DELEGATES

WHAT TO EXPECT

English Folk Expo delegates get access to a packed programme of concerts, networking sessions, closed showcases, delegate and artist information, dinners, receptions and more.

This includes:
– All public concerts at the Manchester Folk Festival
– Receptions, showcases, networking events open to delegates only
– Unique access to our annual international partnerships
– Access to our Trade Fair
– Access to our affiliated talent development conference. In 2023, we partnered with Unconvention.
– The English Folk Expo delegate App including all contact details for delegates, traders and showcasing artists.

All venues are within a 10 minute walk of each other (most within 5 minutes). During the day we provide delegate-only activities including showcases from our valued partners or networking events. At night, delegates can pick and choose their way around multiple iconic music venues in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.

BURSARIES AND DISCOUNTS

We are keen to invite promoters, bookers, festival organisers, programmers, labels, agents, publishers, music supervisors, managers and anyone who can actively engage with the event.

We have a number of free places available and a small bursary fund which can be used to support international travel to Manchester. If you’re based outside of the UK, are at a very early career stage or planning to bulk buy delegate passes, please get in touch with us.

VISIT MANCHESTER

From 2023, English Folk Expo will be based in Manchester’s vibrant Northern Quarter with venues including Band on the Wall, Halle St Peters and Night & Day. All showcasing venues are in a close proximity to each other (within 10mins walk). There are plenty of hotels, bars and restaurants nearby.

Arriving by air: Central Manchester is just 10 miles/15 minutes drive from Manchester Airport. For airlines flying into Manchester Airport click here.

Arriving by rail: There are three main stations in the cirt centre: Piccadilly, Oxford Road and Victoria. Both Victoria and Piccadilly are a 10-15min walk from the Northern Quarter. For train times, tickets and other information, you can search via the Trainline website.

Arriving by car: Manchester is well connected to the rest of the UK via excellent motorway links. The M60 ring road connects the city to motorways north, south east and west. A list of Northern Quarter car parks can be found here.

Where to stay: Delegates are responsible for their own accommodation booking. There are loads of hotels to suit every taste and price point all within a short walk of the Northern Quarter venues. We recommend shopping around for the best deals and strongly encourage advance booking as Manchester can become expensive if you leave things until the last minute. The optimal time to book a hotel room is usually 6-12 months from the event and we advise checking regularly to see if your deal can be improved. You can search for hotel availability HERE.