeline Morrison, who will be performing.

Nabihah, what inspired you to create the Different Folks series?

Nabihah Iqbal: Folk music is about storytelling and it often provides us with a poignant reflection of people's lives: their experiences, their hopes, their happiness and sadness... The UK has such a long and varied history of folk, and when you start to dig deep into it, it's interesting to see how some narratives have been better preserved, and are more prevalent than others. With this weekend's curation of artists, the aim is to spotlight some of those stories from the folk tradition that have tended to be overlooked, as well as showcasing some more familiar folk sounds. It's a celebration of the history and diversity of this island, whilst also a chance to think about what 'folk' means to us now, and for the future. 

Angeline, what’s your role in Different Folks?

Angeline Morrison: I’ll be singing songs, playing more than one musical instrument, and quite possibly telling a story or two. My set will include some songs from my album The Sorrow Songs: Folk Songs of Black British Experience. This work seeks to re-story the forgotten or hidden Black History of Britain back into the folk songs.  

And which three words would you use to describe your set?

Intimate. Challenging. Connecting.  

Are you looking forward to performing as part of Different Folks?

Brighton Festival is such a vibrant, exciting event – and Nabihah is someone whose work I admire hugely. I’m so excited to be performing.  

Different Folks, 20-21 May, Brighton Dome Concert Hall