Artists for the 2008 festival confirmed so far

For more information please click on the Artist's photos

Waterson:Carthy (Sunday)

For more than 30 years Norma Waterson and Martin Carthy been at the forefront of the English folk scene. Joined by their daughter, singer and fiddle player Eliza Carthy and melodeon player Saul Rose, together they form Waterson:Carthy, one of  Britain 's most successful and influential folk bands.

 'There is a special magic when Waterson:Carthy pools its resources.  The effect is sensational'  The Times

   (Saturday)

We are delighted that Vin will be with us again this year. Especially to make up for the fact that, due to an administrative error last year, he was only able to perform a 3/4 hour set!

Vin Garbutt is reputed to have said that he is not interested in becoming a big star in the accepted sense. Nevertheless in the area of music where he performs, there is no bigger star. He prefers to be a big fish in a small pond. This attitude means that his need for privacy and a balanced home life are safeguarded and satisfied. What the world realised long before Vin did, was that the small pond had grown over the years into a considerable lake.

All this has happened without the hype from big Record Companies, and without the usual publicity from the mass media. He has performed all over the globe, and in parts of countries that the biggest stars will never see. This phenomenon has occurred solely by word of mouth, spread by people who have come across him, and felt the need to share this unique experience with their fellow countrymen.

Throughout the 70's Vin's reputation grew rapidly until he became "the most sought after performer on the Folk Scene". The development of his 'Act' took in songs of the past and his own material, his introductions became more and more zany and funny, and his brilliant tin-whistle playing never ceased to amaze. "Half the fun on some of his numbers is spotting the story he has told you in the song he is singing" - to quote one review.
As "THE Man of British Folk Music" in the '80's he was asked to tour abroad: visiting the U.S.A., Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Yugoslavia, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, Cyprus, Singapore, Thailand, and Bermuda.

We are very proud to welcome him for the first time at this Festival.

Tannahill Weavers (Saturday)

The Tannahill Weavers are one of Scotland 's premier traditional bands. Their diverse repertoire spans the centuries with fire-driven instrumentals, topical songs, and original ballads and lullabies. Their music demonstrates to old and young alike the rich and varied musical heritage of the Celtic people. These versatile musicians have received worldwide accolades consistently over the years for their exuberant performances and outstanding recording efforts that seemingly can't get better...yet continue to do just that. The Tannahills have turned their acoustic excitement loose on audiences with an electrifying effect. They have that unique combination of traditional melodies, driving rhythmic accompaniment, and rich vocals that make their performances unforgettable. 

Bob Fox & Stu Luckley (Saturday)

Bob Fox and Stu Luckley took the folk world by storm when they began playing together in the late 1970s. The duo's reputation was cemented in 1978 when they released Nowt So Good'll Pass, their debut album which won Melody Maker's 'Folk Album Of The Year' award. The acclaim has stood the test of time: milestone folk albums are few and far between but Nowt So Good'll Pass remains up there with the very best and has proved enduringly popular.

The success of the album led to Bob and Stu touring intensively. As well as performing at every major folk club and folk festival in Britain, they played in continental Europe, Australia and New Zealand and also toured with Richard Thompson and Ralph McTell.

  (Friday)

BBC Award winning trio Uiscedwr have got BIGGER...

From the moment a Welsh fiddle player/singer Anna Esslemont met an Irish bodhran virtuoso Cormac Byrne late one strange, magical night when both were students in Manchester in 2002 and they resolved to make sweet music together, their rise was instant and spectacular.

Forming a trio, they won the prestigious BBC Young Folk Award having barely played a gig together, starred at the Cambridge Folk Festival the following year, went on tour to be greeted by ecstatic, jigging audiences and were nominated for a "grown-ups" BBC Folk Award after making a debut album 'Everywhere' that had critics and fans alike rolling on their backs and kicking their legs in the air in delight. They were young, vivacious, adventurous, exciting and original and their impossibly captivating way with everything from a bunch of reels to dark songs about broken relationships had the folk world eating out of their hands. With the sort of energised momentum they seemed to be effortlessly igniting, it seemed only a matter of time before the rest of the world would follow. 

Phil Beer (Friday)

Phil Beer was born in Exminster, Devon, in 1953. His reputation as a multi-instrumental wizard has gained him international status for over two decades. Yet these rare skills also have their roots in the musical traditions of Southwest England: 'I was born in Exminster, Devon. My mother, who is Cornish, still plays organ in her local chapel, and in his spare time, my father was a violinist in local dance bands'. Phil first began to play fiddle, guitar and mandolin whilst still at school in Teignmouth.
This passion for acoustic music was especially stirred by the Davey Graham album 'Folk Blues and Beyond'. He played his first gig when he was fourteen and by the time he was sixteen he was performing regularly. Phil worked with Paul Downes as a duo and also in Arizona Smoke Revue. He joined the Albion Band in 1984 and stayed with them until 1991, touring extensively at home and abroad, and recorded many albums. Show of Hands became a full-time partnership from 1991. Phil continues to do session work, most notably on the Rolling Stones 'Steel Wheels' album, and released the acclaimed instrumental album entitled 'The Works' in Summer 1996.

THE MELLSTOCK BAND  (Sunday)

John Richards Band (Saturday)

John Richards has been one of the Folk Scene’s most successful singer-songwriters since Robin Dransfield covered Did you like the Battle Sir? in 1973. While Fairport Convention, Show of Hands, Damien Barber, Bill Caddick, Paul Downes and a long list of folk club artists have been performing his songs on the club and festival scene for the last 13 years, he hasn’t. Instead John’s musical energies were channelled into the electric roots band Desperate Men.

All that changed in 2002 with the release of John’s solo album Behind The Lines, several "Desperates" deciding to retire and John’s move back to his Folk Club and Festival roots. In 2004 John formed the new John Richards Band and the current line up was completed in late 2005 with the addition of long term friends and collaborators Chris Drinan and Jim Sutton.

Emma, John’s eldest daughter, has sung with John for years and of course was a member of Desperate Men. Her harmonies have been described as ‘umbilical’ by Phil Beer and she has a serious collection of outstanding reviews for her lead and harmony singing.

Allie Fellows is a classically trained pianist, who has directed her talents to the Piano Accordion. She found her way to the JRBs via an unusual route since when her playing has brought a new energy to every gig.

Chris has worked with John for over 20 years in Maurice & the Minors and Desperate Men and constantly delivers flute and whistle solos that make the hairs on the back of your kneck stand up. Chris also brings the lovely sound of banjo frailing to the Band.

Jim also worked with John and Chris for over 20 years in Maurice and the Minors and Desperate Men. He brings the unique sound of double bass to this line up and he also shares the band’s keyboard duties with Allie.

ISLA St CLAIR Patron (Friday)

We are very pleased to welcome Isla St Clair to our festival this year as our Patron. She is known to millions for her numerous television appearances including The Royal Variety Show, The Morcambe and Wise Show, and most notably as co-host with Larry Grayson on the BBC's long running The Generation Game which won her `Best Female TV Personality'. Her television series The Song and the Story won the coveted European award `Prix Jeunesse'.

Born in Scotland Isla is one of Britain’s foremost traditional singers, noted for the depth of feeling she brings to her country’s music. At twelve she recorded the first of many traditional ballads for the School of Scottish Studies, and which are still used as reference works. Still in her teens Isla was soon in the top rank of British folksingers, winning several awards including `Best Female Folk Singer', and touring the world.

Recently she received an honorary degree as Master of the University of Aberdeen for her contribution to traditional music. Isla takes a keen interest in teaching children the importance of traditional music and performs her specially prepared programme for educational establishments at home and abroad.

Isla’s talent has also matured to encompass other aspects of the entertainment business and she continues to be busy with, television, radio, stage, presenting and touring in her live shows.

Tom Lewis (Canada) (All weekend)

As winner of the inaugural "Trophée Stan Hugill", French fans dub Tom "The Springsteen of Sea Chanteys". Old Songs Festival (Altamont NY) declares "This man knows the sea ... from the bottom up!", whilst Living Tradition (UK) says "Although I always knew he was good, I was not quite prepared for HOW good." 24 years in the British Royal Navy, "provides him with that vitally authentic stance with which to tackle nautical song" Living Tradition.

Tom's repertoire—from traditional shanties to songs fashioned out of his own seafaring background—recruits his audience for a voyage by turns reflective, dramatic and humorous. Now resident in Canada's Rocky Mountains, Tom was born in Northern Ireland and that Celtic heritage is obvious in his clear, strong voice, evoking quiet sorrow for a fisherman lost to the sea just as honestly as it powers out a shanty "to be heard above the gales."

With songs that have become folk standards; known and sung wherever great choruses ring out; Tom accompanies himself on button accordion and ukulele—but it's that powerful vocal style and infectious humour—that quality of entertaining—which keeps audiences coming back again ... and again.

ALSO 

Strawhead - annA rydeR - Tom Leary & Kevin Dempsey

 Cathryn Craig & Brian Willoughby - Keith Donnelly & Flossie Malavialle

Something Nasty in the Woodshed - Stanley Accrington - Linda Watkins 

Nick Wyke & Becki Driscoll - Patti Smith & Ned Clamp - Alhambra - John Morris 

 Capella - Cobwebs - Vicki & Trefor Williams - Chris King - Phil Hare - Fans

NOMAD - Scarecrow - Saddle the Pony - Blue Coyotes - Bill McKinnon 

 Sandy & Dave ....... and more tbc!

DANCE

Have a good time dancing at the ceilidhs 

(Friday, Saturday and Sunday) 

NB This year the Friday and Saturday night ceilidhs will both be held at General Foods Social Club Ballroom.

Bands confirmed 

Hekety  (Saturday)

Hekety formed in 1997, mainly because Richard & Jess decided they wanted to start a new band, having both been playing in other ceilidh bands for a number of years. The rest of the band met from playing music in and around Sheffield , in most cases through connections with the Sheffield University Ceilidh Society. The personnel changed round a bit at first, but settled to the six piece line-up within the first year or two. Guitarist Paul Baker left due to family commitments (baby number 3 now arrived!) in 2003, leaving the current line up of five.

Why the name? Hecate was a Greek goddess associated with darkness and winter. You could meet her at crossroads, and she was connected to the night and the moon. She was also the Queen of the Witches in Macbeth. We didn't have any particular connection with who or what Hecate was but we liked the word… and changed the spelling in order to make it more obvious to pronounce. 

The music is a mixture of traditional English dance tunes, others from Scotland , Ireland and further afield in Europe , their own tunes and arrangements of contemporary music by other people. The style and arrangements have a pretty diverse range of influences – from Morris and other folk traditions through to heavy metal, jazz, R&B, reggae, klezmer, …, you name it, … It all has a root in the English music though, because they are all English and because their playing for English dancing. 

Peeping Tom, or occasionally the 'Peepers'. Highly regarded, exceptionally tight and powerful music, a Rock Ceilidh band with a precise and up-tempo beat. Easy to dance to, particularly for newcomers. They headline a number of festivals and always produce a cracking good dance

ALSO 

Moulin Bleu - French Dance Workshop & Dance (Saturday)

Old Mettle Dance Band (Sunday)