Acts

BBC Folk Singer of the Year Bella Hardy has sung unaccompanied ballads at a sold-out Royal Albert Hall, learnt the songs of Chinese farmers during her time as British Council Musician in Residence in Yunnan Province, and spent a year in Tennessee as a ranch hand, looking after horses, fiddle-singing in the diners, and immersing herself in the music culture of Nashville. With unflinching courage, Bella has explored and blurred musical boundaries from a mastery of traditional music to pop production and electronics, releasing ten solo records including her 'Best Of' in 2019. With her acclaimed, mesmerising voice and earthy fiddle accompaniments, Bella now writes and composes in her beloved Peak District, conjuring and twisting stories that call straight to the heart. “Brit folk's finest” Mojo Magazine • “Enduringly seductive” The Telegraph • “A fine, no-nonsense interpreter of traditional music and an excellent songwriter” The Guardian • “An aura of sophistication that will win over listeners who never set foot in a folk club” The Sunday Times • “…a shining star in the folk scene’s firmament” fRoots Magazine

Voted winner on the Great British Folk Festival introducing stage Jan 6th 2023 at Skegness, by public vote.

Rocked up traditional folk & original songs with some jigs n reels. Dont miss them.

great set today at Centre Stage Butlins. I am no really into folk but you converted me just a bit Karen Woodcoc

Vikki Clayton seemed to be aiming for a musical career from an early age. Born in England in the early/middle-1950's, she spent her early childhood absorbing the sounds of trad-jazz records, courtesy of her parents and, by her own account, later came to love the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein through the contemporary cast albums of South Pacific and The King And I. From her grandmother she learned folksongs from old Sussex, and she later enjoyed the advantage of having an eccentric music teacher, who introduced her to Morris Dancing and other folk traditions as well as to the folk-based work of Vaughan Williams, Benjamin Brittein, and Frederick Delius. Clayton took up the guitar at age 12, and at the time her influences were decidedly American -- Bob Dylan and Joan Baez loomed especially large in her consciousness when she was in her early teens. By the end of the 1960's, her family had left London and moved to Lincolnshire, and Clayton had begun hanging around with other folk enthusiasts -- after hearing the then-new Fairport Convention album Leige And Leif, she'd found a direction and, in Sandy Denny (who, rather ironically, exited the group soon after), a home-grown source of inspiration for her singing and playing. Seemingly following Denny's example, as well as the pattern of the times, Clayton joined a series of electric folk-rock bands, including Kelsay and the Ragged Heroes, of which the latter lasted long enough to record an LP. She also became infatuated with the work and music of folksong arranger (and composer) Percy Grainger (1882-1961) during the 1970's. Possessed of a silvery-pure voice and exquisite musical sensibilities, it was inevitable that Clayton would take center-stage as an artist. Her solo recording career -- which has principally been for the New Day label -- began with Honor Tokened, and her subsequent work included Lost Lady Found (which included her first recording of a Sandy Denny song); additionally, in association with Fred A. Baker and Ric Sanders, she recorded Sanders, Baker & Clayton Carried Away, In Flight and Looking At The Stars. Clayton has also worked with Gordon Giltrap and Tony Moore on Midsummer Cushion, an album of Georgian poet John Clare's work set to her music. On Movers And Shakers, she played and sang alongside Gerry Conway, Ric Sanders, John Kirkpatrick, and Jethro Tull's Martin Barre, and she has toured with the Vikki Clayton Band, which includes Jethro Tull co-founder Clive Bunker on the drums. She is best known as a solo performer, however. As of 2004, her most well-known recording is It Suits Me Well, an album of songs written by, arranged, or associated with her longtime idol Sandy Denny, originally released on the Kent-based HTD label and reissued by Castle Records. She is undertaking a lengthy tour of the UK in 2027 going right through till December of 2026.

Hailing from Cheshire, a classy and infectious twin-vocal 6-piece blend of Folk, Country and Americana, based around the music of leader David Boardman and lyrics of Mark Radcliffe. Through 3 well received albums, the band have been steadily building an audience through gigs, festivals and prestige tour support slots to the likes of A-lister Keifer Sutherland and his band, plus Americana legend Sid Griffin and the Long Ryders. Their sound takes in pan-Atlantic influences, the vocal blend of Fleetwood Mac, shades of Dylan and The Band, the occasional muscularity of Springsteen, the pioneering Country-Rock of the much missed Gram Parsons, all seasoned with a sprinkle of classic British indie-pop.

A recent rejig to the line-up has seen the addition of guitar playing vocalist Helen Walford-Insley and drummer Emily Bailey, join the aforementioned Mr Boardman (guitar/vocals), plus Emily Doggett on fiddle, Jim Broughton on Bass and the magnificent keyboards of Gary O’Brien

Virginia Kettle is the very heart of the multi award-winning folk-rock band Merry Hell. Her songs, spirit and energies have helped drive the band ever upwards, giving a significant outlet to her creativity, providing anthems such as Bury Me Naked, which had 20,000 fans swaying in a Cropredy field, as well as irresistible dancing tunes, and slices of wry humour as seen in ‘VIOLET’, her solo tour-de-force during the band set, where she often forgoes the need for amplification and wanders freely among the audience. Her solo album ‘No Place Like Tomorrow’ was a critical and popular success, hitting the heights of No.1 in the Amazon Folk Charts within days of its release.

ROLLING FOLK

As a prolific writer of songs, Rolling Folk gives Virginia the chance to share a variety of songs not included in Merry Hell’s sets. It is not a replacement for the band, but an additional outlet for her creativity and energy. Offering the same level of songwriting excellence as Merry Hell, but a different, more intimate feel, plus additional musical explorations, Rolling Folk surrounds Virginia with a fabulous and interesting selection of players, particularly multi, multi-instrumentalist Chris Lee, (Full House, Time Bandits, Family Mahone, Galleon Blast, Rad Co., etc, etc etc) and percussionist, whistle player and flautist, Mark Wooley (Ade Edmondson's Bad Shepherds, Full House, session master and more) and more recently ace fiddle player Clare ‘Fluff’ Smith, again a (young) veteran of numerous projects, including a stint with The Incredible String Band. Add in Virginia’s bandmate and husband John, all giving breadth and depth to her musical and lyrical visions. She has been described by Folk North West magazine as ‘The best thing to happen in British Folk for years’ and who are we to argue?

The Jake Leg Jug Band brings you the authentic sounds of 1920's and 30's America - jazz, blues, ragtime and gospel. Songs of murder, betrayal, gambling, liquor and redemption.

After self-releasing their debut album Cotton Mouth, the band signed to one of the UK's most prestigious Jazz labels, recording three albums as part of the 'Vintage Recording Project', recording live around ribbon microphones, as it would have been back in the 1930’s. ‘Next Stop!’ ‘Everythin's Jake’ and ‘Break a Leg’ all met with rave reviews;

"A masterpiece of nostalgic music. The band display real virtuosity and create a wonderful sound that will be hard for any other band to repeat" Folk North West

The band followed up with the compilation 'Fifth Avenue', their debut release for the Green Bullet record label in late 2018.

January 2020 saw the release of album number 6, 'Goodbye Booze' which commemorated 100 years since the start of the American prohibition, followed in 2021 with an additional vinyl release on Coastal Light Records.

2022 marked the 10th anniversary of the band and saw them play over 100 gigs plus the release of their first ever live album – ‘Live at Audley Theatre’.

“It’s hard to pick out favourites. Thoroughly entertaining” Blues in Britain

In 2023 they released ‘Hello Central’, heralding in a new era as a permanent 3-piece band, augmented by additional live musicians. The album proved to be the band's most successful release to date both critically and commercially, receiving airplay on BBC Radio 2.

"A truly unique and talented group of musicians, their talent shines through on each and every track” Blues Blast Magazine (USA)

"Probably their best CD. Thoroughly enjoyable - excellent entertainment” Just Jazz

In 2024 the band released its 9th album in 12 years, 'Some Glad Morning' a full album of spirituals.

“An entertaining and varied mix...the Band shows how warming and moving spirituals can still be today…” Rootstime (Belgium)

PAULA RYAN - an award-winning Singer/Songwriter from Tipperary, Ireland is "a unique voice in the contemporary folk world" (Classic Rock Society Magazine). Paula's music is infused with the Celtic lyricism and passion of her Irish Gaelic roots and she uses a range of instruments, some standard (Guitar, Bazouki) and some a bit more unusual (Bodhran, Marimba), to accompany original songs which are “really powerful....what song-writing is all about, making you think” (Fatea Magazine).

Paula's “story-telling” intros and her sometimes serious, sometimes amusing, sometimes reflective, sometimes lively, but always sensitive to the song and the music, presentation of her own original material alongside folk favourites represent performance, originality, creativity, and entertainment at their best!

Paula 's latest studio album is “Turas Cumadoir (Songwriter's Journey)” According to Irish Music Magazine "Albums like this are a rarity and a breath of fresh air when they come along - this one is a gem which anyone will enjoy". The album has earned airplay on RTE Radio 1, Tipp FM and other radio stations throughout Ireland as well as in France, Germany and across the BBC including, BBC TV, BBC and BBC Radio Ulster and received highly favourable reviews from leading folk/acoustic publications such as fRoots, Acoustic Magazine, FATEA.

Paula performs at venues and festivals nationally and internationally and whatever the stage or the size of the audience, her performances, laced with the warmth, wit, uniqueness and musicality of her Irish roots, are "well worth seeking out" (Irish Music Magazine).

The band consists of Cameron Love (Lead Vocals, guitar), Don McNeill (Vocals, guitar) and Stuart Fry (Percussion).

Playing at various events and festivals throughout the year and across the UK, they deliver a mix of folk/country music described as being a blend of “catchy and foot tapping” melodies.

Cameron’s album “Good Friends” gives a taste of the music you can expect to hear, along with new tracks now available on bandcamp incorporated into their 2026 sets.

Inspired by the tradition, driven by interpretation, Greenman Rising are much more than a festival band, though they are a damn fine festival band.

Think of them as purveyors of social history with great vocals and top drawer instrumentation all underscored by earth resonating bodhran and a passion for supporting the underdog.

Accompanied by Anne Brivonese on fiddle, Martin Ward on bass & Steve Foster on various stringed instruments (with all four on vocals) the Grigs offer choruses to sing along to, intertwined with Duncan's passionate contemporary compositions & Trad arrangements.

''To the already full sound of his tremendous guitar playing, Duncan has an obvious feel for the tradition and a deep-rooted belief that it has a place in the current folk scene, aspects which he puts across with lively showmanship. His own songs show a canny grasp of, and response to the tradition, while his intrinsic seriousness of intent and approach is often laced with a healthy irreverence that happens to be hugely entertaining'' - The Living Tradition

''Top lad that Duncan McFarlane, a great bandleader who brings so much pleasure and fun to so many, many people. He writes some great original material and I love his lively versions of traditional folk song. Do go and see him because he’s absolutely terrific, whether he’s doing his acoustic set, or doing the folk-rock set with his full band, he’s a favourite at festivals all over England and beyond'' - Mike Harding

When Zoë Wren and Jasmine Watkiss first met, their friends forced them to sing a tune together in the very public setting of a market square in Cambridgeshire, UK.

Their musical chemistry was instantaneous, and it led them to form Americana duo Roswell Road. The London-based multi-instrumentalists blend close harmonies with candid storytelling, drawing on real experiences from mental health to family love to real-life activist adventures at sea.

Roswell Road’s sound, which has drawn comparisons to First Aid Kit, Indigo Girls and Fleetwood Mac, has taken them from sold-out shows at London's Green Note to stages across Europe, including Costa Festival Ibiza and a showcase at MiCannes, France.

The Lytham St Annes Shanty Crew was formed in 2015 by a group of friends who wanted to sing a few sea shanties and raise money for local charities, primarily for the RNLI for whom they have raised over £35000. Since then, whilst the personnel may have changed, their repertoire has grown to include many self penned nautically themed songs as well traditional shanties which have been recorded on their 3 CDs to date, “Northern Shoal”, “Sea Salt” and the recently re - issued “Kilgrimol Bells”.

As well as performing locally ( including every Monday night from May to August out of the St Annes RNLI boathouse or Mussel Tank at Lytham ), they have sung as far a field as St Ives, Cornwall, Llandudno, Castle Howard and Hull. They have also sung in front of an audience of 4000 people at Lytham Hall on the same bill as Jools Holland and taken part in the regional Kensington Palace Christmas concert in 2024 at Blackpool Tower.

In 2026 they have written a song “ Four Shouts in One Day” commissioned by the RNLI as part of their Heritage project commemorating and celebrating its contribution in World War Two.

Grásta is the vision of Irish singer-songwriter Gus Glynn, who initially set out to record a solo album of new material alongside fresh settings of traditional pieces. What began as a solo project quickly evolved when percussionist, bodhrán, and whistle player Mark Woolley (Full House, Virginia Kettle’s Rolling Folk, Radco) came on board to help. The chemistry was immediate.

Mark suggested Ian Jones (Full House, Time Bandits) a regular musical visitor to Ireland, for flute and melodeon parts and Ben Robertson, renowned finger-style guitar player on fiddle, a second instrument that Ben approaches with flair, ingenuity and stylistic attention to detail.

Recordings at Chris Lee’s Babacombe studio, were so enjoyable and musically rewarding that Gus invited the musicians to continue together as a full band. Everyone agreed on the spot, and so, Grásta was born.

The Limewoods are a Lincolnshire five-piece alternative folk / folk rock band playing lively original songs inspired by traditional folk tunes, life, friendships and good times. Expect toe-tapping energy, catchy melodies and choruses that get the crowd singing.

Formed in 2024 out of a shared interest in folk melodies from across the British Isles and beyond, the band soon found themselves crafting their own songs.

With Chris Bradshaw on guitar and vocals, his songwriting inspiration is complemented by interwoven melodic hooks from Lucy Creasey on fiddle and Caty Collier on low whistles. Mark Harris on electric bass (and occasional melodeon) and Jim Creasey on full drum kit bring the punch to the band’s punk influenced sound.

Having started gigging in January 2025 with a support slot at Wroot Rocks supporting Sound of the Sirens, the band were delighted to be invited back twice and have since supported 3 Daft Monkeys and The Leylines also at Wroot Rocks.

Fishing 4 Compliments are a five piece Yorkshire-based band that emerged organically around lead singer-songwriter Eileen’s quirky songs.

They have released two enthusiastically received albums to date and have become known for specialising in catchy, hook and harmony-laden folk-pop songs.

The band have been bringing their distinctive, uplifting sound to an array of live music events, pubs and festivals across the North of England for fifteen years offering a uniquely special energy to feed the soul.

Luke McAuley is a rising singer songwriter in the UK’ s indie folk scene, known for his soulful, raspy vocal and emotionally honest songwriting.

Blending the rawness of folk with subtle indie rock influences, Luke’s music sits in the space between heartbreak and healing, capturing quiet, reflective moments with clarity and depth.

He is currently working with London based producer Colin Brain at STICKS Studios. Luke is releasing his debut EP ‘Change ’ on the 1 May 2026. Mastered at Abbey Road Studios by Cicely Balston, ‘Change ’ explores the themes of growing up and dealing with heartbreak and loss, sharing stories within the lyrics and taking listeners on a sonic journey.

Paul Thompson is a singer-songwriter from Norfolk, England. He has toured extensively around the UK, Europe, the US and Canada, and holds a Guinness World Record for ‘the longest journey by electric milk float’.

Paul’s Floating to the Fringe Tour, supported by Arts Council England, saw him embarking on a three-month musical odyssey to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, gigging from a specially converted milk float ‘Bluebell’, that doubled-up as 15mph tour-bus, and solar-powered outdoor music stage.

Described by Fatea Magazine as ‘a gifted instrumentalist reminiscent of Neil Young’, Paul’s music is inspired by a love of the natural world, and concern for the environment.

A multiinstrumentalist, Paul performs live with a 20-stringed harp guitar and is one of just a handful of players in the UK of this rare and beautiful instrument. Paul’s seventh album Passing Places is due for release in October 2026, and he will be on the road again in 2027.

She has recorded seven albums, written songs for BBC television and radio, 2 Channel 4 films, played live on John Peel and Bob Harris shows. Saffron has toured Europe, USA, and New Zealand many times.

One of the few women bottle-neck blues guitarists Saffron features self-penned, blues-style songs alongside her quieter, folk influenced ballads.

Currently touring the UK with Richard Digance, Eric Sedge is a distinctive voice in the world of Folk and Roots music.

With stories and song from his native East Anglia, he embraces both traditional and contemporary styles playing Festivals and Concert Halls throughout the country, along with appearances on Radio and TV.

Raised in a family of classical musicians, to a household with neither TV or car, it was perhaps inevitable that the boy would be shaped by the twin forces of melody and word. Books and music, forest and fields were his playground and now his inspiration