The Nest Collective’s much-loved festival celebrating the finest folk and roots music from around the world.
This event has already happened. Please click here for our upcoming events.
This September, discover a hidden palace on the banks of the Thames…
Wander from stage to stage with music all around you, and take in the views across the river as you listen to songs by the fireside. See what treasures you might find in the grounds of this incredible 16th century building.
At the Nest Collective, we’ve always felt that the shows with as few microphones as possible – with musicians playing unamplified, the old way – have been the most intimate and special. So we decided to create an entire event around this! No sound checks, no waiting for bands to plug in, just pure continuous music across multiple stages.
Magpie’s Nest is the new name of our Unamplifire Festival, taking its new title from our original music night founded in 2005 that grew into the Nest Collective.
This September’s event has been created with safety for Covid-19 in mind, and as such has a significantly reduced audience size. It reflects all the spirit and joy of our summer festivals, but has been specially devised to work in these times of distancing and restrictions. It will be smaller, but just as beautiful.
What the audience said:
“Brilliant festival. Superb quality of music and really cosy great atmosphere. More!” – Jon Herring
“A totally magical evening, such an amazing setting with excellent music.” – Oli Dillon
“…only caught 2 hours but saw 5 (astonishing) bands and had my soul profoundly nourished” – @MaraCarlyle
“Wonderful music from across these isles & around the world – thanks for a fab evening” – @imogenmathers
Keeping you safe
We are taking a number of measures to help everyone feel safe during this event, including:
In return, we ask that you:
Perhaps Contraption is a multi-award winning, progressive brass band from London. Part choir, part chamber orchestra, part avant rock troupe, they create a truly unique musical experience; melding elements of jazz, punk, art pop and post-minimalism.
Learn More
Amazing duo playing traditional folk music of the British Isles, highlighting issues of ecology, resistance and political struggle.
Widely regarded as two of the best players and innovators in traditional folk amongst a precociously gifted generation, Moore & Moss’ finely-crafted arrangements wield a rare potency.
“There is no mistaking the tender, powerful, velveteen vocals of Lady Nade.” – Folk Radio
The Moroccan musician Simo Lagnawi was raised in the Gnawa tradition and is an award-winning ambassador for Gnawa music 2014.
Live on Youtube
Master Shipwright's Palace, Watergate Street, London, SE8 3JF
Long-time fans of the Nest Collective will know this venue as the site of our summer festivals in previous years.
It has a spectacular riverside garden, ideal for holding a small, socially-distanced audience.
“Hidden London at its delightful best” – The Telegraph
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