This Years Guests

   

Guests are Saturday only except where stated

(Scroll down for information about this years guests)

      THE GUESTS

       

      Guests are Saturday only except where stated

       

      Aardvark Ceilidh Band (Friday)

      Aardvark is a folk-rock band who over the past few years have made the Friday evening Ceilidh spot their own. They provide lively and exciting music for dancing or listening. Among the most energetic Ceilidh bands
      on the scene, whether playing electric or acoustic instruments, this band rocks! Aardvark plays a varied selection of dance tunes, including some original compositions by Pete Grassby (melodeon)Pete G. is aided
      and abetted by Pete Laity (guitars etc.), Martin Trewinnard (bass and flute) and Colin Halliwell (drums and other percussion). These highly experienced musicians have all had solo careers or worked extensively
      with other bands - so Aardvark may justifiably be regarded as a 'super-group' on the dance circuit.

      Based in Coventry, this band has performed at numerous festivals, dance clubs and other events around the country. CD's are also available ('Pleasures of the Town' and 'Malvern Hills').

       

      Alan Stocks (All week-end)

      Alan has been around the local folkscene for many years, although little is seen of him these days other than his annual "outing" to the Festival. He has been involved with the festival since the beginning, and this
      year will be hosting some of the sessions, doing a song or two on Friday and Sunday, and generally helping out over the week-end.

       

      Alhambra (Sat/Sun)

      Pete, John and Andy are rapidly gaining themselves a reputation as one of the festival circuits most popular fringe acts! You seem to bump into them at festivals all over the country, not on the main stage, but doing
      what they do best sitting in the corner of a pub singing, joking and storytelling in their unique style ensuring everyone has a damned good time – that’s just what they are going to do for us at Bedworth, where they
      will be entertaining you both early Saturday evening, and early Sunday morning in the White Swan. Don’t miss the fun!

       

      Bob & Les Robson

      Long time members of one of the Midlands most popular barn dance bands, Magic Rantabout, Bob and Les are also excellent leaders of pub music sessions, and that’s where you’ll find them at this years (and in
      fact most years!) Bedduth

       

      Brian Rogers

      Brian is a fine singer with a vast repertoire of songs, and can be found frequenting singarounds at festivals the length and breadth of the country, but rarely in a concert environment - he made a really successful
      Bedworth debut in the Voices concert a couple of years back, this year, in addittion to running some sessions, you will also no doubt find him being a key member of any sing around session you happen to stumble
      across!

       

      Chris Tobin (All week-end)

      Chris was born into a musical family in Banbury in 1951. "We made our own entertainment, as the saying goes, in those early days!" Most of the family played some sort of instrument. "Mum would start playing the
      piano, then perhaps my Uncle Cec, would join in on accordion. And so it would go on. Friends and family would visit to keep the music flowing for a few hours." A cousin introduced Chris to the guitar when he was
      eleven and sparked an interest that would never fade. "My first guitar, a Selmer 222 acoustic, was borrowed from my cousin Stan. A couple of years later he said the guitar was mine and I cherished it for many years
      until it became un-playable!" Inevitably school groups were started and to Chris, nothing else really mattered! "School didn't really encourage my interests. Two comments that I'm proud of in my school report are,
      "All his attention is paid to his guitar." and "Tends to be too comical!" I remember taking the guitar to school and waiting outside the music room during lunch break. "Don't take that in there Tobin, that's not a musical
      instrument!!" - That was the Music teacher! (Git!) - as you’d guess from this self-written description Chris is a bit of a laugh, and a fine musician and singer too - don’t miss him!

       

      Colin Pitts
      Colin is one of the most understated songwriters in the UK - he has a repertoire of songs to cover every emotion, he’ll have you singing, laughing and crying, and all performed in the most relaxing style. After a bit
      of a break away from the folkscene, we are pleased to be able to welcome him back to Bedworth, where in the past he was a regular for many years.

       

      Colin Squire

      Colin Squire, a singer songwriter with a distinctive guitar style is based at Monks Kirby in Warwickshire. Originally Colin began performing in the early 1970's as half of the duo Oddessy, took a 14 year break and
      started again in 1992 when The Denbigh Arms Folk Club opened in Monks Kirby. Colin sings contemporary, traditional and self-penned songs with the emphasis on audience participation, and can be found
      performing guest, feature spots and compering at many of the local cubs and festivals etc. An album of Colin's own material on cassette is available entitled Pictures in my Mind and there is also an accompanying
      song book.

      Dave Bennett & Brenda Hart (All week-end)

      Two friends of the festival make a welcome return with their wide selection of entertaining material - watch out for Dave's excellent guitar work and Brenda's neat footwork - All will be revealed! From last years post
      festival newsletter " ....... the evening folk club, again well supported and with a fine selection of singers, and plenty of spirited humour, plus the excellent musicianship and entertainment of Dave Bennett and Brenda
      Hart as the special guests. A nicely choreographed version of "Teddybears Picnic" proving to be one of the highlights of the session!"

       

      Dave Fry (All week-end)

      “I started playing a Chad Valley tin banjo at 10 'till I blistered my thumb and was hooked! Bought my first home-made guitar at eleven and been playing ever since. Must get better at it one day! Played in beat groups
      in Cumbria, then found folk at 17. Fell in love with twelve-string guitar at 18 and been playing one ever since. Moved to the Midlands in 1969, played at The Olde Red Lion and Lobster Pot in Rugby and then ran the
      Corner House Folk Club, Bedworth for some years in the early seventies. Met Malc Gurnham, Dave Sampson, Bob Kirkpatrick, Dave Bennett et al. Dropped out due to work and family and now getting back into it.
      Influences have to be Tom Paxton, any '60's pop, Colin Scott and Harvey Andrews. Loving the scene now and hoping to develop my entertaining style with more original material, (okay, and some new jokes!).
      Currently working with lyricist and author Jill Pickering of Majorca to produce original material, featuring in my performances already. Hope to expand this greatly. Intend to get into the studio soon and produce my
      first CD, featuring these original songs and some covers”

       

      Dave James

      After he worked me hard at Alcester Festival 2002, we’ve had an ongoing battle to both outsmart and get revenge on each other with many pranks at our own and other festivals around the country over the past few
      years. Dave is always game for a laugh and has a wicked sense of humour, so beware - he might leave me alone and pick on you instead!! Dave will only be found MCing for us from dusk to dawn - I’m sure you’ll
      find him in a singaround when not on duty.

       

      David Kidman

      Already a respected writer in the folk music press, Dave’s also now well-regarded on the circuit, by performers and audiences alike, for his compèring skills (he entertains with informed and genuine enthusiasm for
      the music). As well as compèring at festival concerts (this year Banbury and Saddleworth, as well as this return visit to Bedd’th!) and hosting singarounds all over the place, he’s also in demand as a guest MC at
      various folk clubs (including Stockton and York). He’s also a passionate, dedicated and individual singer who challenges preconceptions, tackling anything from traditional and contemporary folksong to shanties and
      parodies (and a limited-edition CD's on the way!).”

       

      Dennis Marklew (The Jigsaw Man)

      Dennis is Sally-Ann’s dad, a carpenter by trade who has now retired and will be helping out with the kids events by doing “while you wait” jig-saws. All will become clear if you take your little ones along to the Jig-saw
      session!

       

      Derek Brimstone

      In the early 60’s Brimstone was studying classical guitar, and by chance wandered into the Spinning Wheel folk club in his hometown of Hemel Hempstead. Long stories can be boring, but it can be said that the
      whole direction of his life changed on that night. Bach and Tarrega gave way to Broonzy and Davy Graham, and the next few years were spent learning the ropes in the company of such people as Maddy Prior,
      Donovan, Sandy Denny, Derrol Adams – to name but a few. After winning the prestigious solo artist’s prize in the national competitions held at the first Cambridge Folk Festival in 1965, he embarked on a long and
      successful career, which has continued up to the present day.

      Spanning blues, trad, contemporary and much in between, his entire show is linked together with tall stories, fast one-liners; tragic and comical tales of misfortune and an array of extraordinary characters that find
      themselves in everyday situations which Brimstone brings to life, turns around and finds humour in them all. This talent has seen him featured by John Peel and Stewart Hall, and being given starring rolls on TV,
      one of them being ‘The UK Show’ with Barbara Windsor and Joe Brown. Also a long run as host-compere of the World Services show – ‘Folk Group’.

      The huge entertainment factor of his shows often causes the audience to overlook the fact that Derek is also a superb and highly respected guitarist with, as Melody Maker once put it, "one of the most precise
      claw-picking techniques in the business". He is also highly regarded as a clawhammer banjo player, and has published excellent and successful tutors for both instruments.

      As well as becoming a stalwart of the British folk and blues scene, and touring with such people as The Strawbs and Steeleye Span, the last thirty odd years have seen him playing all over the world. He has performed
      in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Malaya, Cyprus, South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, the Falklands, and is a great favourite on the Arabian Gulf club circuit. Most of Europe too.

      'Hear him on his current CD -'All those Songs', and his cassettes - 'About Time' and ' Derek Brimstone Live', available from the author.

       

      Eddie Murphy (Sat/Sun)

      Eddie first came to prominence as a member of the well-respected group “Salmontails” in the early eighties. He subsequently achieved wider recognition as a singer in his ten-year partnership with John Morris.

      Eddie is currently concentrating on developing his career as a solo artist. His performances give audiences the opportunity to experience for themselves the full flavor of his rich tenor voice. He has appeared at clubs,
      concerts and numerous festivals including Alcester, Bedworth, Bromyard, Sidmouth, Warwick & Whitby. At these and other clubs and festivals he has deservedly earned a reputation for putting his heart into his
      performances demonstrating his versatility as an artist in ballad sessions, voice concerts, shanty sessions, wall of sound, gospel, singarounds and his workshops.

       

      Flos Headford

      A maestro of the Fiddle - currently plays in the Old Swan Band and, along with Paul, was a founder-member of Edward II and The Melstock Band. He is among the leaders of the current resurgence of English fiddle
      playing and can be heard, with Paul, on the album 'English Fiddle Players'. He’ll be leading the lunchtime music session in the White Swan on Saturday - an event not to be missed!

       

      Geoff Higginbottom

      Geoff has been a regular at both and Bedworth Festival and Folk in the Foyer for many years now, playing, singing and helping with the children's events, in fact we have reached that stage now where we wonder
      if it would be possible to run a Bedworth Festival without him! We were really pleased to be able to put on Geoffs show “The Flowers of Manchester” a story of the Manchester United air tragedy, at the 1998 Festival
      illustrating yet another of his talents as a songwriter! One of the Folk Scenes most hard-working performers brings us a great evening of songs to join in with and a really great entertaining line in banter.

       

      George Papavgeris (All week-end)

      “I’ve always been involved with music in one way or another. From school choirs (where I discovered Carmina Burana by Carl Orff), in the 60’s I was guitar-bashing protest songs in Greek “boites” and briefly playing
      lead guitar in a teen band ("Drosophila Melanogastris" - "aphids" to the rest of us), while also discovering mediaeval French and Italian songs; at teenage parties in Greece at the time about 50% of the music was
      English/American - the rest was Italian and French pop (I still drool over Mireille Matthieu's eyes & voice); in the UK in the 70’s I fell in love with folk and tried my hand at it in the Midlands, both solo and in a trio
      (Cosmopolitans), but I also heard the wonderful sound of the King's Singers and got some more madrigals under my belt; in the 80’s I rediscovered Byzantine chant and sang in a choir that won the 1982 Eisteddfod; in
      the 90’s I found some gems in the Netherlands, like the group Flairck and the wonderful Angelo Branduardi; and in the 2000’s, back in the UK once more, I picked up the folk threads again with the help of the Herga,
      Maidenhead and St Albans folk clubs. All along, I had been listening to contemporary stuff, from my generation’s staples (Beatles, Who, etc) to Jake Thackray, Clive James/Pete Atkin (still top of my all time list, their
      stuff is the best kept secret in the music world), Tom Lehrer (his mastery of language and rhyme leaves me crying with frustration - his songs leave me crying with laughter) and more recently Stan Rogers, Graeme
      Miles, Robb Johnson, Dave Webber, Steve Hughes and the multitude of superb contemporary songwriters that enrich folk music and of whose ability to create beauty from words and sounds I am always deeply
      jealous.”

       

      Graeme Knights (All week-end)

      Graeme’s involvement in folk music goes back over seventeen years and apart from his singing, he has been involved in running several clubs and was Director of the Doncaster Folk Festival for six years. Although
      Graeme enjoyed a high profile, singing Shanties and Sea songs with the respected group ‘LANDLOCKED’ for five years, his singing is not limited to just this type of song. His repertoire is wide ranging and he can
      apply his rich baritone voice to encompass Traditional Love Songs, Mining Songs, Gospel songs, Drinking and Music Hall Songs and some more recently written contemporary songs – many with good enjoyable
      and singable choruses.

      After making regular voyages and now being watch leader on board the 490-ton three-masted Barque STS Lord Nelson, Graeme will be delivering his ‘signature song’ “Don’t Disable Me” with a little extra zest! As
      well as frequent appearances at Folk Clubs and Festivals around Britain, Graeme is also a regular guest at Clubs and Festivals in the Netherlands.

       

      Harriet Bartlett

      Harriet has been performing at festivals, folk clubs and theatres for the past 4 years, playing Celtic music on the Piano Accordion, and added songs to her repertoire after Keith Donnelly ordered her to sing!! Of which
      he is very proud, and says he is glad he did. She has already composed many of her own tunes. To date she has played at many venues to include Sidmouth Festival, Celtic Connections, Fylde Festival, Bromyard
      Festival, and Warwick Festival, to name but a few. Here is a review of the said concert at Sidmouth: "This concert features a whole raft of young performers, starting with the lightning fingers of promising newcomer
      Harriet Bartlett who plays accordion tunes playing a symbiotic and skilful set with a particularly excellent version of Natalie McMaster's Catharsis." --MEL MCCLELLAN REPORTS FROM DEVON She won the 'In
      the Tradition Awards 2001' at the Assembly Rooms, in Derby. Organised by Mick Peat of PR Promotions and "Folkwaves" on BBC in the East Midlands. There were 6 finalists; amongst the judges were Jo Freya
      and Lester Simpson.

      At Celtic Connections 2003, she was a winner of a coveted Danny Kyle Award (which was held throughout the festival) from no less than eighty entrants, and in July 2004 she was nomination for the West Midlands
      Folk Federation "2004 Award for an outstanding contribution to West Midlands folk / traditional arts."

       

      His Worship and the Pig

      ... Are Dave Boulton and Jeff Parton. Dave comes from Stoke-on-Trent, and has been performing on the folk scene in the area for around thirty years. He was a member of the five-man harmony group MUGGINS
      FANCY in the late '70s, and provided some of the comic highlights of their performances with his original monologues. He later helped form the ceilidh band CORNFIELD PERAMBULATION, playing bass guitar and
      leading much of the singing.Jeff has been a well-known figure on the North Staffs folk scene since it started, having been a founder member of the first folk club in the area in 1962. (He also founded the Sheffield
      University Folk Club at the same time, and commuted between the two during term-time.)

      Jeff was also a founder member of both MUGGINS FANCY and CORNFIELD PERAMBULATION, and was Cornfield's resident caller and banjo player until the band split up in 1999.

      In 1964 Jeff took part in the pioneering musical documentary "The Jolly Potters" at the Victoria Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent. He went on to become the theatre's Musical Adviser, and composed and performed incidental
      music for over 50 productions. In recognition of his services to the theatre, a rehearsal room was named after him when the new theatre was opened in 1986

       

      Ian Bruce

      I just couldn’t resist copying this from Ian’s web site – we all know he is an excellent singer/songwriter and musician, but how about this! – “Ian Bruce is not an uncommon name. Someone else is using it in the U.S.
      of A. He's a scientist or something clever. There's a bass player, somewhere in Scotland, using it. A large Glasgow insurance company bears the name; as does a Dorset M.P. He was not allowed "Ian 'dot' Bruce"
      in his e-mail address, someone else already had it. His mother always said he would never make it with this quite unremarkable name and that he should change it. Well, he hasn't been quite as drastic as Gerry
      Dorsey changing to Englebert Humperdinck (which seemed to work quite well) but, he has used his middle initial "M" in his pen name. Ian M. Bruce seems to have a bit more of a ring to it, don't you think? Also, if
      he ever has to do any acting, it would be a Mr. Ted Morris who would be credited. That was his grandfather's name. He was a miner in South Wales. Can't be easy being the grandson of a "Morris Miner". Equity
      would not allow him to use his own name. Someone else already had it! It's unbelievable. There must be millions of them! Anyway, this is the Web Site of the Scottish folk singing, songwriting Ian Bruce” – yes, he’s
      mad too!

       

      Isambarde (all week-end)

      The Isambarde story begins in late 2000, when two young musicans based in Coventry, Lorna Roden (vocals) and Chris Green (guitar and vocals), started writing songs together. They spent 2001 gigging
      sporadically, performing a mixture of original and traditional material but realised quite quickly that a voice and a guitar on their own could only be so versatile and that a lot of what they were playing was starting to
      sound rather homogenous! They discussed recruiting a bass player and drummer, but decided that electric music wasn’t really the direction they both wanted to go in. Things seemed at an impasse. Then as luck
      would have it, Chris got involved at very short notice in a musical theatre production and met oboist Jude Rees, a fellow folkie reared on Steeleye Span, the Albion Band and other alumni of the 60s and 70’s folk
      revival. She leapt at the chance to do something different from the music traditionally associated with the oboe. Isambarde were now a trio. Chris had met Emily Sanders (fiddle and vocals) briefly at the Bridgnorth
      Folk Festival in 1997, but being Chris had promptly lost her number! They met again at the Boggery Folk Club in Solihull in early 2002. Emily had been a regular fixture on the Staffordshire circuit since the age of
      12, but was not involved with any band on a regular basis, so the other three lost no time in recruiting her talents and formidable repertoire of traditional songs and tunes. Isambarde were now a four-piece and played
      their first gig to an appreciative audience at the Styvechale Folk Club, Coventry in April 2002. Over the next 18 months Isambarde played a variety of venues, improving their own skills. This made for a rather busy
      2003, and in December Lorna decided to call it a day in order to concentrate on her own material and to spend more time with her 6-year-old daughter. Isambarde were now a three-piece once more, with Chris and
      Emily (mainly) taking over on vocals. Isambarde’s music is a powerful blend of traditional and original songs, interspersed with lively tunes on oboe and fiddle, performed with humour, passion, insight and vigour!

       

      Jill Fielding

      Jill Fielding has played guitar, bodhran, english concertina, whistle and vocals. Jill has been building a great reputation around the folk scene, especially after the release of her album "Once upon a Dream. She is
      also a resident of Maghull Folk Club. Jill can also play piano and violin.Pete Rimmer on vocal and guitar. Pete is a long time resident at the Bothy Folk Club in Southport and has played concerts and clubs all over
      the NorthWest and beyond. He also teaches guitar, playing a wide range of styles. Pete has a solo album "Fill my Pockets..with rain", featuring many of his own songs. Pete is also a member of the band Gallimaufry.

      Nigel Fielding on keyboards and vocals. Nigel is the latest member of the band,it's a case of if you can't beat 'em join 'em. He is a great asset to the band with his keyboard skills and lively introductions and harmony
      vocals.Nigel worked in clubs in the 80's as a drummer, playing mainly for leading acts. The Jill Fielding Band play a wide range of traditional and contemporary music,from British writers such as Bill Caddick, Rick
      Kemp, Les Barker and Vin Garbutt. As well as American old traditional contemporary and Appalachian songs.The band enjoys singing songs that local artists have written and they performthem in their sets. The
      arrangements being a joint effort.

       

      John "Mitch" Mitchell (All week-end)

      John is a Worksop-based singer, poet and writer, and, of course, writer of the Bedduth song! He is a fine singer who is always sure to keep you amused with his vast selection of witty monologues and songs and
      now well established on the Bedworth guest list - possibly because we’re not sure what song he’ll write about us if we don’t invite him!

       

      John Connolly (All week-end)
      John Conolly found folk music, playing with the local Youth Club Skiffle Group –and that inspired him to trace the music a bit further back and discovered it was American folk music, and then traced that a bit further
      back and discovered it all came back to English folk music, or British folk music, anyway. That was the start of a journey that saw John play in a number of duo and bands, notably The Broadside, and his involvement
      in the legendary Grimsby Folk Club. Either solo or in collaboration with a number of now well known songwriters a whole repertoire of songs was produced including "The Grimsby Lads", and of course "Fiddler’s
      Green". A good deal of John’s material sounds as if it just might be traditional and as such often gets labeled “trad” – a sure recognition of his writing talents. After so many years in duos and bands, and following
      his retirement from the “day job” John has enjoyed a solo singing career, doing what he does best, singing and entertaining.

       

      John Kearney (All week-end)

      John grew up with a variety of musical influences, being the fourth of five children he was exposed to tastes ranging from Cliff Richard, Smokey Robinson and the Beatles, to Jim Croce, James Taylor. As a teenager
      he joined a punk group called “Romeos Butcher”, but, (thankfully!) through his brothers influence gradually learned to appreciate folk music to the extent of helping to run a Folk Club in Cork in Heaphys Bar (now
      The Lobby) on Union Quay. On his travels, John has met Steve Earle, and Christy Moore and proudly boasts having lived down the road from Bryan Adams, and having had guitar lessons from Declan Sinnot
      (although he says you’d never tell!). He performs an eclectic mix of songs, some self composed some written via telephone and Internet with his good friends and former colleagues in Romeos Butcher Joe Tracey
      and Edward Connolly. He also does many songs from his hometown in Cork and has been known to do an occasional song which may be a little unexpected at a folk club (He thinks Petula Clark’s Downtown IS a
      folk song!).

       

      John Morris

      It’s great to see John back in the fold after a period of great concern with voice problems, he has to take it a bit easier on the vocal chords these days, but having heard him a few times in the last few weeks I can
      assure you that the "Morris Magic" is still there! After his success in hosing the voices concert last year Johns returns and nothing was more fitting than asking him to "host" the concert again, as well as his participation
      in that and a number of other events throughout the day.

       

      Johnny Collins (All week-end)

      No Bedworth would be complete without Johnny. This year he is staying for the whole week-end and in addition to the usual Friday and Saturday sessions he will be leading a couple of the Sunday sessions which
      have been introduced this year in recognition of the growth of the festival over the last couple of years. Johnny, a native of the county of Norfolk but now based in London, England, is a well travelled performer
      specialising in the singing of shanties, sea songs and maritime ballads - and in fact any other form of song that could even loosely be described as folk music. An internationally acclaimed performer and recording
      artist, Johnny has organised Folk clubs and topped the bill in concerts around the world since the mid-fifties: his vigorous style and his supreme ability to persuade audiences to join in choruses is unrivalled.

       

      Katherine Fear Band

      Katherine is one of our local up and coming stars. Her song writing has brought accolades from the likes of Huw Williams, who actually said if it wasn’t for the fact that Huw & Tony Williams used their own material
      exclusively they would have used some of Katherine's songs - what better recommendation could you get? A couple of years ago Katherine put together a CD of some of her material, with the backing of a studio
      band consisting of local singers and musicians to illustrate how her songs can be developed. That group of friends/performers have been in great demand locally as the Katherine Fear Band which now has an
      established line-up that includes Sally-Ann Veasey (Accordion/keyboards and vocals) and Malc Gurnham (Bass/guitar and vocals), and are currently in the process of recording a second album.

       

      Keith Donnelly

      ... is (in no particular order!) a stand-up comic, fall-down comedian,surreal snigger-songwriter, guitar-hero, performance-artist, [tall] story-teller, philophoser, scriptwriter, [none can] compere, man-of-mystery,
      inner-childminder, actor, stuntman,metaphysical-poet, human ping-pong ball,life and soul of the [kids] party, world-class athlete,leading socialite, raconteur, business tycoon, wit, author, half-wit, secret[sh!]-
      agent,[vauxhall] astral-traveller, shamen,geordie-cultural-attache, word-juggler,nake-charmer, underline-dancer,unexpected clairvoyant,dream-weaver, daydream believer,psycho-linguist, shark-wrangler, smile
      sculptor, [compulsive] lying-tamer, Great-British eccentric, [alleged] international-jewel-thief,hot-dog-skier, alien-abductee,zen grand-master, champion tiddly-winker, sandancer, friend to the pantomime horse,
      erstwhile slice of bacon,and all-round good egg.

       

      Life and Times

      Formerly a trio, Greg Lindsay left in the late 1980s and was replaced, briefly, by Sara Fox (who became Sara Hack and a member of Time of Your Life) before Graeme & Barry decided to continue as a duo.

      Although Graeme has been the main songwriter for the group, Barry has also contributed songs and tunes. Graeme has occasionally taken on commissions to write songs. In 1986 he wrote a few songs and tunes
      to assist in a bid to open a museum in a Bedfordshire town. One of those songs, A Working Boatie Man, appears on their CD Charivari. In 2003 he wrote a song for the opening of a restored bridge in a Bedfordshire
      village and The Bridge Down The Meadow together with Barry’s tune, Over the Bridge, have proved to be very popular well beyond the village for which they were written.

       

      Lynne Heraud and Pat Turner (All week-end)

      Lynne Heraud and Pat Turner have trespassed, touted, marshalled, organised and appeared at clubs and festivals in careers spanning two millennia. They offer a wide range of musical material – traditional, Victorian,
      Edwardian, Contemporary, Rude, Silly and Self-penned – all delivered with their unique blend of harmony and humour.

      Lynne ran the Hoddeson Folk Music Club from the mid-seventies to the mid-eighties and now runds the Waltham Abbey Folk Clubm and Pat ran the Cityfolk Club in London in the late nineteen seventies.

      Lynne sang in the late seventies and eighties with Sue Ashby and in the late eighties with John Lambert and Frank Lee as ‘Tom Dick and Harry’.

      Pat was in the four piece harmony group’Filigree’ during the nineteen seventies.

      Pat and Lynne joined forces a some years ago with Pete Cunningham as ‘Brandis’, but during the last few years have sung together as a duo.

       

      Mal Waite

      An informal phone conversation with Mal resulted in her offering to come along and do a few songs for us - an offer that was too good to turn down, so we are delighted to be able to add her name to this years
      impressive line-up

       

      Malc Gurnham (All week-end)

      Responsible for all the good bits of the festival, and disowning the rest! Also responsible for hosting the local Folk at the Swan which meets on the second Wednesday of every month as well as playing in a number
      of local bands. You probably wont be able to stop him singing in a singaround or two or imposing his bass on someone else’s music! In between organising the festival, Malc still manages to find time to do a song
      spot, and a bit of Mcing over the week-end. You can also catch Malc performing with the Katherine Fear Band.

       

      Martin Bushnell (All week-end)

      Local singer, organiser of local The Denbigh Arms Folk Club in Monks Kirby, and with wife Margaret co-coordinating the Stewards at the Festival, and do hundreds of other things – we felt he just didn’t have enough
      to do so last year we invited him to come along as a singaround host too, well we all insist he does it again - we must keep the man busy!

       

      Mick Bissiker & Nigel Ward (All week-end)

      Mick creates an amazing excitement with his singing and energetic guitar style, and in recently forming a partnership with Nigel (fiddle) has come up with a combination that you can’t fail to be impressed by. Be sure
      to catch this new duo over the week-end loads of talent, good music and fine style - sure ingredients for success!

       

      Mick Brooks

      We have been considering Mick for the Bedworth Ceilidh for more years than I can remember, but never got round to booking him (I guess when you only have one ceilidh a year to cater for something has to give!)
      So ... At last here he is - Mick has not been well of late and we are really pleased to see him along - it’s always good to have the best at Bedworth!

       

      Mick Maskell

      Mick has been a mate of mine since schooldays, he now works as a youth worker and is having a “busman’s holiday” this week-end helping us out with the children’s events. In his spare time he’s a drummer - we
      all have our cross to bare!

       

      Ninepenny Marle

      Formed in the 70's this Coventry based group is proving that traditional music is not dead, Ninepenny Marl has been encouraged to throw caution and Arran sweaters to the wind. The foursome has emerged from
      their solo careers to reincarnate the solid sound of vocal harmony through some well-loved songs and some more unusual arrangements. The four-part group, working mainly in unaccompanied traditional harmony,
      concentrates on songs of the British Isles and sometimes from further afield. The group consists of Des Patalong, fine singer in many local folk clubs and dancer with Plum Jerkum Border Morris, Gareth and Barbara
      Wyatt, longstanding traditional singers and collectors of folklore, and Linda Dickson, traditional singer of more than thirty years and former member of "Out of Hand". The name "Ninepenny Marl" is the Warwickshire
      equivalent of the name for the game of Nine Man's Morris, played by shepherds using stones.

       

      No Fixed Abode

      "….We like your music however we haven't got a home for it…" This was the response the Una Walsh and Tony Dean received from a label that listened to their 4-track EP. It was at that point they realised that they
      were actually making original music that could not be labelled and No Fixed Abode aptly summarised their acoustic sound. No Fixed Abode's music combined with Una's unique, powerful vocals will not fail to draw
      you into their spell. Their 12-track album Acoustic Attitude will take you on a musical and emotional roller coaster. With Tracks that haunt you like Fly Away, others that give you their raw energy as does War to the
      likes of Coffee that talks off the bitter aftertaste of a relationship break- up, listening to No Fixed Abode will certainly have you settled into your chair for its duration and beyond.

       

      Parker & Watts (All week-end)

      Yet another of the local talents - if there was still commercial Music Hall, this duo would be big! Having started in the local folk scene as part of the harmony group Country Life, Neil (Parker) and Paul (Watts) are
      now a very popular part of all of the areas folk ventures. Their material is drawn from all sources, including a fair amount of their own entertaining comedy song, plus traditional and contemporary folk, but all is put
      over in the old music hall style - they enjoy themselves so much it becomes infectious, I’ll challenge you not to have a good time when they are performing!

       

      Patti Smith

      Pat (with Mick Tems) was Callenig and regular visitors over the years to Bedworth, and after last years highly successful spoons workshop returns again to coach you in this more subtle method of percussion! In
      addition she will be doing a song spot or two, and helping the beginners with fiddle, and generally being her bubbly self!

       

      Penni McLaren-Walker

      Penni is a great singer, talented songwriter, storyteller, a great entertainer and always game for a good laugh! Don't forget to take the chance to buy her albums which include “The Skippers Daughter” - certainly one
      of my most played CDs!

       

      Peeping Tom

      What can we say about this ceilidh band that hasn’t already been said before. Only one thing, they’re getting older (maybe that has been said before - for years in fact), not much wiser but still playing great music.
      I’m sure we can expect the usual excellent Dance Session! Someone asked last year why do you always have Peeping Tom as your Ceilidh band - ‘cos they’re the best that’s why!

       

      Pete Burnham & Sheila Mosley (Sat/Sun)

      Sheila and Pete met in Leicester and started singing together in 1997. Sheila‘s background was in the contemporary folk music scene around Hastings whilst Pete’s was in the traditional singing of the North East of
      England. Their repertoire and style is varied, reflecting their collective musical interests from traditional to more recent material. Guitars, mando-cello, cittern and concertina are used for accompaniement where
      appropriate, or are set aside for two-part harmony singing. Both are now based in Leicester and they have performed in various clubs and festivals around the U.K.

       

      Pete Grassby (Sat/Sun)

      Pete has been around the local folk scene for many years and as often happens when people are "used to" seeing someone around, gets taken for granted! This is a great pity for Pete is an excellent singer, musician,
      caller, melodeon repairer, and the leader of the Aardvark Ceilidh band - a man of endless talent! This year as well as having his own stall, Pete will once again be managing the Craft Fair on Saturday. I am sure he
      will also be touting around the new Aardvark CD - excellent it is too.

       

      Pete Morton (Sat/Sun)

      "not only impressive but a revelation......totally original." -The Guardian, England"

      ....this guy is amongst the best the British roots music scene has produced in living memory." –Folk roots Magazine, England"
      The performance at the live radio show was nothing short of brilliant" - Rich Warren, The Midnight Special WFMT Chicago .What more can we say – other than say we totally agree ….. and a bit more!!

       

      Ron Trueman-Border

      Ron Trueman Border has gained an enviable reputation as one of the folk scene's most popular singer/songwriter's. Much of his repertoire has been covered by performers such as, George Wilson and Les Elvin,
      all of whom are equally praiseworthy when it comes to performing Ron's songs. Perhaps it is the fact that he writes totally accessible choruses so enthusiastically received by his audience that everyone feels an
      empathy with the lyrics. Not only is he a truly gifted writer, Ron is a raconteur and multi-instrumentalist able to convey a sense of fun one minute and sheer emotion the next.

       

      Roy Browett

      Coventry-based singer/songwriter who composes songs of great wit and sensitivity. A welcomed addition to the Bedworth Festival guest list. Don't miss his albums of songs! (or his highly talented daughter, Liz,
      who is begining to make a big name for herself on the local folkscene)

       

      Sally-Ann Veasey (All week-end)

      Sally-Ann is another of our talented locals, she will be playing her part (well keyboards and accordion actually!) in the Katherine Fear Band and be the leader of the Children's events on Saturday. (See “Cool Dudes
      Club” details). She is one of the key players in the local folk scene as, apart from playing accordion for the local dance side, The Ladies of Green Willow, she is also a fine singer, an excellent Ceilidh band accordionist,
      and a composer of tunes. She features strongly on Katherine Fears recent album, and you'll often catch Glorishears Ceilidh Band playing a tune or two of hers at their gigs.

       

      Scolds Bridle

      For the past twenty years, Scold's Bridle have participated in productions about the fishing heritage of the Port of Fleetwood. Shows like "The Final Trawl", the radio documentary "We Fished These Grounds" and
      more recently the show celebrating the return to Fleetwood of the trawler Jacinta, have paved the way for their solo production "We are the Women, Left On The Shore." These two wonderful ladies (Sue and Liz)
      have a presentational skill for their shows that is second to none, with a nice relaxed yet informative style - they can also sing and play a bit too!

       

      Steve Graham
      We are hoping Steve can make it this year, particularly to help with the Pete Clark Concert - Steve was responsible for Pete’s nick name “Piddling Pete”. Steve is also a great performer in his own right - although he
      can rarely be coaxed “out to play” these days!

       

      The Harvesters

      Sue and Ian Hartland have been singing together for over thirty years. In that time, they have amassed a wealth of experience in performing for audiences all across the United Kingdom and as far afield as the United
      States, Scandinavia, France and The Falkland Islands. We have performed for Her Majesty The Queen and The King & Queen of Sweden and for audiences ranging from Nobility to VIPs and from all walks of life.
      2005 will mark the 40th Anniversary of the formation of The Harvesters. Quality entertainment bringing our own self-penned songs and music to entrance audiences of all ages and musical tastes. Songs are
      accompanied with Appalachian Precision Clogging and Flat-footing. A number of Albums are also available

       

      The Queensberry Rules

      Brothers Gary and Duncan Wilcox (Percussion and Double Bass respectively) and Phil Hulse (Guitar) formed The Queensberry Rules in 2001. The Queensberry Rules hit the U.K.’s live folk scene almost twelve
      months to the day that they formed, as they played some incredibly well received support slots to Glenn Tilbrook, Mundy Turner and Kerr & Fagan. They have an almost indefinable sound. Tipping a wink to folk,
      bluegrass, country and blues whilst wrapping it all up with a skiffle sensibility, their wry lyrical sense, hooks aplenty and perhaps the most striking aspect of all - their watertight harmonies.

       

      Tim Ellis (All week-end)

      Tim was originally introduced to Folk music some years ago when he lived in Nuneaton, where he became a regular at the Etone Folk Club, and his witty poems, and his fun approach to everything, soon became
      his trademark. Following his marriage he moved to Wales and we lost touch with him for a few years. Now that he is Burton based we have managed to get him to make an annual pilgrimage back to his old stamping
      grounds for the festival, and the inevitable "boozy" reunion with his old mates!

       

      Tom McConville

      Tom is one of England's leading fiddle players. A brilliant musician with a unique style and beautiful tone (if a dodgy taste in shirts) he's in constant demand for his sensitive contributions to other musicians' recordings.
      He's also a terrific singer; his interpretation of both traditional and contemporary song is greatly admired by other singers throughout the world. As well as running fiddle workshops, Tom is a teacher of the Alexander
      Technique and is a member of the recognised society of practitioners (S.T.A.T.).

      Tom has also been associated with Pauline Cato and Bob Fox as well as many many other musicians.

       

      Vicki & Trefor Williams (All week-end)

      Vicki & Trefor Williams are a duo from North Wales performing everything from mediaeval songs sung in acapella harmony, through to contemporary material (some self-penned) accompanied by acoustic guitars.
      They have appeared at festivals, folk clubs and concert venues across the UK over the past five years and have been featured on several radio folk programmes. “You expect beautiful voices from the Welsh and
      that is what you get from Trefor and Vicki Williams who gave a relaxed performance in front of a large and appreciative audience...” Folk North-West. Their latest album - “TIMELESS LAND” - includes five original
      songs (one co-written with guitar supremo Phil Hare) as well as traditional material, including an old Welsh lullaby. “Every so often, a recording will come along that encapsulates a whole genre...dripping with
      zeitgeist...The use of rising star Jon Brindley (on fiddle and guitar) and Hare - the North’s’ fave folkie guitarist - is often inspired, but nothing should detract from the judicious choice of material and the dignified
      performance(s) of the instigators...I can imagine a whole field of kids singing ‘Feel I could Live Forever’...this is a bloody good folk album and one hopes it will prove as timeless as the land from whence it came.”
      “Sticks”.

       

      Young No More

      Nic Burdett, Vic Simpson and Jacky Perry sing a repertoire rooted in the English Tradition. All three learned their craft as solo performers, their powerful acappella performances and strong harmonies have earned
      them a well deserved reputation with club and festival organisers, and audiences in the UK. ……….and the name? Nic and Vic were part of the renowned 'Burdett, Simpson and Young'. Rob Young left to return to
      his place of origin in Northumberland. Hence ………. 'Young No More'

       

 

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