Music
Belshazzar's Feast
In 1995 Paul Hutchinson (accordion) and Paul Sartin (oboe, violin and vocals) shared a musical passion borne out of the desire to earn sufficient money to support their extravagant lifestyles. Their amazing musicianship coupled with wry humour stunned audiences around Europe and the States. If you like Mozart, Beethoven, Elvis Presley and The Spinners avoid them - you have been warned!
Paul Sartin is a member of Bellowhead and English music trio Faustus. He combines his busy performing career with teaching and outreach work, at St Edward's School in Oxford and for community organisations, most notably Live Music Now and SuperAct. He dabbles in academia, recently assisting on a number of publications of old tune manuscripts, and regularly deputises with the Choir of Winchester Cathedral, where he gets to wear a dress to work.
Paul Hutchinson is a member of the innovative and progressive folk trio, Hoover the Dog as well as Okavango - the collaboration between Hoover the Dog and Fluxus (Belgium). Paul is also a seasoned accordion tutor for Folkworks, Hands On, British Council, Birmingham Conservatoire and University of Limerick. His favourite colour is pink.
Belshazzar's Feast start with traditional folk music, add a touch of classical and jazz, throw in a bit of pop and music hall, and top it off wry humour for a completely unique live experience.
The Boat Band
The Boat Band are Kate Barfield(fiddle and trombone), Greg Stephens (guitar and tenor banjo) and Tony Weatherall (melodeon and cajun acordion). They play tunes that catch their fancy from wherever, with a strong leaning towards Cumbria, Cheshire and Cajun Country (aka Louisiana, but that is not alliterative). They've been sailing the seven seas since 1989, they've played Glastonbury Festival thirteen times, and the St Kilda International Cajun Festival once(there's only been one). They are looking forward to a Holmfirth visit, and hope to hear the Anthem.
boyle tyrrall boyle
A uniquely mouth-watering combination of musical talents, and one not to be missed! Of course, the two Boyles – wondrous singer Maggie and equally wondrous guitarist Gary (no relation) – have already been teamed for a year or two in the trio Sketch (along with bass player Dave Bowie), The Maggie-Gary combination has hitherto produced some spellbinding music that fluidly roved around the folk-jazz axis, but with the addition of the mighty Gordon Tyrrall to the team, there's a chance for an even more folky mix of talents, ideas and personalities, with the very best of all potential worlds.
Central Casting
Central Casting is a four-piece band, based on the West coast of the United Kingdom, which was formed during the long winter of 2009 by songwriter and guitarist Douglas E Powell. Citing as their musical influences bands such as Pentangle, Neil Young, Iron and Wine, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and Ryan Adams making Central Casting an eclectic mix of alt-folk, vocal harmony and Americana. The band will be touring the UK in the spring/summer of 2010 and will be releasing an album in the autumn of 2010.
www.myspace.com/centralcasting
Chris Coe
Chris Coe has a folk scene pedigree that begins in the late 60s as a duo with Pete Coe, a touring career with Bandoggs, New Victory Band, Tigermoth, Red Shift, the National Theatre Cottesloe Company, and more, through to present day projects which have included the development of the traditional ballad The Wife of Usher's Well for new drama spaces and media, the research and returning of collected traditional song to the source communities, particularly using the work of Vaughan Williams, Percy Grainger and Peter Kennedy, and most recently recording the hammered dulcimer sound track to Channel 4s much acclaimed drama documentary on Mo Mowlam. Known for her singing and voice teaching, Chris is a noted balladeer and instrumentalist on concertina, hammered dulcimer and clogging feet. She performs solo and in a duo with husband John Adams.
Dave Burland
Dave has retired twice in his life. In 1968 he left the Police Force to pursue a career in folk music, as a singer and guitar player. This particular period lasted until about 1998 when he took a proper job in which he had to wear proper trousers and, on occasions, a suit and tie. During the aforementioned period of thirty years, he visited quite a few countries, made quite a few solo records, quite a few of which are no longer available, played quite a lot of clubs and concerts and festivals, and made session appearances on quite a few other persons' records including Kate Rusby, Nic Jones, Richard Thompson, Mike Harding, Tony Rose, Bob Pegg and quite a few others.
The period of 1998 to 2007 has been taken up by work with the very occasional engagement. However, in July 2007 all this changed when he retired for the second time. Hopefully, quite a few people will see this increased availability as quite a good thing. He is known to be quite looking forward to performing and seeing friends, some quite old and some quite new, and demonstrating his own controlled dynamism.
Ewan McLennan
Ewan's singing and playing covers the broad range folk music has to offer; from traditional ballads sung unaccompanied, to dance tunes or melancholic airs arranged for the guitar, and with a strong emphasis on his own contemporary songwriting that follows in the folk tradition. "Outstanding singer and stunning guitar player. Organisers - book this man!" - Dave Eyre, Sheffield Live Radio - so we did!
FEB
FEB (Full English Breakfast) are a six piece band playing a range of covers and their own material. Their performances reflect their journey from electric sounds to a more rootsy feel. Their present line-up is fiddle, banjo, accordion, mandolin, guitar, piano/keyboard, saxophone, bass and drums/percussion. Last and not least they all sing.
Felix T
Felix is a robust stocky chap from Liverpool, who performs his own songs about love and life with a little helping of Scouse wit, dodgy vocals, and average guitar playing skills. His style is part folk, part americana,part Tom O'Connor, all played using the little known Aigburth 'stluck' style of guitar playing.(part strum/part pluck). An interesting evening is assured as Felix waxes lyrical about living life 'with a few miles on the clock', being 'slightly above his fighting weight' and loving his family and friends. Come along, you can even bring your whippet.
www.myspace.com/felixandsweetpea
Fyrish
Fyrish is a Scottish folk duo, based in Yorkshire, with a varied repertoire of traditional and contemporary songs and tunes. Cello and guitar blend together to create an engaging background to a collection of great songs.
Marjorie Paterson is a cello player, originally from the Black Isle, who grew up in a musical family and who has a natural gift for music and harmony and loves to play a wide range of styles. She is a qualified teacher and FYRISH also lead children's workshops based on musical games and activities. Marjorie has been interested in music - listening and playing – for as long as she can remember. There was always music in her house, whether her mother singing Gaelic songs or her father's fiddle tunes. Marjorie says: "My father used to stand outside my bedroom door playing to send me to sleep, the tune fading as he walked further away. If I didn't go to sleep quickly, I learned that I got more tunes!"
Dave Cowan is a singer and guitar player, originally from Glasgow, who has been singing all sorts of folk songs for many years. He has a relaxed, easy style and a mellow voice with a quiet authority which also makes him a popular MC at folk clubs and sessions. Dave has been collecting and singing folk songs for 40 years. In the 1980's Dave lived in Yorkshire, singing as a solo performer in local clubs and at festivals and was a past committee member of HFF. From 1990 to 2005 he was based in his home city of Glasgow and continued to be active in the folk scene. He has, in the past, won TMSA singing competitions for unaccompanied traditional song, but is better known as a singer/guitarist, performing both contemporary and traditional material.
Gary Stewart
Regarded by many as the "Paul Simon of the 21st Century", Scottish singer/songwriter Gary Stewart has been catching the attention and imagination of music lovers up and down the UK. Capturing audiences with his enchanting live shows, filled with songs and stories of love, paranoia and prostitution, he always delivers them with honesty, passion and a good measure of Celtic flair. Gigging both solo and with his band, the hard working left-hander from Perthshire has carved out a strong fan base in his adopted home of Leeds, while making a notable impact on the live circuit in London also with impressive reviews of recent gigs at The Troubadour, The Bedford Theatre, and the Gardening Club. Along the way he has played support to Johnny Flynn, Glenn Tilbrook, Laura Marling, Emma Pollock, Broken Records, John Power, James Yorkston, Ross Ainslie & Jarlath Henderson, Noah & the Whale, Joan As Policewoman and Fionn Regan. He has also graced the Festival circuit, playing shows this year at the Otley and Warwick Folk Festivals, Live At Leeds, Solfest, Kendal Calling, Acoustic Edinburgh Festival (with Andi Neate) and the Moor Music festival.
www.myspace.com/garystewartband
Hamish Currie
Hamish loves the folk scene in all its variety - the participation, the interaction, the spontaneity: the total 'live' performance thing. Having appeared as the guest artist at clubs from Cumbria to Sussex and featured at festivals from Yorkshire to Dorset, he is equally at home in a small, intimate acoustic setting with whites-of-the-eyes contact right up to bigger stages with audiences in hundreds and thousands. Meanwhile, back at the profile... communication is what it's all about. Whether it's putting over the drama of a traditional ballad or setting up a rousing chorus, the audience is always an integral part of the performance. His repertoire is taken from the traditions on both sides of the border, laced with some original and contemporary material. He'll be doing all sorts of things all weekend.
Harp and a Monkey
Harp and a Monkey are a three-piece from North Manchester who were formed in 2008. They combine folk, electronica and roots and have been wooing audiences around Greater Manchester with their leftfield, but accessible, approach to songsmithery and instrumentation - expect harps, banjos, glockenspiels, melodicas and electro beats in a unique mash-up. The band are Martin Purdy on vocals, glockenspiel, electronica and harmonica, Andy Smith on banjo, guitar, melodica and electronics and Simon Jones on harp, guitar and electronics. The trio have been friends for more than 12 years and have their own studio above a greasy spoon in Blackley - where they mix beats with bacon butties. They say: "We love everything from Beethoven to Boards of Canada - but the one stipulation we made when we started was that we wanted it to sound 'English'. The songs are essentially short stories and lyrically in the tradition of acts like The Specials, The Kinks and It's Immaterial as much as traditional folk. We sing about ghosts, unhappy brides, absent fathers and people who dig holes for a living."
www.myspace.com/harpandamonkey
Hissyfit
Hissyfit are Hazel Richings and Linda Kelly. Based near Hull, this harmony duo began singing together as members of Beverley's White Horse Folk club about 10 years ago. At that time Linda, a newcomer on the folk scene, had begun to write songs. She had started to collect stories about the lives of the people involved in the fishing industry based around the Humber. The repertoire of self penned songs grew as the couple began to develop their own style of traditional based harmony singing. Since that time they have enjoyed success at folk clubs across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire and at Saddleworth, Warwick and Cleckheaton festivals. They regularly appear at Hull's Sea Fever Shanty Festival. They have been delighted to have had their songs recorded by Grace Notes and Pint & Dale and have sung and recorded with John Conolly.
Jack Rutter & Jim Molyneux
Jack Rutter is a young guitarist and singer from Shepley, a few miles out of Holmfirth. He plays modern instrumental guitar music and sings traditional and contemporary songs. He is accompanied by Jim Molyneux from Rochdale, an accordionist, keyboard player and percussionist who in 2008 won the Percussion Category of the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition. Between them they are appearing at Glastonbury, Sidmouth, Skagen, Warwick, Beverley and Agiot festivals over this Summer.
Jeff Warner
Jeff Warner is among the nation's (I assume he means the USA) foremost performer/interpreters of traditional music. His songs from the lumber camps, fishing villages and mountain tops of America connect 21st century audiences with the everyday lives and artistry of 19th century Americans.
Jeff grew up listening to the songs and stories of his father Frank Warner and the traditional singers his parents met during their folksong collecting trips through rural America. He accompanied his parents on their later field trips and is the editor of his mother's book, Traditional American Folk Songs: From the Anne and Frank Warner Collection. He is producer of the two-CD set, Her Bright Smile Haunts Me Still, the Warners' recordings of rural singers, many of them born in Victorian times.
Jeff has performed widely, from large festivals in the UK, to clubs, festivals and schools across America. He plays concertina, banjo, guitar and several "pocket" instruments, including bones and spoons. And "he inhabits a song in a way which few singers can do" (Royal Oak Folk Club, Lewes, UK).
Killing Fields of Ontario
Killing Fields of Ontario were formed in 2007 by Tom and Stu. In early 2008, after months of song writing, they were put in touch with musical prodigy Dave Loffman, who kindly agreed to record a demo. Dave also took up drum duties, and semi-legendary "Rocketeers" front man James "Roadkill" Brooks stepped in on bass to complete the line up. "A blend of toe-tapping Americana, banjos, Chili Peppers guitars and country-inflected Jack White vocals: more than your average Leeds wannabes" - Vibrations Magazine July 2009
www.myspace.com/killingfieldsofontario
Klonk
Klonk is a band of six musicians from the north of England determined to bring you the best tunes from around the world. From Baltic klezmer to Argentine tango, sultry Spanish ladino to the folk dances of the Carpathian mountains, Klonk will take you on a musical odyssey across the globe. Full of energy and variety, Iain's upright bass, Stevie's percussion and Jonny's accordion provide solid, sparkling rhythms that call people irresistibly to dance. Paul nimbly skips between the beats on the guitar, while Tom's violin and Rich's clarinet effortlessly weave the melody on top. Drawing inspiration from the strong folk and gypsy traditions of central Europe and the klezmer revival of the last 30 years, Klonk are guaranteed to have hands clapping and feet stomping at pub gigs, festivals, concert halls and private parties.
Leo Brazil & his Twitch
Leo Brazil and his Twitch play exciting, memorable and original songs that combine many influences including Blues, Country, Psychedelia, Rock n' Roll and of course Folk. Their energetic live show is not to be missed. Leo's animal song trilogy, romantic sing-along - You Provide The Icing, historical ballads - Gin Riots and If You're Innuit plus the incendiary Bastards are guaranteed to have you humming and drumming your fingers on the table or any other available surface for weeks to come. After spending his formative years playing Jimi Hendrix and Bo Diddley covers, Leo concentrated on writing songs and self produced two quirky home-made albums that have been likenened to early Beck, Wilco, Eels and The Flaming Lips. After many solo acoustic shows (including, oddly enough, winning the Lincolnshire Singer/Songwriter competition) Leo is now playing with the talented musicians who make up the Twitch: Eddie Armitage on violin/Mandolin, Dave Haigh on bass/vocals/kazoo and Josh Blinkhorn on drums.
Miriam Backhouse
One of the best revivalist folk singers of the 1970s, Miriam Backhouse toured the UK and Europe to become their "First Lady of Folk". Miriam started singing in British folk Clubs in the mid seventies and quickly gained a big reputation as a new young performer of traditional material. Miriam plays guitar to accompany herself but her debut album has the addition of keyboards and bass arrangements by Brian Etheridge and Stephen Delft on dulcimer. At the end of 1979 Miriam moved to South Africa with her then new husband, musician John Erasmus. They quickly built up a solid reputation as performers,recorded several albums and featured on many television programmes.
In 2008, she re-launched her solo career at Splashy Fen Festival, to the delight of international festival goers. That year's tour of the clubs and festivals in the UK confirmed her place as one of the legends of the Folk Singing world. Her repertoire spans from the old story – telling ballads, to the protest songs of the '60s and '70s, and songs she has written about South Africa - it's beauty and pain.
www.myspace.com/miriambackhouse
Muldoon's Picnic
Muldoon's Picnic are a five-part harmony singing group based in the lovely green city of Glasgow. Singing mostly their own arrangements of traditional unaccompanied harmony from around the world, though they have been known to dabble in styles from the sublime to the ridiculous. Muldoon's Picnic are available for festivals, concerts, weddings, conferences, private parties, theatrical performances, James Joyce appreciation jamborees and what have you. They have a particular interest in the American shapenote or Sacred Harp tradition, in which they put on regular workshops in Glasgow and at festivals.
Niamh Boadle and Gerry McNeice
Orchestra member Niamh Boadle to form a new and exciting duo. Presenting a mixture of original material from both Gerry (vocal, guitar, bouzouki, double bass) and Niamh (vocal, guitar, whistles, fiddle and bodhrain) along with traditional songs and tunes. The new duo will showcase Nimah's amazing talents and show why she was a finalist in this years' BBC Radio Two Young Folk Awards. Niamh will also accompany Gerry in delivering his guitar workshop as she is an accomplished DADGAD player.
www.niamh.boadle.co.uk www.gerrymcneice.co.uk
Old Man Pie
After a number of line-up changes in the Autumn of 2009, a new slimmed-doen Old Mna Pie, or 'Pie LIte' as they like to refer to themselves, make a welcome return to the festival this year. They play a black country, anti-folk and what they affectionately refr to as pie music. Last year they signed to American record label Pseudo Psalm records and in June released an album that was favourably reviewed on live.cnn.com. The band have used internet animations and games to promote their music around the world. The first animation, which accompanied the song 'The Never Never', dealt with the topic of personal debt and was made in 2006, well before the disaster of the credit crunch. The animation was featured on MySpace and had over 35,000 plays as a result.
Ottersgear
Brought to life in the summer of 2008 Ottersgear made it's first steps in Quernmore, Lancaster, on the tip of the Trough of Bowland, as a recording project by One Chip Potato frontman Mikey Kenney. The first EP (Rising Balloon) tells the tale of an alcoholic who, in need of rest, walks into the lonely company of the trough and overcomes his struggle with alcohol. Using folk themes and mythological metaphors Ottersgear opens the listener's mind eye to the world Mikey has made for himself out on the moors. Ottersgear is now being performed as a live project with Mikey leading an ensemble of talented musicians, including Andrew Raven (Hows My Pop?), Dan Haywood (Dan Haywood's New Hawks), Charley Weatherill, George Hitchmough and James Munroe (Old Man Pie).
Owen Phillips
Residing in the small Pennine town of Holmfirth, with it's rich heritage of folk music, has certainly instilled in Owen an awareness of the diverse possibilities of the genre from an early age. A grounding of folk sessions and blues bands has further cemented a laid back and impromptu attitude to jamming and improvisation. Unafraid to combine these elements with the technological possibilities afforded by our modern age, Owen forges an eclectic and unconventional musical path. On stage, more traditional blues and folksongs are woven together with multi-layered improvisational passages - acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin and harmonica rub shoulders with theremin strains and long delays, all built up through loop pedals and embellished with anything interesting that comes to hand. What results is a set swinging between diverse acoustic songs and a one-man experimental folk jam session.
Paul and Liz Davenport
Traditional songs and new songs in traditional style. Although involved in the folk scene since the 1960s, Paul and Liz both have singing connections from long before their involvement in the folk revival. Song has been a large part of their growing up in their hometown of Hull in East Yorkshire.
Encouraged to sing from an early age by parents and grandparents Paul was an early fan of traditional song. On her father's side Liz's family originate from the north east where most of the men were shipwrights in North Shields. Paul and Liz are fortunate, given that they are city born and bred, to have roots that encompass such a wide range of rural tradition. Although Paul has recently been editor of 'English Dance & Song', the magazine of the English Folk Dance & Song Society, they tend to be in the folk scene rather than of it. They are not regular club singers and, although they can be heard often in informal singing situations in public, they prefer singing in informal settings.
Their repertoire is strongly traditional as would be expected, but also includes some self penned material which has attracted attention on both sides of the Atlantic for its compelling authenticity. In addition to singing they also conduct workshops and their considerable repertoire of Child ballad variants together with their field and academic research has led to their being invited to take charge at Ballad sessions at both Sidmouth and Whitby in 2008 - and Holmfirth 2010!
Pete Coe
A One Man Folk Industry was how Jim Lloyd described Pete Coe on Folk on 2. With a vast repertoire of traditional & original songs, dance tunes & dances playing bouzouki, melodeon, dulcimer, banjo & step percussion, he's been a professional musician since 1971. Pete looks to the tradition, but doesn't shrink from adapting and reinventing in order to move forward. He is essentially a storyteller, equally at home with lengthy traditional ballads as with pithy self-penned songs. Shreds and Patches. He has recorded ten albums, broadcasts regularly on local and BBC radio and has appeared in several television programmes.
Pete has frequently worked and recorded with other musicians throughout his career... with Chris Coe as a duo... with Chris, Nic Jones and Tony Rose as Bandoggs... with the legendary New Victory Band and with Red Shift. He continues to work as a caller with dance band Raw Material (as well as other local and nationally known dance bands) but his main work is solo. Pete is a prolific songwriter and his songs include Joseph Baker (performed by The Chieftains), The Wizard of Alderley Edge (an early classic), The Alimony Run (recorded by Token Women), Sold Down the River Again (recorded with Red Shift), The Jackdaw, The Waves of Tory (a comment on the Thatcher Era in Britain), Bring the New Year In (on the new album) and numerous others.
Rachel McShane Band
Rachael McShane, best known as the cellist, singer, fiddle player (and only girl!) in 11-piece folk big-band Bellowhead, is now embarking on a solo career. Her stunning debut album 'No Man's Fool' was released on Navigator Records in August 2009. Rachael has toured internationally with Bellowhead, as well as making TV appearances performing on Later with Jools Holland (alongside Thom Yorke and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers) and at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms 2008. She is also one of eight artists involved in the Darwin Song Project, working alongside other folk singers including Chris Wood, Karine Polwart and Emily Smith to write songs celebrating the bi-centennial of Charles Darwin. They will be at the Picturedrome on Saturday night.
Ray Hearne
In the beginning it was a bit of this and a bit of that and if you're like me you love it. Words dancing around, clicking their heels, grabbing hold of each other and making language move between them. An act of love in itself. Language. Such a lovely word in any accent. The first musical instrument. We can all play it of course after a fashion; that's an article of faith with me; if I can do it, then you can do it too, and her, and him. But you've got to practise in order to learn. Every influence we've ever had, every inspirational person leaves us, knowing or unknowing, with a bit of themselves, like a little layer of grace transforming itself, and each one of us, as it warms and spreads through every last capillary, corpuscle and probably even chromosome into the chemical equivalent of gratitude. And that gratitude for me is the nugget of confidence. All of a sudden when you're not looking, perhaps even despite yourself, little shoots of confidence begin to sprout, and you think, 'I'll never be as good as them, but if I take a deep breath and borrow a bit of that and change it a little so it sounds slightly more like it was for me, then I might be able to do a bit of my own, in my own way. There might be some things I can say. Some tales I can tell. Some tunes I can hum. Some words that might even hear themselves sung through me.' And some discover it early and others not till late, and some haven't discovered it yet, but perhaps they will. Even today. Nobody knows. But I remember how I first expressed it in a little finger-wag to myself: 'Never leave a single story unsung.'
Ray Padgett
A singer of traditional songs and those of social and historical worth, a regular singer at Barnsley Folk Club [Chairman] at the Shaw Inn and performer and singaround host at a number of folk festivals such as Saddleworth, Saltburn, Holmfirth, Sheffield, Barnsley and Whitby. He also sings and performs at Wakefield venues such as Fernandes Tap and the New Inn at Walton.
Throughout the year he is involved with The Yorkshire Garland which is in place to create a database of Yorkshire song in audio and text format. Phase 2 has now been completed adding some further forty songs which have some Yorkshire connection. HLF and A4a funding was obtained for the Yorkshire Garland group to help accomplish this work to date, along with voluntary help from a host of singers musicians and donators of songs.
Rocks and Reels with Sal
Rocks & Reels, a seasoned band who have coaxed audiences onto the dance floor in ceilidhs, are currently enjoying a creative surge which has recently carried them across musical and physical borders into uncharted territory. Playing traditional and original songs about lonely dogs and dirty dogs, from summer holidays to the young ones. The band will surprise you with an eclectic mix of intimate folk songs and driving tunes filtered through a decadent lo-fi ceilidh aesthetic.
Joining Rocks and Reels will be singer song-writer Sal with her unique, haunting vocals who with three talented and experienced musicians will play an acoustic folk set, which mixes together traditional and contemporary themes. This is the third time Sal and the band have played the Postcard at the Holmfirth Festival of Folk and they promise to entertain you again this year with their original blend of moody ballads and upbeat melodies.
www.rocks-and-reels.co.uk www.myspace.com/salcharnock
Rory Ellis
Rory Ellis is the quintessential Australian singer/songwriter with buckets of talent, heaps of stories to tell, and impossible to pigeonhole. Alternative Country/Blues style singer songwriter he's got blues man in him, soul belter, red-dirt country and home-grown folkie. A regular at many Australian and UK Festivals over the years with 4 media acclaimed albums to his name, Rory is now on his 7th tour playing at major festivals, venues, Art Centres and theatres in his travels and supporting greats like Richie Havens and Eric Bibb.
Samzeo
A stunning 6v piece Georgian choir, based in West Yorkshire who share a passion for singing Georgian Eastern European vocal music. The repertoire includes celebratory, laments and ancient ritual songs and they have just returned from singing at the Tbilisi Music festival (Oct 2009) which brings together artists from around the globe.
Sarah Horn and James Cudworth
Sarah and James are a young duo who play a mixture of traditional and modern folk & acoustic music with Sarah on fiddle and vocals and James on guitar, stomp box, harmonica & vocals. Both are studying music A level and play in other local bands as well as in music centre and college groups/orchestras (in which James alternates between playing guitar, drums, bass, clarinet & saxophone). Sarah and James met at Holmfirth Festival last year at Friday's Acoustic Night in the Cricket Club and played together with friends in the open mic session at No.11 on Sunday afternoon. They started performing together shortly after in June 2009 as Sarah Horn and James Cudworth and have been very busy with gigs and festivals since.
Show of Hands
2010 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards double winners Show of Hands are regarded as England's finest roots duo. Singer songwriter Steve Knightley and multi instrumentalist Phil Beer won both the Best Duo title and Best Original Song at the Awards - the latter for the topical title track of their acclaimed new studio album Arrogance Ignorance and Greed, about bankers and bonuses! The triple Albert Hall sell-out band who have headlined at festivals from WOMAD to Glastonbury are ready to perform from their rich repertoire of original songs. They will be accompanied by striking double bass player and vocalist Miranda Sykes while special guest will be rising indy folk star Ruarri Joseph who has been described as a British Jack Johnson. They will be at the Picturedrome on Friday night.
Stafford Galli
Once upon a time, Martin took time out from his job as a stop/go man and took himself to a recording studio to record a couple of tunes he had floating around in his head. This was Stafford Galli in the making, 15 years ago.Once there were songs, a singer, arrangements and above all a full band, it was time to conquer the world or at least Doncaster. The word spread and from the Mean Fiddler to the Edinburgh Fringe with Hull in between a loyal following developed. Three albums later, Phrygian Knights, Stafford Galli and Bring it Back Home, TV and radio appearances and sell out at Doncaster Dome the band split in 2000. Like all families they keep in touch even performing now and again by popular demand. New songs and new band members and Stafford Galli intend to conquer the world again.
String Fellows
With songs and musical influences drawn from the deserts of northern Mali, Sardinian shepherds, 80s euro-pop, Latvian folk tunes, the South Sea Islands, American garage, folk, punk and funk, plus a puzzling tendency to songs that are less than kind about animals, String Fellows serve up a sizzling mix of fat, juicy harmonies, ragged and raucous strings, a suitcase of percussion and a twinkling, sardonic wit. A mix of old stagers and raw young talent, String Fellows are: Chris Ruffoni, resonator, percussion and vocals Rob Crisp, acoustic guitar and vocals; Andy Crisp, 12-string and vocals, Bob Lockwood, double bass and vocals, Phil Russell, acoustic guitar, cajon, vocals; Andy Spearpoint, ukulele, cajon, and vocals; Sean Leonard, acoustic guitar and vocals.
String Theory
String Theory are Dave Bottomley, John Platt and Sarah Dobson, who are residents at Barnsley Folk and Acoustic Night. They play a mixture of traditional and contemporary folk, blues and self penned material, interspersed with tunes on guitar, mandolin and fiddle. Dave plays fingerstyle guitar with lots of complicated open tunings. His own songs include 'The Ballad of Stefan Kishko' and the much requested 'Camper Van Rag'. John's broad repertoire includes many of the old ballads and covers of contemporary songs. Sarah accompanies on fiddle and may sing one day if the others buy her enough beer (this has never happened). They are expert at leading and keeping up the pace in informal pub sessions, and have done so in an official capacity at both Otley Folk Festival and the Holmfirth Festival of Folk. Great believers in bringing traditional songs and music to the wider public they have so far resisted the temptation to have T-Shirts made up reading 'No we don't know The Fields of Athenrye' They'll be around all weekend.
Trent Burton
Variously described as "who?", "deluded" and "no longer welcome in this National Park", Trent Burton nevertheless continues to plough his own furrow with dog-eared determination. Career highs thus far include being Paint Monitor for a week in 1968. The builder of occasional sheds comes to Holmfirth toting a shabby portmanteau of assorted self-penned songs and tenuous links, plus a cantankerous middle-aged German. guitar that won't be told. Or tuned. Perhaps it's worth mentioning that Trent is almost certainly the first human to have employed the catalogue/shat-a-log rhyme in a poetic context. There again, perhaps it isn't. Trent Burton lives in a small way in the little Derbyshire fishing village of Whaley Bridge, with his tiny family, a fat cat named RBS and an absorbent guppy.
Travelling Billberets
Legends in their own lunchtime, local band The Travelling Billberets entertain withtheir own special brand of folk/rock. Year s of searching the internet looking for lyrics and chords has enabled the band to build up an astonishing repertoire with minimal rehearsal time. The Billberets' folk festival set has at its core the works of Dylan, Neil Young and The Band but they like to throw in a few 60s numbers in tribute to their musical roots. Should you want to sit back in a concert seat and be entertained by amazing guitar solos and complex vocal harmonies, consult the festival programme to see who else is on but if you want to experience what Status Quo might have sounded like if they had employed a melodeon player then look no further.
The Ugly Mug Jug Band
The Ugly Mug Jug Band plays good¬time music mostly from the 1920s and 30s in the old jug band way. Some more modern songs receive the UMJB's cheerfully eccentric treatment too. The effects include gladness, tapping toes and the desire to stay around and drink more beer. They are Geoff Smith on washboard and things bolted to it. Geoff is a veteran of the legendary Hot Pot Belly Band. We mean veteran. Dave Ellis on jug, tea chest bass, fiddle, vocals and waistcoats. Dave was a stalwart of Huddersfield jug and skiffle outfit Hokum in its golden years. Jason Kerry on harmonicas, vocals, guitar and fine shoes. Having done time with Hokum, Jason is also ex- Swing of Things. You may notice Jason first. Geoff Beaumont is well-known for his sterling work with the Ginger Jug Band. He plays mandolin, jug and peculiar banjos; he also sings. Hide the piano if you need an early night. Fangio Banjo on vocals, guitar, kazoo, banjo and vague directions. Fangio founded the UMJB and is yet to show any remorse.
Wizz Jones
There are few artists with more claim to being a 'musician's musician' than Wizz Jones. Inspired by Big Bill Broonzy, Rambling Jack Elliot, Alexis Korner and Ewan MacColl, and learning his guitar licks from the likes of Davy Graham and Long John Baldry while playing in the coffee bars of London's Soho during the late nineteen fifties. Then busking throughout Europe from the streets of Paris to the markets of Marrakech during the early sixties and later to be cited by John Renbourn and Eric Clapton as an important early influence. With his unique acoustic guitar style, an eclectic repertoire and a 'right hand worthy of Broonzy' Wizz continues to tour on the acoustic folk and blues circuit, usually solo but sometimes together with son Simeon on Sax, Flute and Harmonica. This gig is being presented by Barnsley Folk Club who will also be bringing along support artists for the evening upstairs in the White Hart.
Zoox
Linda Game, Jo May and Becky Menday are a superb trio serving up a cocktail of new melodies and traditional tunes with a delicate balance of strings, wind, percussion and voices. Be prepared for a fabulous array of instruments from contrabassoon to congas. Exciting arrangements, great musicianship and infectious energy typify the performances of Zoox in a show which is guaranteed to entertain and enchant. Their rich and varied influences include Celtic, Appalachian, Klezmer, African, Cuban, Rock and Classical.
