The Magpies Talk Magpies Festival 2024

The Magpies Festival in York takes place between 9th – 10th August 2024 in Sutton Park. It champions women in music, supports local independent businesses and has ambitions to introduce more young people to the magic of folk and acoustic music from across the globe. The founders of the festival chatted to us about this year’s event:

When did you have the idea to launch The Magpies Festival and how did it come about?

We first had the idea for The Magpies Festival in January 2021. Our band, The Magpies, was starting to see a second summer of festivals being cancelled due to COVID restrictions and we decided to put on our own open air event, following the guidelines at the time. We wanted to provide an opportunity for our fellow musicians and everyone beind the scenes to get back to work, as well as spend a weekend listening to music with friends again.

Where is the festival located and what is it about that particular location that works so well for the weekend?

The festival is located in the grounds of Sutton Park, which is a stately home on the outskirts of York. It’s a really beautiful parkland location to watch live music in and there’s plenty of space for camping.

What would you say is the overall ethos/mission statement of the festival?

As a young, female management team, we’re set on championing gender equality in the music industry, achieving gender parity in both line-up and staff, as well as providing a safe and comfortable environment for female musicians and festival goers. The festival also aims to support local business and provide opportunities for emerging musicians, as well as encouraging younger people to attend and get involved with folk and traditional music.

Looking at the lineup for the 2024 edition it includes Molotov Jukebox, Jesca Hoop, and Jim Moray to name a few. Do you start with a list of artists that you want to contact or what is your process?

Yes, I have some artists in mind that I get in touch with, but I also accept applications and try to discover new emerging artists each year, that the audience might not be as familiar with. I try to make sure that I balance the line-up with a range of music to make sure there’s a bit of something for everyone and a good variety throughout the day.

The Magpies Festival is partnered with the feminist charity Girls Friendly Society (GFS). How did that partnership arise, and could you tell us about some of the work they do?

We met a representative of GFS after a show The Magpies did in Sheffield last year. GFS are a charity who have spent almost 150 years supporting girls and young women from disadvantaged backgrounds. They create spaces where girls feel safe and valued, to help build strong foundations that will prepare them for life’s challengees, feel free to be themselves and be proud of who they are. It’s hugely important to us that girls see themselves represented in the music industry and realise the opportunities that are out there for them. We’re so proud to be working alongside a charity that shares our vision to inspire and empower girls.

Do you have any music recommendations for this year’s festival for ticketholders?

I’d recommend listening to every single artist on the line-up!

If I am at The Magpies Festival and I fancy having a bite to eat and drink what is on offer for me tuck into?

We’ve got an amazing array of food and drink on offer at this year’s festival. From the Honest Supper Club’s exceptional vegan and vegetarian food, tp mouthwatering burgers from Happy Patties, Philly’s Woodfired Pizzas and Catch 22’s Fish and Chips. Our festival bar will be provided by award-winning Malton-based Brass Castle Brewery, with cocktails from Sloe Motion Distillery and hot drinks on offer from Casey’s Coffee.

 What are your three festival tips?

1. Although we aim to guarantee perfect sunshine every year, make sure you’re prepared for all eventualities – check the weather forecast and pack your waterproof and woolly socks or sunhat and suncream accordingly – or both! As Alfred Wainwright said ‘there’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing’.

2. Bring your camping chairs – we don’t provide seats, so for a comfortable viewing experience, make sure you’ve packed something to sit on.

3. Help us keep the single-used plastics to a minimum by bringing a reusable water bottle, which can be filled up on site. 

Does the weekend have offerings for families and children?

Yes, we offer ‘The Nest’, which is a space for children’s activities at the festival. We’ll also be providing several workshops and activities for children over the weekend, such as singing sessions and bushcraft. We’ll be announcing more details about these in the coming weeks, so keep your eyes peeled for our full list of activities.

 What music/artists are you currently listening to? Any recommendations?

I’m currently obsessed with Anaïs Mitchell’s self-titled album. She’s an incredible songwriter and would be a dream headliner for The Magpies Festival.

What would you say are two of the biggest challenges you face organising a festival and what would help with those challenges in your opinion?

The biggest challenge we face, like most festivals, is selling enough tickets to cover our costs. We sell most of our tickets in the last few weeks, which makes planning very difficult. People booking tickets in advance would massively help with the financial pressure. Our second biggest challenge is controlling the weather, if rain dances could prove more effective that would be a huge help!

Who is in the band The Magpies, what do they play and how did you meet?

The Magpies is made up of Bella Gaffney (banjo, vocals), Holly Brandon (fiddle, vocals) and Ellie Gowers (guitar, vocals). We met about 5 years ago at a gig in York and have been playing together ever since!

Do you have any new music releases planned for 2024?

We might have a Christmas single up our sleeves … And we have an EP coming out next year. We have more news on this coming soon, so stay tuned for that.

What makes you happy and what makes you unhappy?

Listening to live music makes me very happy! Missing out on my morning coffee makes me unhappy!