Folk East festival moves from Somerleyton to Glemham

Bellowhead performed at the inaugural Folk East festival at Somerleyton Hall

A Suffolk music festival, which started this year, is to move from one stately home to another for 2013.

Folk East attracted about 2,500 people to Somerleyton Hall near Lowestoft, but it will take place at Glemham Hall near Wickham Market next August.

Promoter John Marshall-Potter, said: "A new festival needs two or three years to get established.

"Glemham were very keen to establish a more long-term relationship with the event."

The organisers said the debut festival, which featured Bellowhead, Eliza Carthy and Seth Lakeman, attracted 2,500-3,000 music fans each day at Somerleyton but did not break even.

Bellowhead offshoot duo Spiers & Boden are currently the only confirmed act for 2013.

'Positive comments'

Mr Marshall-Potter said: "Somerleyton were happy to trial it, but they're a working estate and didn't really want to commit long-term to certain areas of land.

"It wasn't that big on numbers, but you wouldn't expect it to be in its first year, but what was good was the sheer amount of positive comments from the punters and musicians.

"We should be able to build on our first audience now."

Glemham Hall, just off the A12 between Wickham Market and Saxmundham, also stages weddings, plays and an annual game and country fair.

Philip Hope-Cobbold, the hall's owner, said: "Folk East is great news for the estate, it's supporting a local promoter and I'm looking forward to it.

"I'm sure it'll be a great event and it will boost our calendar and revenues."

Folk East takes place 23-25, August 2013 and it is licensed for a maximum of 10,000 people.