Club Tent Line Up
The Club Tent has been an integral part of the concert for many years and goes from strength to strength under the stewardship of Sandy and Graham Ball who also run "Folk at the Oak" in Corsham.
Chris and Siobhan Nelson
Chris and Siobhan Nelson, formerly members of bands such as Cluster of Nuts and New St George, are now wowing audiences as a duo, with a great mix of songs delivered in their refreshingly original way.
Their repertoire is drawn from a wide range of traditional and contemporary sources; the songs are accompanied on fiddle, viola, tenor guitar or mandola, or sung a capella.
"Siobhan's voice had the audience spellbound" (Folk NorthWest); "...engrossing performance style, all-round expertise and excellent choice of songs" (The Living Tradition); "...a hell of a team as well as a talented pair of individuals" (NetRhythms).
www.chrisandsiobhan.co.uk
Christian Pattemore & Phil Andrews
Christian Pattemore & Phil Andrews are the Vocalist/Guitarists for Bristol-based band “ Layback Ruby”. Over the past 18 months their brand of Folk-Rock with a tinge of West-Coast Americana has been a huge hit with music-lovers alike.
With beautifully crafted songs, gorgeous harmonies and plenty of mandolin, here we see them in their best acoustic finery. An album is due for an autumn release.
Cock A Hoop
Cock A Hoop have been singing together for 2 years. They sing in folk and music clubs, pubs and friendly parties in the South Somerset and North Devon areas. They explore old and contemporary folk traditions with an aim to spice up the more usual harmonies associated with this genre.
Repertoire includes rowdy drinking songs, sweet mournful love stories, songs with a Pagan or political bent and simply those that express their joy for life. There is a love for life, and a huge desire to share this with others through music.
Checkout www.myspace.com/cockahoop
Coracle
Coracle are a young folk trio from Somerset. They play traditional music from mainly England and the UK, as well as some of their own compositions.
The Trio consists of Jon Dyer on Flute, Alex Cumming on Piano Accordion & Bouzouki, and Hannah Cumming on Fiddle.
In April the group made it into the finals of the New Roots Competition in St Albans along side the likes of James Findlay and Lizzie Doe.
Jon, Alex and Hannah are also in a band called the Dyer:Cumming’s, which is a young English Ceilidh band with a funky twist.
Elowen
'Reinterpreting the traditional and folk music of Cornwall, the British Isles and further afield, the four members of Elowen (Kernewek for 'elm-tree') hail from Lostwithiel and Camelford.
Three (and occasionally four) voices, sometimes alone, sometimes embellished with guitar, mandola, violin, percussion and woodwind, explore themes of loss and longing, of lovers sundered and reunited, with the odd cross-dressing mariner or highwayman thrown in for good measure...
Emil Brynge
Emil is a young Swedish singer-songwriter with a warm voice and skilled guitar techniques. He has found himself a fast growing fan-base in the UK, and will be touring during summer 08. Emils heroes, the Incredible String Band, Nick Drake and Bert Jansch, can be heard in his music, but his big curiosity has also made him explore Indian classical music and renaissance music. Besides the steel-stringed guitar he plays Indian sarod, Arabic lute and classical guitar, and he will play some of it at the show.
“Listening to Emil Brynge is a great pleasure. There is a precision and clarity about his playing that combine's with subtle and unexpected melodies, lyrics and vocals. Great stuff!” Malcolm Le Maistre, ex-Incredible String Band member.
“He brings something entirely fresh to his music, and should definitely be heard…” Andy White, the 12Bar Club, London.
Fastest to Canada
Six old farts in a last ditch attempt at credibility. Imagine Fairport Convention with no jigs or reels. The Grateful Dead without hours of guitar solos. The Velvet Undergound without the pressure of inspiring thousands of really crap bands. Take That without the chubby one that ate all the the pies.
Well, we're nothing like that. We're the band about whom David Bowie once said "who?".
WYSIWYG.
Gerry McNeice
Described by Tykes Magazine as ‘an artist to watch’ and featured recently in Living Tradition Magazine, Gerry McNeice had a very busy summer festival season in 2007.
A regular at Otley (West Yorkshire) Folk Club, Gerry has become a familiar face at many venues up and down the country. His music has been described as ‘honest’ and ‘superbly written, showing great insight and subtly melodic’.
In addition to performing his own material, Gerry has been described as ‘a great purveyor of traditional songs’
Ian Perry
Ian is a singer/songwriter from Bristol. His music is influenced by folk, blues and flamenco, and his words are evocative of times, places and moods.
Issy and David Emeney with Kate Riaz
"Fabulous songs, beautiful accompaniments, these three are a breath of fresh air" Vin Garbutt.
"Destined to become important figures on the traditional folk scene, superb songwriting, great singing and highly accomplished playing, a perfect combination" Jim Tigwell, Priddy Folk Festival.
James Hollingsworth Acoustic Band
Inspired singer/songwriter/guitarist James Hollingsworth has a unique, complex acoustic guitar style, reminiscent of Andalusian guitar as well as modern rock.
As vocalist and frontman with rock band JEBO, he's performed at Loreley in Germany and The Royal Albert Hall in London, and has formed a close creative rapport with legendary producer John Burns (Genesis, Jethro Tull, John Martyn and JEBO).
He'll be joined by Sean McBride (flute/sax), Sandro Granda (percussionist and grandson of famous Peruvian diva Chabuca Granda) and Zac Gregory on Double bass.
Jeff Black
A regular at Mendip Folk, Jeff is a traditional singer who occasionally accompanies himself on concertina. He is a member of the Bristol based Hotwells Howlers, and sings with the Bristol Shanty Men. His repertoire incorporates traditional songs from the British Isles and America, and he has a wide knowledge of locally collected folk songs.
Joe Phillips
Joe plays top quality accoustic folk.
A mixture of Traditional and Contempory (not at the same time!). Impossible to Pigeon Hole this performer.
The best songs from Jackson Browne to Nick Jones and everything in between.
John Shaw and Alan Kirkpatrick
For five years audiences have enjoyed Alan and John's exhilarating mix of mainly contemporary material.
Songwriter/ guitarist Alan's style is both reflective and rousing. John has a traditional music background, supplying unusual older songs and inventive dulcimer playing.
Together they offer a fresh,distinctive repertoire, live, and on two CDs, "Snowlight" and "The Lake".
Kate and Richard Harris
Kate enjoys singing a selection of traditional and contemporary songs from both England and her native Scotland, accompanied by Richard on guitar, concertina and melodian.
They have over the years joined with friends to sing as a group, and are regular floor singers at Bradford on Avon Folk Club as well as Folk at The Oak, Corsham.
Kiss The Mistress
Kiss the Mistress is a trio whose dynamic and exciting sound is rooted in Gaelic tradition. The unique combination of ‘cello/voice (Ginny Davis) and chromatic button accordion (John Ramirez) underpinned by the driving rhythmical counterpoint of bodhran (Roy Jones) creates a sound that is both unique and engaging.
Always searching for ancient resonances, they give voice to the tunes and songs that draw them. With skillfully crafted arrangements they celebrate the breadth of pan European music and perform their own self penned material.
Mendip Mafia
Mendip Mafia includes some or all of - Heather & Vince Ash with Mike Melcher, guitar, Dave Aragon, guitar, bouzouki and mandolin, the very talented young James Findlay on guitar, fiddle and vocals, Dave Harbourn, melodeon, and Terence McCarthaigh on bodhran and percussion.
They sing Vince and Heather’s own songs of rural life, and traditional folk in a contemporary style with lots of lively, harmony singing and some English tunes.
Nicola Clark Nicola is a singer/songwriter accompanying herself on guitar.Her songs range from the comic to the compassionate and cover topics as various as campervans, breasts, art galleries, the weather, love, war and peace.
She performs more in the style of chanson than traditional folk ballad but influences include English, American and Indian folk music.
“She occupies the area somewhere between Purcell, Edith Piaf and Arthur Askey” was the insightful assessment of Mike O’Connor.
Phil Cooper
Prolific songwriter, Phil Cooper offers simple stripped back acoustic songs, laced with beautiful folk-pop melodies, which grab the listener and embed themselves firmly in the subconscious.
Many is the time Phil has had someone say to him “I was singing a song of yours last night, I just couldn’t get it out of my head!” He takes that to be a good thing!!!
Although Phil normally plays in the band "The Haiku", this weekend he will be playing songs for you from his solo repertoire.
Rob Colquhoun
Folk/blues in the Renbourn/Jansch mould! Traditional and contemporary songs from the British Isles and USA.
Roger Tarry
Tender vocals, effortlessly delivered with gossamer touch, mixed with achingly melancholic melodies.
Drawing influence from artists such as John Martyn, Neil Young, Elliot Smith and Nick Drake, Rog’s live performance creates a mellow air. Following a triumphant tour of Germany Rog has fans across Europe with press and radio support, and featured on Radio 1’s ‘In New Music We Trust’.
Debut album ‘Last Time I Was There’ includes the song ‘Walk With Me’ which was picked up by Sony Pictures for the U.S T.V series ‘Dawsons Creek’.
Simon Hopper Band
"Satisfying songs with bite, edge and contemporary relevance..." fROOTS Magazine, April 2007 edition.
“… a new Richard Thompson.” Douglas Mcpherson, The Stage.
“… recommended for fans of Fairport Convention, Richard Thompson or Steve Tilston.” Jason Ritchie, Classic Rock Newswire.
Folk-based contemporary songs with three voices, four instruments and a conscience.
Strange Weirdos
Strange Weirdos takes it’s name and inspiration from Loudon Wainwright III. As he said, “Songs are written to be performed; if they happen to wind up on cds….”
Strange Weirdos deliver original songs, performance, and spit out the words so you can hear them. Acoustic guitars and acoustic bass, songs that work in the folk club and the pub.
Ian has been writing songs for 25 years, about the number of his songs that son Tom agrees fits the format. “I can live with that” says Ian.
Strange Weirdos hail from Melksham, Wiltshire …the pretty one comes from Chippenham.
The Keeps
The Keeps are sick and tired of acoustic music being deemed dull. They inject fire, passion and a little bit of kitchen sink into compact folk and jazz tinged pop songs.
Their songs are lyrically barbed but framed with melodic and precise guitar phrases. Their gigs are toe tapping, energetic and bouncy events that gather crowds and fans of all ages with consummate ease. Their self deprecating humour is backed with punchy choruses that stick in your brain. Their songs have more than a little hint of danger. They are living the lives that these musical stories tell.
Tinderbox
Tinderbox began as an acoustic folk/rock duo featuring Monique Houraghan with a distinctive 'honey-like' vocal, and Dan Tucker with an intricate finger style guitar technique.
Recently joined by accomplished and talented musicians Catherine Burke (whistles/mandolin/vocals) and Gav Jones (percussion) Tinderbox have developed into a formidable folk/rock band.
Both duo and full band performances continue to receive excellent reviews, even being described by one German critic as 'a miracle in a small matchbox'. Influenced by artists such as James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Counting Crows, the Eagles and Jewel; Tinderbox have developed a varied and dynamic repertoire of original material.
In 2007 Tinderbox performed a number of headline shows to capacity crowds. Additionally, they were lucky enough to support a number of talented and high-profile acts including Kris Drever, Ralph McTell, Uiscedwr and Megson.
2008 will see the release of Tinderbox's third Studio album. 'Golden' is currently in post production as is due for launch later in the year.
With Monique's powerful voice, Dan's delectable guitar style and the band's awesome addition to the entire sound and feel of the music, Tinderbox is definitely an acoustic act to look out for.
Twice the Speed of Sound
Jock & Bryony first met 30+ years ago at The Hat & Feather in Bath. Jock played guitar (until Parkinson’s Disease stopped him) and had a modern repertoire while Bryony sang very traditional songs unaccompanied. Now their material is a mixture of old and new and they specialise in close harmony.
The name comes from the fact that Jock’s middle name is McKay while Bryony’s surname is McGinty - 2 Mcs – Mach2 – get it?
Vicky and Martin
Vicky was born in Rochdale but has lived in the Westcountry for over 40 years. Martin was born in Chippenham and has lived in the Westcountry for most of his life.
Both Vicky and Martin are members of the Stanchester Quire and have sung with the Quire since its inception.
Since 2001 they have sung traditional English folk songs and carols as a duet in the Stanchester Quire concerts, and have formed an increasing repertoire of traditional and contemporary English folk songs which they enjoying singing at folk clubs both locally and further afield.