Kai Folk Week Director gives us an insight into this years Folk Week 2026 event here in Broadstairs

Kai Folk Week Director gives us an insight into this years Folk Week event here in Broadstairs

7th-14th August 2026 visit Broadstairs Folk Week https://broadstairsfolkweek.org.uk viist here for information on events venues and tickets

With decades of experience in the music industry, both in the UK and abroad, Kai M. Hoffman the Festival Director since 2024. Her multi-faceted background includes detailed, high-end artistic programming, social media marketing and events management at venues including Ronnie Scott’s Club in London, where she ran a monthly club night residency for eight years involving dancers, multiple live bands and DJs (2008-2016).

Kai founded Herne Bay Jazz Festival in 2017, now in its eighth year. As director of this multi-day, 35-event festival,

Kai has overseen seven successful years of performances including many top names in the industry, with support from Arts Council England. Highlights at Herne Bay Jazz have included, in 2024, a New Orleans parade, a professional live stream from a dedicated Youtube channel, ticketed shows at The King’s Hall and over 30 free performances from duos to big bands at venues all over the town. As a performer and bandleader herself, Kai has performed at venues including the Barbican, Royal Festival Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Ronnie Scott's, London Jazz Festival, European Jazz Expo and the Blue Note, Milan with groups ranging from duos to large orchestras with chorus. Kai’s connections with folk music run deep. Born in western Massachusetts,

Kai was brought up on Americana and met Pete Seeger when she was just four years old. Her uncle Marty Hoffman wrote the music to Woody Guthrie’s famous ‘Plane Wreck at Los Gatos;’ Kai recorded Jim Croce’s ‘Time in a Bottle’ on her 2012 album Do It While You Can. Having studied classical music around the world, including the Royal College of Music in London,

Kai has extensive knowledge of music history from the Middle Ages onwards, and has a deep love of English and World Folk Music which she is excited to bring to Broadstairs. Kai is very much looking forward to continuing the Broadstairs Folk Week legacy of performances, workshops, dancing and seaside charm.

Broadstairs Folk Week https://broadstairsfolkweek.org.uk viist here for information on events venues and tickets