Artists

www.myspace.com/loschinchesuk

London's very own Amazonian Cumbia band Los Chinches present their jungle grooves and psychedelic vibes.

www.louiskillen.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

Louis Killen is one of the most widely influential musicians of the folk revival and a key voice of English traditional song. He is a hard-core, unadulterated folksinger whose passionate delivery is matched by a deep and wide-ranging knowledge of the songs and the working people who made them.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7mbLPqEWZU

Jews harp extraordinaire. Studies at SOAS researching the oldest instrument in the world. She plays along side her family band the Wright Family who are all experts in the instrument

www.mabon.org

www.myspace.com/mabonband

Pioneering what is perhaps Two For Joy's favourite idiom of Folk Music – Funk-Folk! Here's what the band say of themselves:

Miss Mabon at your peril! For the past few years these high octane festival favourites from Wales have been fizzing, frothing and fermenting into the intoxicatingly heady brew they are today.

www.maevemackinnon.com

Maeve Mackinnon is tipped as one of Scotland's leading young folk singers. An Honours graduate of the RSAMD's Scottish Music degree, her singing really started to come into its own prior to finalising for the BBC Radio Scotland "Young Traditional Musician 2005" award.

www.myspace.com/themagiclantern

"Operating in the fertile hinterland between jazz and folk, The Magic Lantern are a quintet completed by percussionist Fred Thomas, bass clarinettist Dave Shulman, electric guitarist Phil Stevenson and cellist Lucy Railton playing the compositions of acoustic guitarist Jamie Doe, and they have an immediately arresting sound, courtesy chiefly of the wholehearted head-back-and-emote singing of Doe h

www.myspace.com/mamarosin

‘Power trio’ used to imply headbanging rock, leaden lead-guitar, thrashed bass plus an unfeasibly large drum kit. But Mama Rosin, the extraordinary Swiss Cajun/Zydeco subversives trash all this with amped-up/echoed-up melodeon (Cyril Yeterian), guitar/banjo/rub-board (Robin Girod) and serious drumming (Xavier "Gérard Guilain" Bray).

www.myspace.com/maracarlyle

Lovely by name, lovely by nature?

www.myspace.com/marthatilston

Martha's interest in song started at an early age. Her father Steve Tilston, acclaimed songwriter and performer and stepmother Maggie Boyle, folk singer, had a great influence on her musically. She spent parts of her childhood around the bright lights of the folk revival scene such as Bert Janch, John Renbourne and of course her parents.

www.watersoncarthy.com

For more than 40 years Martin Carthy has been one of folk music's greatest innovators, one of its best loved, most enthusiastic and, at times, most quietly controversial of figures. His skill, stage presence and natural charm have won him many admirers, not only from within the folk scene, but also far beyond it.

www.maryepworth.com

www.myspace.com/maryepworth

Mary Epworth is an engaging new artist who makes music influenced by traditional English song, 60s west coast Psychedelia, and Greek Progressive Rock, tying these things together with a knack for writing effortlessly classic sounding songs, and a love of winding harmonies.

www.myspace.com/maryhampton

Hello there. I am Mary Hampton and I live in Brighton in a room overlooking the sea. I find old songs and keep them in coloured vials in my fridge. Sometimes I make up new songs. And sometimes I do neither one thing nor the other. A real favourite of the Magpie's Nest!

www.treewind.co.uk/mha

Since early in 2001 Mary and Anahata have together been unearthing and bringing to vivid life the best of England's traditional song and music. Their musicianship and enthusiasm has won them a steadily growing reputation for their singing and playing in folk clubs and festivals.

Critically acclaimed due from the west country. Matt Norman is gaining a well-deserved reputation as one of the leading lights of the new generation of Devon-based folk artists. He is an innovative and entertaining musician, exploring traditional and contemporary English music as a performer, arranger, composer and songwriter.

www.myspace.com/mattsagemusic

"Matt Sage is an inspirational song maker and performer. After moving onto a boat on the Oxford Canal in the mid-nineties, he founded the now legendary Catweazle Club, Oxford's performance space for 'music, poetry, song and all manner of acoustic artistry', a proudly beating community heart, still going strong 13 years on.

www.myspace.com/matthewandtheatlas

Matthew and the Atlas is the creation of Matthew Hegarty. They have a new EP ‘To The North’ available from April 12th 2010. 

www.myspace.com/mattheword

MATTHEW ORD is a London based singer and guitarist with a fresh take on the traditional music of the British Isles and North America.

www.mawkin.co.uk

www.myspace.com/mawkin

Mawkin have gained a name for themselves in the festival circuit as a hardworking live band playing at over 50 festivals in the past 4 years, last year supporting Show of Hands, Eliza Carthy and Shooglenifty on their tours.

www.mawkin.co.uk

www.myspace.com/mawkincausley

Those wicked Essex rascals, Mawkin, have joined forces with the honey-voiced Jim Causley to form one hell of a boy band!

www.megsonmusic.co.uk

"For my money Megson are amongst the most exciting trailblazers of British Contemporary Folk." Seth Lakeman. The combined talents of northerners Stu Hanna and Debbie Palmer make the upcoming duo ‘Megson’.

www.melou-music.com

www.myspace.com/meloumusic

We first met Melou when they rocked up to the Magpie's Nest and played on our open mic. They had been driving around Europe and all sleeping in a big tour van, and played a lovely set on the open mic. So good we had to invite them back for a featured slot! Here is their official description:

www.michaelrossiter.co.uk

www.myspace.com/michaelrossiter

Hailing from Leeds, Michael is a singer and guitarist, playing "arcane songs and other relics". Beautiful guitar work, and contemporary renditions of traditional songs and other self-penned delights....  

www.jewsharper.info

Michael Wright is a leading performer, historian and enthusiast of the Jew’s harp in the United Kingdom today. His expertise with playing this melodic, uncommon, yet historically important musical instrument is stretching the repertoire to its limits, both as a folk accompaniment and as a classical centrepiece.

www.micksongsands.com

Mick Sands (vocals, flute, whistle, bodhran),

please see show description for more information

www.mordekkers.co.uk

www.myspace.com/mordekkers

The Mordekkers are amoung the most innovative live bands in the UK today. Based in southwest Wales, this unique four piece mix traditional and original folk tunes played on pipes and mandola, with fresh, modern drum and bass rhythms . The result is an energetic infectious groove that never fails to get audiences dancing.

www.mundojazz.co.uk

What can one say about a band whose songs convey the dangers of environmental degradation, the importance of racial harmony and the inherent evils of capitalism with subtlety and intelligence?

www.myspace.com/nancywallace

Nancy Wallace was born a folk brat, and spent far more of her formative years than is healthy in the back rooms of Suffolk pubs, singing and playing her little heart out. In her teen years - and possibly as a result of a concussion caused by a stray morris stick - she joined an electric barn dance band playing the trombone.

www.nathanball.com

www.myspace.com/nathanballacoustic

Nathan Ball is quite simply an extraordinarily talented songwriter. His beautifully written, self-penned songs reveal the humanity of a man who sings about the world as it is – and how he’d like it to be. A highly skilled guitarist, his use of open tunings and intricate, finger-picking style make every note from his acoustic guitar shine.

www.myspace.com/nickluscombe

"Peelie, Charlie, Gilles, Annie...Nick Luscombe has become one of those radio titans." (Straight No Chaser) Nick Luscombe, London based broadcaster, producer, DJ and Music Consultant, has been described as a "restless musical soul" constantly searching for that perfect record.

www.watersoncarthy.com

Norma Waterson formed The Watersons in the early 60's with her sister Lal, brother Mike and cousin John. They went on to become the most influential vocal harmony group of the times, and achieved near cult status when they stopped touring in the late 60's.

www.myspace.com/nortonmoney

Norton Money are a London-based country/alt.bluegrass band that play barn-yard hoedown music in a Gram Parsons-Ryan Adams-Neil Young kinda way. Driven by the guitars and warm harmonies of San Francisco ex-pats Dan and Jeremy, the sound is completed by Swedish bassist and banjo player Oscar and London born-and-bred drummer Tim.

MARRY WATERSON & OLIVER KNIGHT

The children of the luminous singing talent, Lal Waterson and George Knight, Maria and Oliver were born in Yorkshire and both have long since made their respective homes in Robin Hood’s Bay, a fishing village perched on the edge of the dramatic East Coast.

www.myspace.com/oliviachaney

A gifted virtuoso, this young folk singer will conjure dark-eyed sailors, damsels in distress and rakish Knights from an Indian harmonium and steel-string guitar. Expect to be charmed, moved and entertained by a performer and musician of unusual depth and passion.

www.myspace.com/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.

www.myspace.com/belindaohooleymusic

O’Hooley & Tidow: dapper-suited gentlewomen with a wryly observant, melancholic and sometimes uncomfortable take on life. The pair create their very own brand of contemporary folk song, with stark and beautiful piano playing that some will recognise from Belinda O’Hooley’s time as pianist with the Unthanks. O’Hooley & Tidow will be playing songs from their new album, Silent June.

www.myspace.com/paprikabalkanicus

Described as masters of good atmosphere PAPRIKA BALKANICUS are becoming one of the hottest newcomers in World music. Their electrifying show of fantastic musicianship and witty stage presence has already won them a substantial following in the UK, Europe and Japan.......

www.pbs6.com

A group of musicians bound by the desire to create music and tell a story alone. Genre and geography abandoned.

Welcome to PBS6, a brand new exciting project from Will Lang, best known for his percussion in folk-fusion group Park Bench Social Club and Mabon.

www.pegseeger.com

www.myspace.com/peggyseeger

PEGGY SEEGER member of the North American musical Seeger family, is a singer of traditional Anglo-American songs and activist songmaker. She plays six instruments: piano, guitar, 5-string banjo, Appalachian dulcimer, autoharp and English concertina. She has recorded 22 solo albums and participated directly in more than a hundred others.

www.myspace.com/pepinoband

"she adorns piano-accompanied vocals with a singing string quartet and drummer to create an astonishingly original musical world." venue, 2010 

A powerful and respected singer of traditional songs, Peta Webb brings together her current singing partner, Liverpool-born Ken Hall, and one of her old musical associates, singer and fiddle player Pete Cooper. As a trio, Peta, Ken and Pete present a hand-picked selection of great songs and tunes from the English, Irish and American folk traditions.

www.backshift.demon.co.uk

If you're talking about the British folk club scene of the 1970s, then the name of Pete Coe will inevitably loom large. And if you're talking about the folk club scene of the '80s it'll loom even larger. It's prominent in the '90s too and the way things are shaping up it's a name that will continue to be synonymous with the grass roots scene through the early 2000s.

www.petecooper.com

Born in the Midlands, long based in London, Pete Cooper teaches, plays, composes and writes about fiddle music. He’s also, on a good night, a decent singer. Drawing on a wide knowledge of fiddle playing, gained over years of teaching, study, travel, practice and too many late-night sessions, he brings a relaxed, good-humoured delivery to his workshops, concerts and folk-club shows alike.

www.myspace.com/petedavidandthepayrollunion

The 4 men in The Payroll Union are all suited and bearded and, while playing their acoustic murder ballads, could be seen as a bunch of Southern, God-fearin', gun-totin' brothers (who brought along their little sister for the ride). The songs are peppered with exhortations to the Lord, whisky, hanging, heartbreak and evil deeds.

www.myspace.com/petepaphides

The DJ, Journalist and Musical Surrealist who once took a photograph of Philip Schofield just as he was reacting to the news that a second plane had flown into the World Trade Centre.

www.myspace.com/pigearth

Pig Earth is an original, alternative, contemporary Folk/Americana band that knock out positive uplifting stompers and rambling rolling tales of love, travel and home. Vivacious, fresh, original songs delivered with a zeal that is truly infectious.

www.forastiere.it

The music of Italian guitarist Pino Forastiere comes from a solid classical, contemporary and rock background, and it's hard to be defined. He “employes a dazzling blend of slapping, tapping, strumming, altered tunings and harmonics, combined with classical phrasing and a focus on distinct and addictive melodies” (Anil Prasad, Guitar Player).

www.myspace.com/weareplasterofparis

Plaster of Paris, a London based duo, performing self penned songs song with unique folk stylings - fresh and innovative underground talent from East London. Consisting of Molly on Vocals and the Kazoomaphone, backed by Lewis on either guitar, Ukulele of a host of other strung instruments.

www.myspace.com/poeticpilgrims

Conscious Hip Hop and Spoken Word from this Female Muslim Duo.

www.myspace.com/thequeensberryrules

Having spent three years serving their apprenticeship in the folk clubs of Britain, The Queensberry Rules first signified their arrival on the folk circuit with the release of their 2004 album – ‘Heritage and History’. Self produced and released, it contained a collection of songs focusing, in the main, on their home city of Stoke on-Trent.

www.rachelunthank.com

www.myspace.com/rachelunthank

Winners of Mojo Magazine Folk Album of the Year 2005 for their debut Cruel Sister, Rachel Unthank & The Winterset defy the logic that staunch tradition and sonic adventure are surely virtues polls apart. Now on tour following the release of their second album, The Bairns.

www.petecooper.com/rattle.htm

www.myspace.com/rattleonthestovepipeuk

Rattle On The Stovepipe are Dave Arthur (5-string banjo, melodeon, guitar, vocals), Pete Cooper (fiddle and vocals) and Dan Stewart (5-string banjo, guitar and vocals). They’ve gained an huge following with their mix of traditional songs, ballads and storming dance tunes from the British Isles and the Appalachian Mountains region of America.

Robin is back on the London Scene after time out, and aren't we lucky to have him back. A handsome musician who can play just about any instrument with such feeling and ease, a young master!

www.myspace.com/rossandjarlath

Ross Ainslie & Jarlath Henderson first started playing together back in 2003 at the William Kennedy Piping Festival, and have since joined forces to create a pipe sound that pushes the boundaries of what both instruments can achieve together.

www.roybailey.net

For 50+ years, Roy Bailey has been one of the UK Folk & Acoustic scene’s most loved and admired performers. From his early days performing skiffle in student union bars, to his love of traditional songs and the stories they tell, onto developing a unique repertoire of songs of dissent and hope, he has performed on stages, TV and radio all over the world.

www.runceol.com

www.myspace.com/runceol

Rún: the Forestbrook Gaelic Choir are five fantastic lassies who perform four-part vocal arrangements of old Gaelic songs that would traditionally be performed sean nós (the old way).

www.myspace.com/ruththeodore

Guitar-slingin' Southamptonite Theodore has garnered a legion of fans with her witty and fantastical tales of daily observations made magical in her 2008 debut set, 'Worm Food'. A little bit Ani DiFranco, a little bit Tom Waits with hints of Kate Bush, Theodore's sweet-voiced, stuffy-nosed delivery and gripping honesty makes her a compelling listen and an even better live pick.

www.myspace.com/samuelbeer

Sam Beer first settled in London when he came to study for a fine art degree with hopes of becoming an artist. The son of a diplomat and a jeweller he was born in London but the majority of his childhood was spent moving around.

www.myspace.com/samjohncarter

I'm originally from Rutland, East Midlands but now living in Stoke Newington, North London. For the last two years or thereabouts I've been touting my folky wares at venues around London. I've played all over the place alongside some great acts, including Findlay Brown, John Smith, Davey Graham and Spiers & Boden.

www.myspace.com/gillieboys

“Sam is the most accomplished and authentic interpreters of traditional English song to emerge in years. He brought the house down [Southbanks Queen Elizabeth Hall]” fRoots

“You will be dumbfounded by Sam Lee with duck-egg eyes, a horseshoe smile and an honest, confiding Voice” The Guardian

www.myspace.com/samlewisrecordings

Material for his album was written over the past 6 months whilst on and off tour in the US with KT Tunstall and recorded spontaneously in London with musician and producer Chris Morphitis. During this time they captured inspired performances by great musicians including Tom Skinner, Jessica Lauren and Dave Eaton (Sam's Dad).

www.maclurg.com/saragrey

Mother and Son Duo who are two of the greatest singers and musicians of old time american and English Trad music. They capture the grace and soul of the old songs having both been brought up surrounded by the sounds and songs of the land. Sara and Keiron will be joined by the Nest's favourite - Ben Paley

www.myspace.com/sarahsavoythefrancadians

TOP-DRAWER CAJUN SOUNDS WITH ADDED ROCKABILLY SWAGGER

www.myspace.com/thescovilleunits

“A richly fluid fusion of bluegrass and jazz with a healthy sprig of Celtic roots. Riveting stuff.”
Uncut Magazine

www.myspace.com/seadogmusic

Seadog is the project of Brighton-based musician Mark Nathan Benton and his revolving roster of musical friends. With Mark providing the song writing nucleus, the rest of the Seadog associates spin the musical ideas into fruition, fusing delicate acoustic lullabies with anthemic electric and acoustic textures.

www.myspace.com/sambarrett

Serious Sam plays raw roots music. Born and raised in Yorkshire, he sings the traditional music of his county and writes songs from the heart. Yorkshirecana is the word everyone is using to describe Sam's country/roots sound and it suits him down to the ground.

www.sethlakeman.com

www.myspace.com/sethlakeman

Seth Lakeman began playing music with his parents and 2 brothers Sean and Sam at an early age.

www.sharronkraus.com

www.myspace.com/sharronkraus

On Songs of Love and Loss, Sharron Kraus accentuates the strong literary sensibility in the tradition of English "dark folk" (the trunk of the tree on which Appalachian murder ballads are the leaves) with stunning results.

www.sheelanagig.co.uk

www.myspace.com/sheelanagiguk

Sheelanagig have been honing their eclectic blend of folk, jazz and world music since early 2005. Equally at home on festival stages, music venues and street corners the band have developed a devoted following with two album releases and a hectic touring schedule.

www.shirleycollins.co.uk

Shirley received a Good Tradition Award at this year’s BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards on Monday February 4th at The Brewery in London. It was presented to her by Graham Coxon of Blur. Along with John McCusker on fiddle, Graham sang Shirley’s version of Just As The Tide Was A-Flowin’ in tribute. Congratulations Shirley!

www.myspace.com/shonafoster

Quirky, mesmerizing and enchanting, Shona's dark, brooding and seductive voice soars over tantalizing and intricate arrangements of violin, percussion and bass, giving rise to a sound akin to Ella Fitzgerald and Tom Waits on Tim Burton's casting couch.

www.sidkipper.co.uk

Sid Kipper is, depending on who you ask, "The folk world's comic genius", "Norfolk's redoubtable folk hero", and "A visionary/warbler from Trunch". He is the funniest man in Norfolk and the folk scene's finest humourist.

www.melodeonmania.demon.co.uk

www.myspace.com/simonritchieandtheposhband

Simon is well known on the traditional music circuit as an exponent of East Anglian Music, Song and Stepdancing. Simon, like most melodeon players, is self taught and learned largely from the traditional players and singers which once frequented many of the country pubs in Suffolk and rural Essex where he lives.

www.simorgh.org.uk/

www.myspace.com/simorghband

Simorgh is a group which formed out of several London based Iranian students meeting occasionally to play music since mid-2004. Each member of the group has his own unique musical background, which means a variety of musical tastes, and styles, within the group.

www.singlondon.org

The Magpie's Nest presents open mic and chorus folk songs from the Old Angel. Join us for an extended session showcasing the wonderful variety of people who have and can perform in London's trendiest folk club. 1-4pm Sing London is a festival to get the whole of London singing. All kinds of people, singing all kinds of music in all kinds of places. Join in and get singing!

www.fredwoodbear.com

www.myspace.com/sleepyedhicks

Surreal and subversive Sleepy Ed Hicks is an itinerant banjo player for the 21st century.

Drawing deeply from his knowledge of songs and tradition he lovingly subverts the traditional into the modern age or strips a contemporary pop song back to imagined roots.

www.myspace.com/sboband

www.myspace.com/sboband

Smith Byrnes O'Sullivan (SBO Band) is a powerhouse band of London based musicians, based around a trio of Fiddle, Accordion and Guitar, the band take many forms with different musicians and line ups – but always with the same core mission – to deliver exquisite contemporary Celtic tunes ranging from driving folk-funk with a heavy back beat, to beautiful slow melodic tunes.

www.solarference.com

Solarference (Nick Janaway and Sarah Owen) combine traditional English folk song with electronic sound, performing with voices and laptops. Nothing is pre-recorded: Nick and Sarah use their own home-made audio software to transform the live sounds of voices, found objects and instruments, into organic, lyrical sonic worlds for the songs to inhabit.

www.sophieandfiachra.com

www.myspace.com/sophieandfiachra

"Sophie & Fiachra perform a captivating fusion of traditional Irish and Québecoise music, mainly on Uilleann pipes and Fiddle. They sound like a Big-Big band, oweing to the nature of the instruments and their style of playing. Sophie & Fiachra are old Ireland and Québec meeting again."

http://www.spiersandboden.com/

www.myspace.com/spiersandboden

Spiers and Boden - now in their fifth year of fruitful collaboration the mighty duo have graduated from being the dangerous new kids on the block to being a solid headlining mainstay on the folk scene and pushing outwards into the mainstream.

www.spiromusic.com

www.myspace.com/spiromusic

They might bear the tools of the folk musician and be partial to the odd traditional tune, but Spiro claim to have closer affinities to the worlds of contemporary classical and dance music than they do to the folk scene.

www.myspace.com/stephaniehladowski

Completely new to the folk arena, this young singer is wowing the critics with her mature and ancient voice that handles the great ballads with ease and grace

www.myspace.com/steveelston

Steve enjoys playing the guitar to animals, he likes to think they enjoy it too.

'Steve plays his acoustic like a man with 20 finely trained fingers, and his soft folk vocal purrs atop it like a cat on your lap'
Nick Coquet - Brighton Source Magazine

www.steve-tilston.co.uk

"Steve Tilston" writes Dirty Linen magazine, "can stand shoulder to shoulder with any singer/songwriter/guitarist in the world."

www.stuartryan.co.uk

www.myspace.com/stuartryanmusic

Described as "One of the finest guitarists of his generation" by Martin Taylor MBE, award winning guitarist Stuart Ryan is regarded as one of the UK's finest exponents of the instrument.

http://www.myspace.com/swindlersgentry

Swindlers & Gentry are an energetic electric folk rock band featuring a wide range of stringed instruments, woodwind, accordion/melodeon and drums.

Gigs: We play nationally and internationally for private events and festivals.

http://terence.arborescencia.net/home.html

Terence O’Flaherty is a native of Ennistymon, Co Clare, but emigrated to London in 1971 at the age of sixteen. Since then he been on the London Irish Music scene, playing all the pubs and venues across London.

Terence is at this show, launching a new album, Ghosts, a collaboration with Paul Cunningham

www.myspace.com/bellesoflondoncity

The Belles of London City are London's very own all dancing corseted female morris troupe, presently taking the folk world by storm. The troupe consist of Michelle Bloom, Ellen Hobson and Alex Merry- who delight the crowds with their hanky waving and bell jingling. Dancing mostly Cotswold morris, they are newly formed group that (literally) sprung out of Cecil Sharp House in London.

www.myspace.com/thebicyclethieves

The Bicycle Thieves live in London. They you Love. There you go. They juggle very good fun and ever so cool. How do they do it?

www.myspace.com/cakesandaleband

Cakes and Ale are a six piece Norfolk based Folk inspired band. They play a range of instruments including mandolin, harmonium and musical saw and all sing. They draw influences from Mediaeval Madrigals, Delta blues, english folk, and Eastern European tunes, and have built up a cult following of devoted fans along the way.

www.myspace.com/thecityshantyband

Ahoy!

www.sidgriffen.com

www.myspace.com/thecoalporters

The Coal Porters are an acoustic act with attitude and the UK’s most entertaining bluegrass ensemble, one firmly established on both the British and European touring circuits. Their live show is polished yet passionate and second to none.

www.myspace.com/theloosemooseband

The Loose Moose String Band comprise of a gang of acoustic music loving fools from Liverpool. We play styles including Bluegrass, Old Time, Western Swing, Rock and Roll and even a few 80's classics.

www.themoulettes.co.uk

www.myspace.com/moulettes

The moulettes are an as yet little known folk-stomping barn-storming cider-swilling quintet of exceedingly talented young things. Featured in their orchestra of absurdity are a cello, a bassoon, guitars, violin, double bass, drums and twin female vocals.

www.theolddanceschool.com/

www.myspace.com/theolddanceschool

The Old Dance School formed in 2006 and rehearsed in the garden of the old Betty Fox School of Ballet in Birmingham, where lies the origins of their name. Three years, 30,000 miles and several trips to A&E later, The Old Dance School’s distinctive concoction of explosive, white knuckle folk is blowing up a storm on the festival scene.

The Orchards are one of the best known Gypsy families in the West Country. Tom, Jean and Ashley play, sing and stepdance in a style which is true to their Gypsy roots. While their repertoire has been gathered over the years from many sources, much has also been handed down through their family networks.

www.myspace.com/thewagontales

The Wagon Tales - hot picking UK based Bluegrass and Americana band - with a cast of musicians that reads more like a Jules Holland show than an Old Opry! But boy, these guys can pick and sing!

www.myspace.com/watertowerstringband

The Water Tower Bucket Boys, traditional musicians from Portland, Oregon, render a fusion of bluegrass, old time, and country music in an honest and authentic style. You can enjoy traditional sound on tunes ranging from mournful ballads and swaying waltzes to raging fiddle tunes and powerful songs.

www.myspace.com/wormfoodlondon

Wrigglin all over the common ground between live music, lyricism African Music and Dance Music. The Worm are Festival, with a capital F, distilled...You can't really critique that sort of thing - it's not about anything but feeling good!

www.myspace.com/theobard

Ominous, deep, brooding songs poured straight from a dark heart. Old folk hits a new groove, with a rare power.

Thomas McCarthy is a man steeped in the tradition of Irish song, intoxicated by the music and passionate in his sensitivity towards them. Thomas hasn’t been lost in the wilds of Irish taverns, or British hedgerows or far flung lands all these years though.

Thomas McCarthy is a man steeped in the tradition of Irish song, intoxicated by the music and passionate in his sensitivity towards them. Thomas hasn’t been lost in the wilds of Irish taverns, or British hedgerows or far flung lands all these years though.

www.timedey.com

Tim Edey is 27 years old and is regarded by many leading musicians wordlwide to be one of the finest DG melodeon/accordeon and guitar players and multi-instrumentalists of his generation in the Celtic music folk scene worldwide ƒRoots magazine: ...just about the best folk fiddler of his generation Neil Dalton: …fabulously gifted, naturally talented… He looks like he doesn’t care about anyth

www.timeriksenmusic.com

Tim Eriksen (Cordelia's Dad, Cold Mountain soundtrack) is considered "among the world's finest folk practitioners" (Toronto Star).

www.timvaneyken.co.uk

www.myspace.com/timvaneyken

Those who saw Tim van Eyken win the 1998 BBC Young Folk Award knew there would be a glittering career ahead of this engaging young musician with a passion for traditional English music. Indeed he was soon snapped up by English traditional music’s best known band Waterson:Carthy.

www.folkorchestra.com

Timothy Victor's Folk Orchestra (or TVFO to the lazy) blend the folk musics of Eastern Europe and the USA with Timothy's bawdy Essex humour to produce a raucous, original and uplifting musical accompaniment to whatever you're drinking (please supply your own drink).

www.tofulovefrogs.co.uk

www.myspace.com/tofulovefrogs

In 1989, long before the invention of the clippers and the hair brush, a group of squatters from Hackney started a folk club. This soon morphed into a band. Hours before their first performance, still with no name and no percussionist, they met Chris, who said he would play the percussion only if they performed under the name the “Tofu Love Frogs”, and so the band was born.

www.tompaley.com

Born and raised in New York City, Tom Paley fell in love, long ago, with traditional folk-music. He began playing guitar and 5-string banjo and was soon well-known for his instrumental skill. For a time, he performed in a duo with Woody Guthrie.

www.tomrobinson.com

Born June 1st 1950 in Cambridge, Tom Robinson was a choirboy until his voice broke, and everything else broke along with it. At a time when homosexuality was still punishable in Britain by prison, he fell in love with another boy at school. Wracked with shame and selfhatred, Tom attempted suicide at age 16.

www.myspace.com/troubadourrose