History

After a promising debut album, ‘The First Turn’, back in 2009, Daoirí spent several years studyin

g traditional music and performance at respected colleges across Ireland. While at the University of Limerick, Fintan Vallely introduced him to the singing of the late Liam Weldon, an encounter that was to prove formative to his sound and his approach to folk song.

Daoirí had cut his teeth as a singer in Dublin’s famous Góilin Singers Club and at other sessions across the city, many of which he still visits regularly. Following his studies he quickly found work accompanying artists including Christy Moore, as well as a list of names that sounds like a who’s who of folk music: Dónal Lunny, Martin Hayes, Dennis Cahill, Alan Doherty, Danú, Dervish, Julie Fowlis, Arty McGlynn, The John Carty Big Band, Kíla, Sean Keane, Gerry O’Connor (Banjo), Gerry O’Connor (Fiddle), Lankum and more. In 2013 he won the All Ireland Champion Singer award at the Fleadh in Co. Derry, and in 2015 won the

prestigious Danny Kyle Award at Celtic Connections in Glasgow with the line-up FourWinds.

Daoirí finally stepped into the limelight in his own right, launching his own solo live career at Celtic Connections, in January 2016. In May the same year he was invited to fly to Manchester to do a live session on the BBC Radio 2 Folk Show with Mark Radcliffe just a week before his first UK tour. His name was suddenly everywhere and festival and show dates started to stream in from across the world.

His long-awaiting follow-up album to ‘The First Turn’, ‘True Born Irishman’ was released in October 2016. The following spring his won two BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards – Best Traditional Track and Best Newcomer – and performed with a six piece line-up at the awards ceremony at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

He has since performed in Australia, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, The Czech Republic, USA, Portugal and more and played festivals including Cambridge Folk Festival, Milwaukee Irish Festival, Vancouver Island Folk Festival, the National Folk Festival of Australia and many more. In 2018 he toured the UK with Transatlantic Sessions and recorded his next album with Dónal Lunny in the producer’s chair.

October 2021 Jack Rutter

Jack Rutter, folk singer, bouzouki player, multi instrumentalist is one of Britain's finest traditional singers.

Jack grew up in the Holme Valley area of West Yorkshire, a place steeped in a wealth of traditional song, and following a BSc degree in Countryside Management at Newcastle University has forged a highly successful career playing music across the UK and Europe. In addition to his acclaimed solo work, he has become a highly sought after collaborator for a host of the biggest names in folk music such as Seth Lakeman, Sam Sweeney and Jackie Oates as well as playing in the celebrated instrumental trio Moore Moss Rutter

December 2019 A Winter Union

A WINTER UNION - Jade Rhiannon (Vocals, Shruti Box), Katriona Gilmore (Vocals, Mandolin,

Fiddle), Jamie Roberts (Vocals, Guitar), Hannah Sanders (Vocals, Guitar, Dulcimer) and Ben Savage (Vocals, Dobro, Guitar).

Five leading lights of the British roots scene join forces to create a festive folk band like no other. Expect soaring harmonies and exquisite musicianship as the 5-piece blast through a repertoire of brand new, specially written songs, fresh arrangements of traditional carols both well-loved and little-known, and seasonal classics from both sides of the Atlantic.

Originally formed in 2015 for a one-off yuletide concert, A Winter Union returned in 2016 for more shows including London’s Cecil Sharp House and a live session on BBC Radio 3. This year brings the band’s first line-up change with BBC Folk Award nominees Gilmore & Roberts joining members of The Willows and Hannah Sanders.

October 2019 and 2017 The Leylines

We welcomed back the The Leylines who entertained us wonderfully n 2017.
West-country collective established in 2013, with a genre-defying, eclectic sound that ranges from traditional folk to full blown festival rock. The Leylines are: Steve Mitchell (Vocals/Guitar), Hannah Johns (Violin), Dan Thompson (Electric Guitar), Sean Booth (Bass) and Dave Burbidge (Drums).

The Leylines was founded by a group of musicians in Weston-super-Mare (via Bristol), wishing to combine their individual musical styles into something that isn’t quite folk, sort of punk, 100% heart-pounding revelry. This unique sound, combined with Steve’s lyrics centred around life on the road and the state of society, has launched the band into the heart of the live music community and made them firm favourites of the festival circuit.

The band released their debut album, ‘Along The Old Straight Track’ in June 2016, produced by Sean Lakeman, recorded at The Metway studios in Brighton and mixed by Al Scott. With this team on board, inevitably the record has drawn strong comparison to the likes of The Levellers, Mad Dog Mcrea and Ferocious Dog, whilst remaining an album by a band which have forged their own sound and identity.

In the following years The Leylines went on their first of many national tours, and were booked for Glastonbury Festival, where they performed six sets in as many days. They also played stages at Beautiful Days, Goldcoast Oceanfest, Something To Smile About Festival, The Godney Gathering and Big Feastival, as well as many other music festivals across the UK.
The band then released their second studio album Recover Reveal, in March 2019.

Starting work on it almost immediately after the release of ‘Along The Old Straight Track, their second record was nearly three years of honing and crafting, with a number of tracks crowd-tested at numerous venues and festivals across the UK. The result is a collection of sincere, straight-from-the-heart performances, constructed with care, and played with passion.
The Leylines then took Recover Reveal across the country, before heading into festival season to play everyone’s foot stomping favourites from both their albums.
With a fiercely loyal and ever-growing fan base, The Leylines guarantee to have their audiences up on their feet – and they will be having as much fun as their audience while they’re doing it!

September 2019 Tannara

Bold, creative, and original; Tannara (Owen Sinclair, Robbie Greig, Becca Skeoch and Joseph Peach) have established themselves as one of the UK’s most interesting and unique contemporary folk groups.
Formed in 2014, the band came about as a natural extension of the four members’ love of making music together. Fuelled by this, they’ve covered considerable musical ground over the past five years. With a background in Scotland’s native traditions, their ceaseless musical development is a melting pot of ideas, genres and sounds: From indie rock to electronica, as well as Scotland’s vibrant and diverse folk scene. Unafraid to experiment, their music is an electrifying

meeting place for a world of sounds: Punchy and clean, riotous and gritty, tender and honest. On fiddle, harp, guitar, accordion and vocals, Tannara make an intensely considered musical world which is uniquely theirs. Their debut album “Trig” was released in 2016. Produced by Rachel Newton, their first offering as a band was a raw, joyous, reflection of a band finding its sound. It was received to great acclaim, from critics and audiences alike. Described by Living Tradition Magazine as “Simply Outstanding”, it was longlisted for “Album of the Year” at the 2016 Scots Trad Music Awards, the same year in which the band were nominated for “Up and Coming Artist of the Year”. From open air festivals, to intimate housconcerts, and everything in between, the band love playing live. A fact that’s reflected by their so far busy schedule of performances and radio appearances across Europe, with highlights including Cambridge Folk Festival, and Festival Interceltique de Lorient, a performance described as “Fiery and Graceful” by The Herald.
The year ahead will be the biggest yet for Tannara, with the release of their second album “Strands” at Celtic Connections Festival 2019. The album represents a significant development for the band, who’ve spent the past two years writing and recording it.

April 2019

Josie Duncan and Pablo Lafuente

2017 BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award Winners Josie Duncan and Pablo Lafuente are a vocal/guitar duo like no other. Calling the Isle of Lewis and Glasgow/Spain home, it's no wonder their music doesn’t focus on one place or on one of the many strands of Scotland’s web of traditions. They are well travelled, and well versed in music from across the land. On guitar and vocals in Gaelic, Scots and English, their music is a round tour, where centuries old ballads meet Gaelic Puirt A Beul, songs from the mines and cotton mills, as well as some original writing. Josie's voice, crystal clear with its slight island twang, is equally at home in any of these domains. Accompanied by Pablo's dynamic, sensitive guitar playing, they illuminate the lyrics. Their music, at times sparse and haunting, at others driving and all consuming, leaves audiences stunned. They are both accomplished musicians in their own right. Josie is a recent graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where she

studied with some of the masters of the Scottish and Gaelic traditions. She has toured extensively, performing at festivals and venues in Europe, Canada and America. Her other projects include a collaboration with innovative Gaelictronica band Inyal, and Blasta, a showcase of singers of the Isle of Lewis commissioned by this year's Festival Interceltique de Lorient. Pablo's experiences are no less varied. Of Spanish origin, he has put down cultural roots in Scotland, exploring the tradition to its deepest core. Since completing his studies of guitar and fiddle at the National Centre for Excellence in Traditional music Pablo has been in high demand, playing, recording and touring internationally with artists including: The Outside Track, Barluath, Sketch and Spanish Gaita extraordinary Anxo Lorenzo. Since joining forces in 2016 Josie and Pablo have taken the scene by storm, quickly becoming one of Scotland’s most in-demand live acts at festivals and venues across the country and in 2017 were nominated for ‘Folk Band Of The Year’ at the ‘MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards’. In their short time together they’ve delighted the audiences of BBC Radio 2, Celtic Connections, BBC Proms In The Park, Cambridge Folk Festival, Sofar sessions, and a host of venues across Scotland.

March 2019 Jackie Oates

Jackie Oates is a singer and fiddle player hailing from Staffordshire. Her unique treatment of English ballads and songs, and pure, haunting singing style has established her at the forefront of the new English folk revival.
Since appearing as a finalist in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards 2003, she has performed extensively at festivals and venues across the country and beyond, in a solo capacity and with her band. She was a founder member of Northumbrian group and Mercury nominated Rachel Unthank and the Winterset, Jackie is now a permanent member of the folk super-group The Imagined Village as well as touring in her own right.
In 2008 she released her second album ‘The Violet Hour’ which was followed by a swathe of glowing national reviews, with the album going on to be one of Mojo’s top ten folk albums of the year.

Calan, December 2018

It’s 10 years since the masters of Welsh folk released their debut album – Bling. It’s fair to say that during those ten years they’ve blasted their way through the old traditions giving a fresh and contemporary sound to traditional Welsh music. Credited for their sparkling melodies, foot-tapping tunes and spirited and energetic performances of Welsh step dancing, they’ve taken Welsh traditional music to international audiences. Following the release of Bling in 2008, which attracted four-star responses from the critics, the five-piece have played to big audiences and rave reviews at concerts and festivals around Britain, USA, Australia and Europe.

Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts November 2018 and March 2014

We welcome back contemporary folk/acoustic duo Gilmore & Roberts combine award-winning songwriting withastounding musicianship and their trademark harmonies to create a powerful wall of sound. Nominated three times at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Katriona Gilmore (fiddle, mandolin) and Jamie Roberts (guitar) met while studying at Leeds College of Music and released their debut album in 2008.

Since then, the duo have toured Canada and mainland Europe, played some of the UK’s biggest acoustic festivals, toured with folk rock legends Fairport Convention and won countless accolades for their genre-spanning work.

Lucy Ward October 2018

Lucy Ward is an award winning singer-songwriter from Derby. She plays guitar, ukulele and concertina but considers her voice to be her first instrument.

After getting her first guitar at the age of 14, Lucy ventured into acoustic clubs, it was there that she first heard the traditional music that she now loves. Captured by the lyrics and stories of traditional song Lucy delved further into the world of folk music, visiting clubs and sessions up and down the country before getting booked to play gigs in her own right. In 2009 Lucy reached the final of the BBC Young Folk Award and she hasn’t looked back since!

After winning the Horizon Award for best newcomer at the 2012 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Lucy’s career has gone from strength to strength establishing her as one of the hottest performers on the UK Folk scene, pulling a full capacity audience for her Cambridge Folk Festival debut.

Jimmy Aldridge and Sid Goldsmith September 2018

Jimmy Aldridge and Sid Goldsmith are one of the finest duos to have emerged onto the British folk and acoustic scene in recent years. Their combination of outstanding vocal work, sensitive instrumentation, and a powerful social conscience has brought them widespread critical acclaim.

In the main they play traditional music that originates from the British Isles on guitar and banjo, the combination this and their great vocal harmonies are really superb. Their performance of these songs is top notch and they are genuinely a real joy to listen to…In short, they’re brilliant!

The Outside Track April 2018

A stunning synthesis of virtuosity and energy, The Outside Track’s marriage of Canadian, Scottish and Irish music and song has been rapturously received around the work. Hailing from Scotland, Ireland and Cape Breton, its five members are united by a love of traditional music and a commitment to creating new music on its foundation. Using fiddle, accordion, harp guitar, flute, step-dance and vocals, these five virtuosos blend boundless energy with unmistakeable joie de vivre. The line-up comprises Teresa Horgan, Mairi Rankin (Beolach), Ailie Robertson (Live Ireland Winner, BBC Young Trad finalist), Fiona Black (BBC Fame Academy Winner) and Cillian O’Dalaigh.