Lineup

Here are the wonderful bands lined up for 2020

play a range of Bluegrass and Americana with self penned numbers forming a significant part of what they are about. They have been together for about 10 years and have performed at most of the UK’s Bluegrass festivals in their time. The band visited the USA together where they got to play in the Rockygrass band competition. They currently have CD called ‘Riden Hard and Put Away Wet’ containing mostly original material written by the band.

Everlovin' Minds

“Formed after a late night festival picking session a couple of years back The Everlovin' Minds get a little country, drawing on the back catalogue of old school legends like George Jones, Merle and Buck. It's a world of drinkin', gamblin', heartbreak and chickens driven by swinging acoustic guitar, mandolin, double bass and sweet harmonies”

BBC Folk Awards Best Musician nominee Dan Walsh combines ‘virtuoso playing and winning songwriting’ (MORNING STAR). Describing what Dan does is no easy task but at the heart of it is British, Irish and American folk music delivered with a healthy dose of funky grooves – all performed with his unique and dazzling take on clawhammer style banjo helping to challenge all preconceptions about the instrument. Add to all that poignant songs, astonishing musical departures and lively humour and the result is a truly memorable live show which has wowed audiences across the world from intimate seated rooms to huge dancing crowds in festival fields.

Bakerfield are an acoustic duo from Staffordshire, formed in 2010 after many years paying their dues in various musical fields.

Loraine Baker (Vocals, Double Bass, Guitar, Banjo, Ukelele) has forged a career as a formidable Double Bass player, in bands such as ‘The Bluebirds Cajun Band’, ‘Baker’s Fabulous Boys’ Bluegrass band , ‘Hackney Ramblers’ Cajun band, ‘Chank a Chank’ Cajun band, ‘The Southgators’ and ‘Shake the Roots’.

She has also earned a reputation as a fine vocalist with a singular voice that commands the attention of audiences everywhere, and she plays acoustic guitar, banjo and ukelele to supplement the dynamic sound of this duo.

As well as recording with her own bands Loraine has also appeared on CD’s of other artists, most recently Folk artist Brian Peters’ Cd’s ‘Songs of Trial and Triumph’and ‘Gritstone Serenade’.

Pete Wakefield (Vocals, Guitar, Mandolin, Harmonica) was, for several years, a member of Bob Dylan tribute band ‘With Bob on Our Side’ and is currently Lead Vocalist and Guitarist with ‘Shake the Roots’. A large chunk of ‘bakerfield’s material consists of Pete’s original work, his song writing covering just about all areas from the surreal ‘Don’t Move, There’s a Penguin in the Bed’ to the topical ‘The Man on the Street Died Today’ to the touchingly confessional ‘Boy in the Bubble’.

Also included in their repertoire are songs from American Folk artists including Steve Earle, Guy Clark, Bob Dylan, Mark Erelli and Chuck Brodsky.

‘bakerfield’ have quickly become known as an extremely entertaining duo, having their audiences reeling with laughter one minute and moved to tears the next; why not come along to their next gig; you won’t be disappointed!

Ale and cakes are a duo from Cornwall with over 30 years worth of bluegrass experience between them!. Jacey Harris discovered Bluegrass and took to the Banjo at the age of 12 and has never looked back. Jacey has performed in a number of bands along side the Carrivick sisters including Kick up the grass, Blue south, and ‘andsome and some as well as a one off performance as “more pretty girls than one”. Jacey is a keen songwriter and particularly enjoys singing about the mining heritage of her homeland. Dan Norton first came across bluegrass aged 14 while playing Bass guitar in a rock band with a few of his schoolmates. He was hooked and quickly decided the mandolin was the instrument for him! He began attending bluegrass festivals with the 5 time BCMA award winning Down County Boys and joined them full time as their mandolin player aged 16. Dan has since performed all over Britain and Ireland with the DCBs, Keep off the grass, Chill until blue, the Toy Hearts and also as a guest of Shake the roots and Britannia Band. Ale and cakes take their name from a mine just a couple of miles from their home in Redruth in the heart of the cornish mining landscape.

Maidstone-based The Lowly Strung, an exhilarating five-piece Americana/bluegrass band, have been building a sizeable and passionate following across Kent and the UK festival circuit for their vibrant and exciting blend of Country and Bluegrass music that has had younger music fans whooping and hollering with enthusiasm. The band, comprising of Toby Starks (Guitar, Lead Vocals), James Starks (Mandolin, Vocals), Jonny Starks (Fiddle, Vocals), Malcolm Peet (Dobro) and Jon Fuller (Double Bass), have recently released their acclaimed NO TOMFOOLERY debut album. The Lowly Strung stray from tradition and draw upon their influences from across the globe bringing a fresh and invigorated sound bursting with energy whilst still rooted in the bluegrass idiom.