“Ale” is a term used in past times by Kentish folk to describe a community celebration and that’s how Folk Ale started out – as a chance for musicians and fans of acoustic music to get together, sing, play, and listen to great music against a backdrop of beautiful Kent countryside.
The Pig’s Ear Folk Ale was founded in 2003 by family folk group Pig’s Ear – Grant, Keith, Sue and Lyndsey Rule – and for many years was run by the Rule family with a number of other loyal volunteers. It took place every year on the weekend following the late Spring Bank Holiday, except for 2020 when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After a successful online event in 2021, the Pig’s Ear Folk Ale returned in 2022 in a brand new green field site near Sevenoaks, with a new management team and the spectacular Soundscape outdoor solar stage, showcasing a broad range of musical styles and flavours whilst staying true to the festival’s folk roots.
Our second festival at the new site in 2023 brought a welcome increase in visitor numbers and even more incredible musical acts, and after a “fallow year” in 2024 we are delighted to have returned for festivals in 2025 and 2026 which have been bigger and better each year! Alongside the brilliant acts we always book, we also have our cosy and welcoming festival bar, a community-run food tent, a dedicated session space, fun activities for the kids, and the now-legendary Folk Ale country walks. Look out for the “Open Mic” session on the bar stage, giving singers and musicians the opportunity to play live on stage with a professional sound system, supported by our dedicated and talented sound crew.