Subterranean Festival unveils first names for 2026 return

Hackney folk weekender lines up Cinder Well, Daisy Rickman, Josephine Foster and more for October return

Subterranean Festival has announced the first wave of acts for its 2026 edition, with Cinder Well, Daisy Rickman, Josephine Foster and more set to appear across a three-day folk weekender in Hackney this October.

Presented by Broadside Hacks and Bird On The Wire, the festival returns from 2nd–4th October following its debut last year, expanding from a one-day Southbank Centre takeover into a multi-venue East London event spread across Round Chapel, Paper Dress Vintage and Chesham Arms.

Leading the first line-up announcement is Cinder Well, the project of Los Angeles-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Amelia Baker, who headlines Round Chapel on Friday 2nd October. She’ll be joined by Chris Brain and Juni Habel, with the set landing ahead of the release of Cinder Well’s new album A Blooming Body.

Saturday sees the festival split into two strands. During the day, Hackney Folk Club takes over Chesham Arms for a matinee exploring traditional folk song, dance and tunes from a range of cultures. Then in the evening, Paahto & the Bull — the collaborative project of John Francis Flynn and Patrick “Paahto” Cummins — headline Paper Dress Vintage, with support from Ukrainian activist choir Hromada Collective.

The festival closes on Sunday with Daisy Rickman and her band playing their only London headline show of 2026 at Round Chapel. They’ll be joined by acclaimed singer-composer Josephine Foster and North Yorkshire/London folk artist Natalie Wildgoose.

Subterranean launched in September 2025 as a one-day event at the Southbank Centre, curated by Broadside Hacks and Bird On The Wire alongside Rough Trade Records, River Lea and Skinty Records. That inaugural edition featured artists including Lisa O’Neill, Cormac Begley, Muireann Bradley and Peggy Seeger, as well as a widely praised celebration of The Incredible String Band featuring a rare appearance from founding member Mike Heron.

The festival’s return continues Broadside Hacks’ run as one of the most exciting forces in contemporary folk and traditional music. Founded by Sorry member Campbell Baum, the collective, promoter and label has built a reputation for bringing folk traditions to new audiences, with sold-out London shows, stages at SXSW and Folk Alliance, and acclaimed live celebrations of artists including Martin Carthy and The Incredible String Band.

Tickets for Subterranean Festival 2026 go on sale at 10am on Thursday. Link here