The Wail
CANCELLED FOR 2024
Traditional singing at its best
A fun filled, family friendly weekend in the heart of Dorset
CANCELLED FOR 2024
The Wail is a celebration of folksong and some of the finest singers in the land come to Verwood once a year to sit and sing all weekend. The site is compact and nothing is more than a couple of minute’s walk away. We are a family friendly festival and welcome people of all ages, we have a kids area with a bouncy castle and plenty of activities to keep them busy.
We have plenty of space for tents, motorhomes, and caravans at no extra charge. There is accommodation nearby if you fancy somewhere indoors.
Some of the highlights of the weekend are the Mediaeval Banquet, the Cream Tea Concert and the Music Session.
We have a large food tent serving home cooked food for the weekend for just £35 per person plus on Saturday evening there's an in costume Mediaeval Banquet (included in the ticket price). Vegetarian/Vegan and Allergies catered for. Please let us know in advance even if you are only booking for a weekend ticket as this includes the banquet.
The Wail has 2 bar tents plus a bar in the food tent, each serving a range of local ales and ciders plus lager, spirits and soft drinks.
What the weekend is about. From Friday afternoon until Sunday afternoon the farm is filled with people singing. Quiet songs, loud songs, fast, slow and silly songs, all songs are welcome.
The campsite is open from Friday morning and we ask that everyone has left by 6pm on Sunday.
• Camping – We have ample space on the farm and ask that all pitches are at least 2m apart. We have a large toilet block and a shower. There is also a disabled toilet. All toilets have running water and flush with water and we will have a full time cleaner all weekend to keep things lovely.
• Caravans/Motorhomes are welcome and we have facilities for emptying wastewater & sewage.
There will be a Children’s area with various toys and games provided and a Bouncy Castle on site. Parents will be responsible at all times for their children and an adult needs to supervise them within the Children’s area and on the Bouncy Castle.
We are hosting the festival at
Oakfield Farm
Horton Way
Verwood BH31 6JJ
Oakfield is a working horse farm. Because of this there are a few rules. it sounds boring but they’re really important and must be adhered to at all times.
• Electric Fences are used in the livestock area and there is absolutely no entry to this area and NO DOGS are allowed on the farm.
• No smoking or vaping inside the marquees. Please dispose of all cigarette ends in the bins provided
• No Drugs - you will be evicted from the site immediately on suspicion of possession of any illegal substance.
10.00 Campsite Opens
12.00 Main Marquee Opens – Ad Hoc Singing
18.30 - 20.00 Friday Evening Meal
19.30 Singing in Marquee
09.00 - 10.30 Breakfast
11.00 - Mediaeval Costume Workshop
12.00 - Marquee Open For Singing
13.00 - 14.00 Buffet Lunch Served
14.30 - 15.30 Music Session
15.30 - 17.30 Ballad Session
19.30 - Mediaeval Banquet
09.30 - 11.00 Breakfast
12.00 – Marquee Open For Singing
13.00 - Cream Tea Showcase
15.00 - Final Sing
16.00 – Marquee Closes
Mediaeval Banquet – Mediaeval costume is the order of the day. There is an opportunity to adapt/accessorise a costume. (There are some costumes available for hire) in the morning with the help of our expert seamstresses. Join us in your finery at 7.30pm in the food tent for a night like no other. We roast a pig over an open fire throughout the day and then feast like it’s 1399.
Our Lord and Lady lead the celebrations with each table singing for their supper, usually with a specially written pig related song. We serve a 4 course meal direct to the tables.
Homemade scones are served with jam and cream at lunchtime, Sunday. This is a chance for some of our guests to showcase any songs they want to perform to a welcoming audience. Feel free to bring merchandise to sell and/or perform with instruments.
This is a chance to bring your instruments and play some music. All instruments welcome, even banjos.