Jez Lowe is one of the busiest live performers in the country, with his songs among the most widely sung by other performers, whether by long-established acts like Fairport Convention, The Dubliners and Bob Fox, or by the new breed of stars like The Unthanks, The Young Uns, Megson and The Duhks.
Buffos Wake Armed with accordions, violins and a bucket full of gusto they waltz, tango, mosh and kolo their way through a vast array of influences from Eastern European, Balkan and Russian folk, to punk rock and cabaret, telling tales of debauchery, deformity, zombies, incest and anatomy and making audiences dance late into the night in the process.
Tim Edey Winner of two BBC Radio Two double Folk Awards, virtuoso multi-instrumentalist & world/roots music artist and one of the most charismatic performers in the current music scene, the affable genius that is Tim Edey effortlessly switches from guitar to box, from folk to jazz with an occasional song thrown in.
Message from the Ravens From ancient sea shanties to southern gothic ballads, haunting indie folk to full power witchy feminist sass; an epic and enchanting show that’s filled with passion, harmony and life’s true grit.
Green Diesel are inspired by the depths of English folklore and legend and the classic folk rock sound of their predecessors Fairport Convention and The Albion Band. Blending violin, mandolin, dulcimer and accordion with electric guitars and drums, Green Diesel’s sound is born from a love of traditional English music and a desire to bring it to a modern audience.
Forest of Fools fuse traditional instruments with funked-up, high tempo beats, charting a course into the depths of the musical unknown. Where no single tune is exactly as it seems, this is Acoustic Dance Music but not as we know it! Shouldn’t every folk band have a sousaphone? Just saying….
Dave Ellis & Boo Howard cover the full range of emotions in their songs, from the quirky and funny to the ethereal and deeply moving. A perfectly balanced sound that works in every corner of their fantastically varied repertoire.
Shake Me Up Sally is a collaboration of Sally Ironmonger & Brian Carter and Capella (Tony & Lesley Petty). Two highly respected duos, coming together to produce rich vocal harmonies with expert musicianship. It’s folk, but not as we know it.
Hobo and the Hippies are a six piece alt-folk, country band hailing from the west of Kent. Performing their own material with songs inspired by their experiences, local characters and places. Often with a comical and carefree attitude to their live shows, you can be damn sure the Hobos are not one to forget.
Hannah Scott From Suffolk via Italy, Hannah Scott performs contemporary folk music and is building a loyal following thanks to her distinctive voice, strong melodies and thought-provoking lyrics. Her thoughtful, heartwarming songs are performed live on piano and guitar and her audiences are regularly moved to both laughter and tears during her shows.
Footdown Alt-folk band featuring melodeon, whistles, guitar, drums, bass and vocals. Traditional folk music with the influence of modern grunge/rock.
Ten Pence Moon their own unique style based around blues, folk, country and swing on a variety of instruments including guitar, dobro, banjo and mandolin. Expect earthy roots based tones, progressive instrumental compositions, songs of comic bitterness, love, nostalgia and hope for the future with a foundation of rustic, bluesy acoustic goodness.
Enda McCabe is an experienced performer, based in the Conamara gaeltacht in Co. Galway, who sings a mixture of traditional Irish language songs and traditional songs in English, together with some original songs in English. The songs are linked by stories, most, but not all, of which are based on personal experience and he delivers an entertaining performance of the highest standard.
Sally Ironmonger and guitarist Brian Carter have a quirky and distinctive style, with Brian’s unusual and accomplished guitar technique the perfect accompaniment to Sally’s unique voice. They love what they do, and their aim is to entertain, with songs that make you laugh, or cry, or just think.
Border Crossing describe themselves as “An Englishman and a Scotsman go into a pub and start singing ….” The gentle sound of fine malt whisky being poured into a cut-glass tumbler. Lovely stuff.
Capella Tony and Lesley Petty’s two part a cappella harmonies have been enchanting audiences at clubs and festivals since 1996. With song subjects ranging from ghostly lovers and social injustice to internet dating and dodgy accountants, be prepared to both laugh and cry.
Triage Kevin Henty, Malcolm Peet and Dean Tainio perform traditional and original tunes and songs from the UK and the USA. Between them they play guitar, dobro, mandolin, and recorder.
Natasha Norodien is a folk singer, guitarist, and flautist with a “staggeringly good voice” (Broadstairs Folk Festival). Terry Lees is a world-class acoustic guitarist winning guitarist of the year in 2000 and was described as “an absolute guitar virtuoso” by BBC radio. As a duo, they perform their own arrangements of traditional songs and tunes combing guitars, flute, and penny whistle with some wonderful harmonies.
Henty and English Kevin Henty needs no introduction being well known on the South East folk scene, joined here by brilliant young violinist Matthew English.
Emma Tubmen accompanies herself on guitar and is often joined by other musicians. She sings a mixture of traditional folk music, French and English ballads and her own bluesy numbers
John & Di Cullen have been described as “an inspirational music partnership” performing contemporary and traditional material with harmony, humour, guitar and bowed psaltery.
Andy Smythe has for the past 20 years years quietly stolen the hearts and minds of all that hear his evocative, finely crafted songs. He has a truly fantastic tenor voice with a huge range that he combines with his unique piano, guitar playing and storytelling.
Danny Tonks is an acoustic percussive guitarist from Kent who brings his own unique style to the genre. Not your everyday guitar player, not to be missed.
Bob Kenward is an established performer on the Kent folk scene with 30 years experience of writing and performing his own songs to audiences across the South-East of England. Bob takes local news stories and uses them to craft new songs and thus create a permanent record of the history of Kent in song.
Kaz Langridge has a charismatic, clear and charming voice with an impressive vocal range. She sings a variety of traditional and contemporary folk music using a mixture of tempos to evoke different moods.