Les Barker

writes strange poems and comes from originally from Manchester, but he's now Welsh. He was an accountant before he became a professional idiot. He's written 77 books, which sell in large numbers at his gigs because people don't quite believe what they've just heard. His poems have spawned a number of folk heroes: Jason and the Arguments, Cosmo the Fairly Accurate Knife Thrower, Captain Indecisive and Spot of the Antarctic, to name but two.

Les began his career as assistant to Mrs Ackroyd, a small hairy mongrel who lay around in folk clubs, bit people and became famous. Mrs Ackroyd was the only dog ever to own her own record label. Since her sad demise, Les is mainly a solo performer, though he has taken to working with humans from time to time. The Mrs Ackroyd Band gradually evolved from an ever-changing who's who of the folk scene into a tightly knit, well-rehearsed group.

Les has several solo albums to his credit: 'Dogologues', An Infinite Number of Occasional Tables', 'A Cardi and Bloke', 'Up the creek without a poodle', 'Arovertherapy' and 'The War on Terrier'. He has travelled the length, breadth and height of Great Britain, as well as Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, and - both solo and with the band - the United States and Canada, and has recently won prizes for writing and speaking Welsh in the Learners' Pavilion at the National Eisteddfod.

http://www.mrsackroyd.com/bioles.htm

Climax Ceilidh Band/Meridian

The Climax Ceilidh Band is one of the finest ceilidh bands in England. They pride themselves on their mix of highly original self-written tunes and traditional material, all designed to get feet tapping and dancers stepping.

Their debut CD, COME DANCING, was released in June 2006 on Beautiful Jo Records to critical acclaim.

The driving rhythm of the accordion and guitar, the sweet sound of the dancing fiddles, the swift trill of the flute and the power of the pipes makes the Climax Ceilidh Band experience truly uplifting!

Meridian are based around the driving chordal work of Richard Jones (accordion), the intricate melodic lines of Chris Walshaw (pipes/whistles/flutes) and the rhythm 'n' groove harmonies of Anna Tabbush (fiddle/flute). Anna, raised in the tradition, also sings and adds vocal lines. Meridian play excellent arrangements of marvellous tunes & compelling songs for concerts & Euro-dances and provide the glorious sound of '... raw folk energy, laced with finesse ...'

www.meridianfolk.co.uk

Roy Clinging

Singer and concertina player Roy Clinging is something of a seasoned campaigner on the English folk scene having been involved in one way or another for the last 30 years or so. He has carried out extensive research

into the songs and traditions of his home county of Cheshire, has an interest in matters maritime and can draw on a wide array of ballads and songs from all over the British Isles and beyond. Although his love of

traditional song is always evident in his live performances he has also been involved in the production of ‘Off To Sea Once More’, a show celebrating the music of our maritime heritage, ‘The Navvy’s Wife’, by Mick Ryan, and ‘A Poor Man’s Heritage’ written as a special commission for the Salt Museum in Northwich, Cheshire and which looks at the struggles of the poor in 19 th century Britain with particular focus on the workhouse system.

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. "Seeing them floundering about in all those little coloured sugary balls is such a hoot" he says. (Okay, so he's never actually played to thousands. But that's not going to stand in the way of a fantastic joke about cake decorations.) 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 now taken from the traditions on both sides of the border, laced with some original and contemporary material. And cake decorations.

www.hamishcurrie.me.uk

Paul and Liz Davenport

Paul and Liz Davenport are Hull-born and bred, and there is a touch of the Watersons in their strong voices and natural understanding. Paul has singing antecedents on both side of his family while Liz is descended from Travellers on her mother’s side with a paternal grandfather who was a piper from the North-East. For many years their singing has been confined to a domestic context but their familiarity with the tradition gives them the confidence to experiment. Their repertoire is unusual and compelling, ranging from straight traditional renditions through self-penned material from Paul and son Gavin. The latter, though modern, certainly sounds traditional. Using sparse accompaniment in some songs, they sing mostly unaccompanied narrative songs and ballads. Theirs is a powerful, though deceptively simple delivery which sounds persuasively authentic.

Sara Grey

Sara Grey is a fine American singer, banjo player and song collector, who is immersed in the song traditions of both sides of the Atlantic. She lived in Scotland for 28 years, She also travelled extensively through the U.S. and Canada, performing and participating in workshops and summer-schools. She became very aware of how easy it is for people to become insular in their appreciation of music and how important it is for people to see that as songs travelled they became part of U.S. culture too. Her passionate interest is to maintain and strengthen the links between Celtic and American culture.

Duncan McFarlane+ Anne Brivonese

'Classy English Folk Guitar, eminently listenable vocals and great songs, both traditional and contemporary' (Mike Raven) 'Duncan's a punchy guitarist in the 'English folk' style and offers a set about

equally split between his own songs and traditional' (fRoots) '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' 'Stylistically, Duncan's guitar technique falls very much within the Carthy/Nic Jones school, with a strong rhythmic impetus that's infectious in the extreme. His singing has real character too' (Traditional Music Maker) To the already full sound of Duncan's own tremendous guitar playing, fiddler Anne Brivonese contributes some excellent, sympathetic yet punchy bow-stroking and some lovely supporting harmony vocals.

Ray Padgett

Jan Porter

Although Jan’s earlier passions were ballroom dance, swing jive, set design and acting - for the past 20 years she’s gathered considerable experience on the folk music and dance scene: dancing with Wakefield Morris, playing electric bass as a founder member of The Dogsbody Ceilidh band, singing in the duo Swan and Porter with guitarist Nigel Swan, performing Music Hall at Otley Folk Festival, and running St George’s Day Dances in Stainbeck Hall, Leeds. She’s also run dances for adults with learning disabilities and has links with YAMSEN.

Jan is organiser and caller for The Polka Dots 3-piece barn dance and song band and she gained insight into dance-calling skills when The Polka Dots worked with such eminent callers as Bob Carter, Tony Whitehead, Ron Darnborough and John Gray. She Jan at Leeds Contra and Heatherdene Folk Dance in Harrogate and at Whitby in the folk festival callers competition. She is invovled with Les Panards Dansant where she plays recorder for the band as well as increasing her experience in French dance

Mike Silver and Johnny Coppin

Mike Silver is a singer/songwriter with early influences of Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, the Everly Brothers, Lonnie Donegan, The Chas McDevitt Skiffle Group, Slim Whitman, Phil Harris, Connie Francis and many more. Whilst this music played a part in inspiring Mike to want to play the guitar, the thing that really did it was when, at the age of nine, he discovered a guitar at home one Sunday morning that one of his brother’s friends had left behind the night before.

Johnny Coppin is a singer/songwriter, composer and poetry anthologist. Formerly with the folk-rock band Decameron, His clear voice together with his ability to write fine songs make his music essentially English in character while having universal appeal. Jack Russell, the Gloucestershire and ex-England wicket-keeper, is a big fan and often used to lead his team in singing one of Johnny's rousing Gloucestershire songs!

Quicksilver

Hilary Spencer and Grant Baynham. This duo is based on a simple notion. If you pair a couple of great talents and get them working to their strengths, then something extraordinary may happen. Grant is a phenomenal guitarist, singer-songwriter and comic wit. Hilary is the lady with a huge Rolls Royce of a voice. Put them together and you have a massively entertaining pair delivering great music song and humour.

‘Comic song tinged with gold" Ned Sherrin

"They shine like mercury and are equally fluid" Rich Warren WFMT Chicago

Quicksilver will be appearing at CragRats on Sat pm Tickets from CragRats at
http://www.cragratstheatre.com/pages/index.asp
01484 691323

Pat Smith + Ned Clamp

Pat: vocals, anglo concertina, spoons.
Before becoming firmly established on the Welsh music scene, Pat
started playing on the linoleum at an early age. A brief period with
seminal band Swansea Jack led to a 25 year career as half of Calennig,
recording many albums, and taking traditional Welsh music to the four
corners of Llantrisant, and subsequently all over the world. Pat calls
and plays with the Calennig Big Band for twmpathau (Welsh ceilidhs).
She is a virtuoso on the spoons, and her workshops, both in spoons and
Welsh dance, are informative and highly entertaining as we found last
year!
Ned: vocals, guitar, harmonica.
Ned moved to Wales from the Celtic fringes of Surrey in the 70s and
couldn't find his way back. A stalwart of the south Wales folk scene
for over 25 years, playing, singing, calling, promoting, some say he's
been a bit of an anchor. Ned has played in various bands over the years
including Juice of Barley, the influential ragtime duo Hamstrung Bones,
and lately, in country roots duo Resonator, and his own occasional big
band The Eduardo Clampini Allstars.
Together, Pat & Ned perform fascinating songs and tunes, old and new,
from wherever they can steal them, blending gentle harmonies with
top-drawer musicianship. Well known to just about everyone on the
active festival scene, Ned and Pat bring enjoyment and quality music
wherever they go. Since the sad demise of one of Wales' leading groups,
Callenig, Pat has ventured into pastures new. Under the influence of
new material and new roots she has found a new level of stage presence.
Although relatively new to the fiddle this has become an important part
of Pat's musical armoury, (don’t forget the spoons Andy, I hear you
cry).
Ned's accomplished musicianship and easy humour combine with Pat's
talents to produce an unforgetable and polished performance.
- Andy Jackson – Miskin Festival Programme

SOUNDSPHERE are a fabulous voice and percussion foursome based in York
who have been delighting audiences for the last five years.
SOUNDSPHERE’s repertoire embraces many traditions and cultures and
every one of their performances is a celebration of all facets of the
voice and the joys of singing, whatever the style, origin or nature of
the song.  The superb vocals are often enhanced by driving rhythms
through clever use of drums and percussion ranging from Bodhran to
Djembe, Darabuka and others. SOUNDSPHERE have an impeccable musical
instinct and their sensitivity to their material and genuine creativity
leads to beautifully crafted arrangements which have a truly original
feel. SOUNDSPHERE’s love of singing is inspiring,  infectious and
thoroughly entertaining!  
 www.soundsphere.co.uk

Alun Parry Band

With a sound akin to Woody Guthrie teaming up with The Jam, Alun Parry
is regarded as one of Liverpool's most respected radical folk
musicians. The Alun Parry Band offer foot stomping gritty folk rock
with sincerity, passion and a good dose of humour and humanity.
Well-crafted ‘slice of life’ anthems powerfully delivered
http://www.parrysongs.co.uk

Jack Rutter

A very young, very talented, teenage boy hailing from rural
Huddersfield, Yorkshire, playing and singing traditional songs/modern
instrumentals on guitar. Sometimes playing lap style, sometimes
incorporating some kind of slap/tap guitar percussion into the music.
http://myspace.com/jackrutter

Carmichael

Carmichael are an eclectic band of virtuoso performers with a unique
breadth of experience. Jazz, Traditional and World Music backgrounds
give new voice to the Folk tradition.
Ellie is lead vocalist and piano player and originates from Worcester.
She studied at Huddersfield University gaining a BA (hons) in Music and
Theatre Studies, then moved to Glasgow to study at the Royal Academy of
Music and Drama where she began to take an interest in traditional
music, she met her husband, Mark Carmichael, at a concert and has been
involved in traditional music ever since. Ellie is Lead Teacher of
Vocals for Kirklees Music School and has performed concerts up and down
the country and has also appeared in many Operas with British Youth
Opera.
Former member of Camhanach and Glasgow band Quartermile, from Arrochar,
Loch Lomond, Mark is an accomplished piper and one of the singers in
the band. He began learning Highland Pipes at the age of 8 and as well
as vocals and plays Guitar, Bouzouki, Flute, Border Pipes and Uilleann
Pipes in the band.
Ronan Mckee, originally from Strabane, Co Tyrone, studied percussion at
the University of Huddersfield with Chris Bradley. He’s an accomplished
performer, having played and recorded with many orchestras, brass
bands, folk and rock groups.
Phil Gregory is a singer, songwriter, composer and instrumentalist. He
started his musical career as a classically trained trumpet player and
now writes, produces and performs across all musical styles. He’s
written for artists such as Atomic Kitten and Daniel Ryan, and has
worked with producers including Mike Stevens (Take That) and Michael
Graves (Robin Gibb). He has recently recorded with members of Annie
Lennox's live band and works in artist development with some of
countries major management and recording teams.
http://www.myspace.com/carmichaelfolkgroup

Howard Brothers

Bringing you the best in Bluegrass & Americana.
We, the Howard Brothers, have over the past three years been working
hard to build a reputation for our interpretation of traditional
Bluegrass music. In addition, to some of what we feel are the best
songs from the last 100 years, we perform a variety of instrumentals on
Guitar, Dobro, 5-string Banjo and Mandolin. The line up consists of
myself, Tim Howard on lead vocals, 5 string Banjo, Lead Guitar,
Mandolin, Dobro & my younger brother Jez on harmony vocals and lead
guitar Double Bass.
The theme for the Howard Brothers is Country Classics with Bluegrass,
Irish, Western swing, Country Blues & some contemporary Country thrown
into the mix. We are “all Live” so the sound could be termed as old
timey, but we prefer to call it pure music. In the current world of
huge sounding backing tracks, we have stuck to our guns and rely upon
our own fingers to create our sound, for better or for worse!
We feel the strength of the duo lies in the fact there is always a good
vibe on stage. The dynamic created by having family members in a band
has long been established. Our influences include Hank Williams, Woody
Guthrie, Jimmie Rodgers, The Carter Family, Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt &
Earl Scruggs, The Stanley Brothers, the Louvin Brothers, Bob Wills,
Lefty Frizzell, Marty Robbins, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Buck Owens,
Steve Earle, Gillian Welch, Nanci Griffith, George Strait, Alan
Jackson, Dwight Yoakham & too many more to mention

Nick Hennessy

A singer, songwriter and storyteller Nick is a dynamic and passionate
performer with skills that draw an audience in. With a love for the
traditional culture of the British Isles his craft draws together the
note, the song and the spoken word into a unique and engaging style.
As both a singer and storyteller, his interest is to bring out the song
in the story and the story in the song, something that has taken him to
West Russia in researching the epic songs of the Finno-Ugric people,
and to Finland where he won the 2000 World Championships in
‘runo-laulu’ (epic-singing). He has recorded a story from Kalevala for
BBC Radio 4, broadcast in November 2007.
He has performed in venues as diverse as village halls, the South Bank
and the Albert Hall and extensively at folk clubs and festivals,
storytelling festivals and literature festivals throughout the UK.
International visits have included Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Norway,
the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Canada and two national tours of
Japan with a forthcoming return tour to Finland planned for 2008.
He has three solo CDs available of harp, songs and ballads “Of Fire,
Wind and Silver Stream” and “Pebble and Bone” and, released on
Harbourtown records “A Rare Hunger” which has received critical acclaim
both here and in the U.S.A and enjoyed airplay on the eclectic Late
Junction on Radio 3.

Old Man Pie

"Old Man Pie play dark country, anti-folk and what they affectionately
refer to as pie music. Old Man Pie are Martin Pie (vocals), Ian
'Scally' Pie (guitar), Stuart MacPie (lead guitar and animations),
Jimbob Pie (bass and vocals), Gregorious Pie (percussion and drums) and
Adrian Tall Pie (accordion).
Old Man Pie write and play their own music which has found world wide
audiences through the internet and the accompanying animations they
have created. Subjects such as dry stone walling, the debt timebomb,
the complexities of human relationships and even tapeworms are
carefully crafted into their unique and varied tunes. But they also
play a variety of twisted cover versions, including Black Sabbath,
Johnny Cash, The Pogues and Black Eyed Peas. These songs are often
significantly reworked to give them that original pie sound. No
coincidence then that the band are located near the UK's best known pie
village and the home of the world's largest pie.
The name Old Man Pie is derived from a famous joke about a truck driver
who was being harassed by Hell's Angels. Unafraid to challenge their
bullying he backs his truck into their motorbikes before heading off
into the sunset where they couldn't follow. Old Man Pie have recreated
this character in a number of their songs and internet animations which
can be viewed on their website (see below).
Audience participation is an important part of Old Man Pie's act and
they are frequently joined on stage by revellers keen to show off their
drunken vocal talents! This is all part of the fun - Old Man Pie do not
take themselves too seriously, music is for enjoying and so are Old Man
Pie.
www.oldmanpie.net

Steve and Kristi Nebel

Americana duo and peace activists, Steve and Kristi Nebel, have been
performing together for seventeen years, recorded seven albums as a
duo, and three albums as founding members of The Madrones and The
Filucies. Singer/guitarist Steve Nebel is the primary songwriter in
the duo, supported by vocals and bass guitar from Kristi Nebel.
The Nebels are known for their "occupationally correct" songs dealing
with life in Alaska and northwestern Canada. In the winter of 1985
they left all of their worldly possessions in their rented house in
Seattle (they hired a friend to pack the house and put their stuff in
storage) for a job playing music in Nome, Alaska, where they spent five
months. Eventually they played from Nome to Ketchikan, and Dawson City
to Prince George between 1985 and 1991, building a repertoire of songs
about the people they met, in 1990 releasing those songs in an album,
"Taking Off". Rusty Miller of "Victory Review" says of this album
"Some of it makes me laugh. Some of it makes me cry. Some of it makes
me real humble . . . but if they were to convene a concert . . . I'd
scheme hard for a percentage of the gate."
http://www.geocities.com/steveandkristinebel/