Acts

The Georgia Shackleton Trio play an exciting blend of Americana, folk and self-penned material. Accompanying herself on the fiddle, she writes and performs 'wordy songs about other people’, instrumentally influenced by British, American and Scandinavian folk traditions, with a regional twist from her native East Anglia.

Georgia’s skills as a singer and instrumentalist have been put to the test in numerous different contexts, but her own trio sees her teaming up with guitar powerhouse Aaren Bennett and mandolin ace Nic Zuppardi. Together they have toured the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands, appeared at Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival, Cambridge Folk Festival, Towersey Festival, Broadstairs Folk Week, Folk East, and concert halls and folk clubs across the UK.

Lincoln based alt folk duo, HΔPPY HUNTING, combines the talents of singer/songwriters, Cat Fullbrook and Josh Reast, in order to create a sound you will find it hard not to get lost in. With inspirations from Fink, Ben Howard and The Civil Wars, the duo explore the darker side of emotional acoustic music.

Currently writing and recording their debut EP, the pair are working towards making their mark on the rich cultural history of British music.

Growing up surrounded by musicians, making music has always seemed to be the natural path for band members Cat Fullbrook and Josh Reast to take. This comes across in their honest interpretation of the human condition, explored in the thought-provoking themes throughout their music.

Lincoln based alt folk duo, HAPPY HUNTING, combines the talents of singer/songwriters, Cat Fullbrook and Josh Reast, in order to create a sound you will find it hard not to get lost in. With inspirations from Fink, Ben Howard and The Civil Wars, the duo explore the darker side of emotional acoustic music.

Currently writing and recording their debut EP, the pair are working towards making their mark on the rich cultural history of British music.

Growing up surrounded by musicians, making music has always seemed to be the natural path for band members Cat Fullbrook and Josh Reast to take. This comes across in their honest interpretation of the human condition, explored in the thought-provoking themes throughout their music.

“A York based musician and songwriter, for whom the title ‘minstrel’ is never more apt.” – Sonic Bandwagon, 2016. York-based artist, Joshua Burnell, has shaken the world of folk with his epic fantasy ballads and fiddle tunes, bolstered with the swirling distortion of Hammond Organ. Touring as either a folk trio or full seven-piece folk-rock band, Joshua & his band have set feet stomping at festivals and venues up and down the country this year. Combining the best from the worlds of prog and folk rock, Joshua Burnell’s music has been described by Fatea Magaizne as, “quite definitely a step up from traditional folk, and quite definitely worthy of a mention in any progressive rock hall of fame.” In 2015, Joshua began recording his first full-length album, Into the Green, with Dan Webster at Paper Plane Studios. A host of musicians were assembled for the creation of this progressive-folk rock Tolkienesque fantasy double concept album, including Angela Gordon, from Mostly Autumn and Yom Hardy from Blackbeard’s Tea Party. To accomplish the creative vision,Tolkien illustrators Ted Nasmith and Ruth Lacon created spectacular artwork for the packaging. Tracks from the album has been played on multiple radio stations around the country and the album has been received positively by the press, earning a 7/10 review in Classic Rock Magazine. “A superb seven-song suite about a hapless shepherd who ventures into an Enchanted Wood to rescue his lost flock.” – Classic Rock Magazine.

He is the missing link, the joining point, where folk fuses with country – as good as you’ll hear on any record out of Austin or Nashville - beautiful – he is Anglicana ’ Americana UK 9/10
“THE TIN MAN will make it on to a fair few ‘Best Of’ lists, and deservedly so."
Maverick Magazine ****
“Mixing folk, country and even a little rock ‘n’ roll, all delivered with a clear, distinctive voice, some great playing and an immaculate sound, it stopped me in my tracks.”
Folk Radio UK – The Tin Man – featured album Feb 2015
“The Tin Man may forever be in search of a heart on the road, Dan Webster has it in abundance and it shows with each passing song on his latest album.”
Liverpool Sound and Vision ****
“His delivery is passionate, this album boasts a big, big heart.” Folk Radio UK
Dan Webster is a seasoned English singer-songwriter, his music is influenced by sounds and story telling traditions of American and British Folk music (in it’s broadest sense) Americana UK described him as ‘A Hybrid of Damien Rice, Seth Lakeman and Tom McRae’. Webster just writes what he feels, in his words “it’s just about the music, there’s no plan when I’m writing, there doesn’t need to be, writing is about honesty, we connect with real experiences and real emotions in music”.
"An insightful lyricist with a great voice" Acoustic Magazine
Since the release of his first record in 2003 Dan has played too many shows to count. In 2016, as well as numerous festival appearances and UK shows, Dan played a much lauded double headline with Nashville's 'Amelia White' one of the best from the states according to the Telegraph. In 2015 he played a UK headline 'Tin Man' tour and a UK tour as main support for The Paperboys, both to great acclaim. Live, Dan inspires attention; pulling you into his work with finely crafted melodies and lyrics - delivered with a powerful, and honest vocal. Fantastic solo, or with his band .
His previous album release DIAMOND LAND received a number of plays on BBC Radio 2 and was well received critically in the press. His 2012 single release Frank Dalton was nominated for Fatea magazines track of the year.
His self produced release for 2015 THE TIN MAN explores folk, country and rock and roll across the album fusing these styles throughout the body of the work. Webster’s delivery sits perfectly within English folk and American styles through rock and roll to Country/Americana and beyond. The album is a conceptual look at life journeys both metaphorically and direct. There is a sailor’s journey, told using his arrangements of two English and one traditional American folk song. One To Remember and No.17 discuss journeys in a situational context, No.17 examining how small journeys can reflect and offer deeper insight into life and its continuing cycle. Life and loss feature throughout as well as hope and love. This is honest work, Dan lived the song Elvis, met the “old boy’ in One To Remember and rode the No. 17. (That said, in truth, he can’t remember the number of the bus route).

Dubbed “Mesmerising” by Mel B of the Spice Girls, “Visually and Artistically Beautiful” by Rush, and “Fresh New Talent” by Vintage TV, this is the story of two sisters who began singing together as toddlers at National Bluegrass Festivals alongside musical parents – their father performed with Dolly Parton while mother, Kathy wrote the song Kaleidoscopes – which became a song of much importance further down the line… Mary‐Anne’s own songs ‘Solitary Confinement’ and ‘Scenario’ were remixed by Dutch Producer; Marco V in 2009, reaching the top ten dance chart through Radio 1 air-play, while Laura performed worldwide onboard Luxury Cruise Ships, yachts, for hotels and was a guest vocalist at the 2011 New Orleans Jazz Festival. Combining early folk festival influences with the urban, contemporary styles of today, ‘Mia and the Moon’ officially launched in 2012 and have honed a distinctive, gospel sound, reaching out to people of all ages with timeless musical style. Through performances on XFactor, ITV, BBC Introducing, Radio 1, Ministry of Sound, National Retail Awards (alongside Myleene Klass), Caffe Nero and a National Acoustic Tour, Mia and the Moon are avid ambassadors for animal rights and have helped raise thousands of pounds for the charities including the ‘International Animal Rescue, RSPCA, PDSA, Jerry Green Dog Rescue, Wildlife Trust. The original prints from the ‘Fall Awake’ sleeve artwork were auctioned during the album launch party with all proceeds donated to Donkey Charity ‘Spana’ this year, and in publicizing these efforts, Laura and Mary-Anne hope to inspire their friends and fans to support animal charities and organisations. Mia and the Moon return from their residency in Europe on 17th October and then their new single 'Undefeated' comes out on 30th October.

Linda Em is an Irish singer songwriter using a lyrical narrative that brings back the early days of Woodstock and The Old Grey Whistle Test. No surprise when she quotes Joan Baez, Carole King and the husky laments of Melanie Safka as her song writing influences , not to mention Fleetwod Mac !

Linda’s clear, strong voice draws the listener to know how each ‘story’ ends. There's a bit of folk, a bit of rock, some Celtic, American blues and even a hint of Ska if you listen closely, with even a slight gypsy thread that drops in and out. The overall production of her songs get that 70s soul sound of a lead singer with a band that is so atmospheric, pulling you back to Woodstock.

To reduce Galley Beggar‘s allure down to a simple matter of folk rock revivalism would be foolish. With a sound that incorporates all manner of unexpected elements while always celebrating the mischievous spirit of folk music across the centuries, these Kentish chameleons have been steadily earning a formidable reputation since forming back in 2009. Over the course of three acclaimed albums – Reformation House (2010), Galley Beggar (2012) and Silence & Tears (2014), the band’s first for Rise Above Records – Galley Beggar have pulled off the neat trick of simultaneously honouring and upgrading the psychedelic folk rock template, both revelling in the simple magic of acoustic instrumentation and joyfully harnessing the lysergic power of the electric too. And now they are poised to release their fourth and finest album, Heathen Hymns in April 2017. A dizzying blend of the traditional and the untried, it’s a record full of absorbing musical stories that showcase a newfound lust for experimentation.

Winter Wilson - their current tour showcases their latest album “Ashes and Dust”, the follow up to “Cutting Free” which made the Daily Telegraph’s ten recommended folk albums for Summer 2014. Having honed their craft during many years as semi-professional musicians, the duo went full time in 2012 and haven’t looked back since. They have a fine repertoire of self-penned songs, telling stories of everyday life which often reflect the bigger picture of this life we lead. (“Songs for local heroes,” as one punter said.)
Kip Winter (vocals, accordion, guitar, flute) is one of the finest singers on the circuit, expressing power and emotion in equal measure “from melting to belting”. Dave Wilson (vocals, guitar and banjo) is amongst the top tier of British song writers, with his songs covered by some of folk’s “greats”. But it’s in live performance that Winter Wilson really excel, bringing a sense of intimacy to every stage, welcoming audiences into their world, mixing songs with stories of life on the road. “This isn’t a performance – it’s a domestic!”
Tight harmonies, killer songs and a lot of fun – that’s Winter Wilson.

SOLID ENTERTAINMENTS Presents... SOUTH YORKSHIRE FOLK FESTIVAL