Jim Moray + Band

At the age of 21 Jim Moray was hailed “the greatest leap forward in folk for 30 years” and “the most significant musician since Bob Dylan to decide that the folk idiom is the perfect vehicle for his musical adventures”. Amongst other claims, his debut album ‘Sweet England’ was called “the most significant new development in English folk music since Fairport Convention's Liege and Leif.” New album Low Culture plays on Moray’s skill for picking bits of the past and present and re-imagining them for the future. In the process, seminal traditional ballad Lucy Wan is shaken back to life in collaboration with British-Ghanian rapper Bubbz as a Folk-Grime epic, The Rufford Park Poachers – first recorded on wax cylinder by source singer Joseph Taylor in 1906 – becomes burning hurdy-gurdy driven alt-rock, and XTC classic All You Pretty Girls is co-opted as a sea shanty.

Jim plays with a four piece band.

Jim's website

Mawkin:Causley

Those wicked Essex scallies, Mawkin, have joined forces with the honey-voiced Jim Causley to form one hell of a boyband! One of the best instrumental outfits to emerge in recent years, Mawkin have a string of festival and concert appearances under their belt. Bringing Jim Causley on board is a master stroke, as his gorgeous baritone voice is the perfect foil for their cleverly textured tunes and energetic performances. Jim from Whimple (East Devon) had been involved with traditional music from an early age via his family in the local folk scene. Causley also received great acclaim and interest for his singing work as part of a trio named The Devil's Interval. A unique collaboration not to be missed. Debut Album The Awkward Recruit was released in the UK in April. “It’s a scandal that this bunch left the Folk Awards empty-handed!” (Paul Burke)

Mawkin:Causley's website

Uiscedwr

Phenomenal folk trio Uiscedwr is one of Britain’s most exciting contemporary bands. Featuring founder members Anna Esslemont on fiddle and vocals and Cormac Byrne on bodhran and percussion (of Seth Lakeman band fame), the result is the most thrilling modern folk music you’re ever likely to hear. Underpinned by driving guitar, this folk trio promises a night you won’t forget. With awards from the BBC and the PRS Foundation and two highly acclaimed albums under their belt, Uiscedwr’s music is fatter, funkier and folkier than ever before. The eclectic repertoire draws on traditions form all over the British Isles tempered by influences as diverse as jazz, Latin, blues and klezmer. Spend an evening with Uiscedwr and travel with them round the world!

Uiscedwr's website

Rosie Doonan’s Snapdragons

Growing up in Wakefield, Rosie Doonan found herself “surrounded by music”. Living in a house overflowing with hung-over musicians - her dad played uillean pipes in Hedgehog Pie, an ‘uncle’ was in Lindisfarne - she was a free festival veteran by fourteen. Rosie readily admits to gaining inspiration from influences as disparate as the Beta Band to Laura Veirs to Free, but musically she reflects such divergences with tunes of such celestial grace you’re left thinking they must be covers but there’s more to Rosie than songs blessed with such warmth they’ll halve your winter heating bills. “It’s fair to say I’ve been through some emotional upheavals in the last couple of years,” she laughs. “A few people have said ‘it sounds like you’ve been through the mill’, but that’s where the best must comes from. It’s a form of catharsis.”
Rosie Doonan: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Piano
Katriona Gilmore: Fiddle (also in Tiny Tin Lady, Gilmore:Roberts)
Sarah Smout: Cello

Rosie's website

Corinne West with Doug Cox(from USA)

Corinne hails from California and writes and performs songs in an uptempo blend of bluegrass, alt country and folk. She gives listeners an unfettered glimpse into the raw and wild places of the soul. So she sings the story of life unfolding- sometimes brutal, sometimes beautiful, but always honest. Her songwriting craft is a heady mix with the intensity of rock, the storytelling of country, the turbo acoustic, breakneck bluegrass, and the wide-openness of Americana. She segues from the blues-tinged world-weariness of "Roses To Rust" to the plucky, vibrant positivity of "Hell Yes" without missing a beat.

Corinne plays guitar and is accompanied by legendary dobro guitarist Doug Cox.
Corinne's website

The Steve Skaith Band

Steve Skaith was the singer and co-writer of the band Latin Quarter, best known for the 80s hit single –‘Radio Africa’ and their collaboration with the Zimbabwean group, the Bhundu Boys. In 2007, after eight years in Mexico, Steve returned to Bournemouth and formed a new band featuring Mexican drummer Ricardo Serrano, the whistle, clarinet and mandolin playing of Catherine Burke, and the accordion of Siobhan Culhane. Siobhan previously played with the Cardiff band the Dostoyevskys, and Cath is a well-known figure on the local Dorset folk scene playing a diverse range of music from pop folk, to Irish, to Klezmer, to bluegrass.

‘What a great band. I really enjoyed listening to you and you can quote me on that.’ Robin Williamson.

Steve's website

Sam Carter Trio

Sam Carter is a twenty-five year old singer-songwriter and outstanding fingerstyle guitarist from the English Midlands, now based in London.  Former Emerging Artist in Residence at London’s Southbank Centre, he has studied guitar with Martin Simpson, supported artists including Rachel Unthank & The Winterset, Davey Graham, Lisa Knapp, Spiers & Boden, Findlay Brown and John Smith, and has shared the stage with such past and present luminaries as Jim Moray and Dave Swarbrick. Last autumn he supported Bellowhead on their ‘Matachin’ album launch tour and was included in Proper’s  highly-rated compilation of young artists “Folk Rising”.
Sam sings with guitar accompanied by:
Matt Ridley - double bass
Sam Nadel - drums

Sam's website

EMILY BARKER & the Red Clay Halo Band

Emily Barker, award-winning folk-country songwriter, originally from Western Australia, plays the festival with the Red Clay Halo Band. Recently she toured and sang with UK Americana heroes ‘The Arlenes’ on their UK tour, as well as commenceing work on her debut solo album: ‘Photos.Fires.Fables.’ The album is an eclectic tapestry of old-timey narratives weaving gothic stories of fire, tragedy, love and hard lessons. It received much critical acclaim when it was released in 2007… Emily then gathered some of the album’s musicians together to accompany her songs for live performances. ‘The Red Clay Halo,’ an all-female trio consisting of Anna Jenkins, Jo Silverston and Gill Sandell who play violin, cello, accordion and flute respectively. They also all do backing vocals creating mesmerising 4-part harmonies.

Emily's website

JACK McNEILL and CHARLIE HEYS

Young duo Jack McNeill and Charlie Heys were finalists in the Radio 2 Young Folk Awards last year and were featured on "Folk Rising" compilation CD (Proper Records) along with Mawkin:Cawsley, Rosie Doonan and Sam Carter. Jack and Charlie play original and traditional songs with guitar and fiddle. Radio 2 said "Emotionally-charged, intelligent lyrics, a deftly melodic guitar style and empathic fiddle accompaniment". Sounds good to me! They'll be playing on Friday night and throughout the weekend.

Jack and Charlie's website

The Douglas Firs

An acoustic duo just shy of two years old, The Douglas Firs’ love of nature is reflected in their songwriting. Their arrangements are untainted and uncomplicated with the focus never straying from their simple yet strong melodies and thought provoking lyrics. Songs like 'Woman of Wood ' and 'Regrets and Cigarettes' illustrate this duo's ability to write remarkably original and inventive songs. The live performances are usually modest and understated - as is the 'Firs' ethos - yet always deeply powerful and emotive.
Suzy Douglas – vocals.
Jimmy Douglas – guitar.

The Douglas Firs' website

Tinderbox

Tinderbox are an acoustic folk/rock duo featuring Monique Houraghan with a distinctive 'honey-like' vocal, and Dan Tucker with an intricate finger style guitar technique. Often joined by accomplished and talented musicians Catherine Burke (whistles), Gav Jones (percussion) and Bobby Burke (bass/vocals/guitar) Tinderbox also perform and record as a formidable folk/rock band. Tinderbox's third Studio album, 'Golden' was launched at Centre Stage in Bournemouth, with the band performing to a record-breaking audience. 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.

Tinderbox's website

Djambo

The Iota Group

The IOTA Group (formerly the Buckingham Band) plays funk-jazz and are gigging regularly on the London jazz scene. They play the late night danceable set from about 11pm. The band has been performing for 12 years. Heavy funk and jazz. Many years of musical experience between all the band members.
The line-up for the festival is:
David Clayton (Simply Red !) Keys
Theo Buckingham (Benincity) Drums
Mark Buckingham Saxes
Tom Mclean Gtr
Aran Feenan Perc
tbc (bass)

Iota Group's website

Alex Roberts

Alex blends genres from baroque to blues in a host of alternative tunings and with some fine lap-steel playing and stomp-boxing. His style is effortless while his technique is masterful and innovative. But it’s not just outstanding musicianship that drives him; what’s driving this artist is song. The timeless charm of his music is the perfect vehicle for Alex to present his lyrical musings. In the fashion of the troubadour, he crafts stories, love songs, ballads, spirituals, or protests into a mesmerising web of song. Alex engages the listener with rapturous allure; the vocal lines ebb and flow around elegant guitar parts and the result is an uplifting and wholesome symbiosis of voice and instrument.

Alex's website

Katy Boyd & Ben Wain

Katy Boyd and Ben Wain are a Dorchester-based duo. Influenced by the great Joan Baez and the American folk scene, Katy performed in coffee houses and music clubs while young in California. Katy moved to in England in 1985 for a contract with Virgin records. Taking a break from performing in the 1990s, Katy began to divide her time between films and music. she continues to be an active singer/songwriter and still has numerous songs recorded by American artists. Ben is an in-demand fiddler whose playing is the perfect embellishment for Katy's songs.

Katy's website

Andy Grant

Andy Grant performs dynamic acoustic songs with infectious riffs, bluesy vocals and astounding guitar work. His live shows never fail to entertain whether as a solo performer on acoustic guitar, vocals and stompbox, or when fronting ‘The Andy Grant Trio’, backed by double bass and drums. Andy’s recent release, ‘Hole In The Sky’ (2008), is an 11 track collection of original songs that celebrates the human state of being, questions the decisions made on our behalf and instills our hope for the future, all delivered in a raw, funky and inflective way.

Andy's website

Jinder

Jinder is a singer guitarist songwriter and both solo artist and a member of trio Mercury Men. His powerful songs are mostly upbeat and draw on country and blues influence.
Jinder has been making records for eight years, releasing seven albums and playing over 1000 live shows worldwide in that time. Something of a journeyman, he has released his music through several record companies, including Sony BMG/Arista, before starting his own record label, Din Of Ecstasy, in 2008.

Jinder's website

Sarah Griffin Band

Sarah strayed into the old Shenanigans Folk Club while she was at Uni and played her first gig. Pretty soon she was one of the stars of the Bournemouth acoustic scene. Her lyrics tell a good story, her singing is soulful and she performs with raw energy. Her band played an impressive set at Sundial Festival and play Long Barn Stage on Friday night.

James Findlay and band

James Findlay is a 20 year old fiddle singer and guitarist (in the style of Nic Jones) from Dorchester. Of himself, James says he "sounds like a bloke singing mainly traditional Englishy stuff with guitar or fiddle accompaniment, quite lucky really as that’s what I do!" His influences are mostly on the more traditional folk scene are people The Watersons, Nic Jones, Carthy and Swarbrick. James plays in a duo called Fingers n Fretz and in a band Dyer-Cummings-Findlay.
James's website

Bob Whitley and Frank Boyle

Bob Whitley and Frank Boyle perform as a duo. Bob writes songs which have real literary quality. He covers a vast range of themes with stories that draw you in. Frank is an excellent guitarist and harmony singer on Bob's songs as well as being a great interpreter of contemporary folk song.

Jason Hinchey

Jason Hinchey hails from Limerick via Coventry. Following on from his successful gigs here, there and everywhere in Bournemouth, in Ireland and Coventry, the very popular singer-guitarist Jason Hinchey plays the festival. He plays songs which address contemporary issues with passion and conviction. His best songs are those he has written himself but he also interprets the songs of others with an intensity typical of many Irish singers.

Bob Burke Band with Roxy Johns

Bob Burke’s brand of acoustic funk-folk comprises lyrically-engaging songs, compelling guitar technique and constantly shifting musical textures. A lead performer at Bournemouth Folk Club, Bob has produced albums for Lou Brown and Victor Chetcuti and has toured Europe, USA and Russia. Roxy Johns is the lead singer, pianist and songwriter with Atlas. Her songs are intimate and powerful,featuring dark harmonies and dramatic arrangements. Described as ‘Jethro Tull meets Tori Amos backed by the Family Stone’, their contrasting songwriting styles and interweaving vocal lines mark a new departure for both Bob and Roxy. They will be joined by Lidia Cascarino-Close on bass and Gav Jones on drums. Bob's website

Andy Stone

Andy Stone is an exceptional guitarist whose a vast rock music history has given him the background to create and compose music of the finest quality. Of late his songwriting has addressed the social history of his beloved Fens. Andy is well-known as a great sound engineer and will be managing the PA on the Long Barn Stage over the weekend.