Ian BlandIan Bland is a Melbourne based singer songwriter. His music blends a lifetime of musical influences including country, celtic, and folk with insightful stories drawn from contemporary rural and urban Australia, topics as diverse as drought, lawyers and the demise of suburban pubs.
Dave FryDave started by playing a Chad Valley tin banjo, when he was 10 years old, till he blistered his thumb and he was hooked! He bought his first home-made guitar at twelve. He played in beat groups in Cumbria in the swinging 60s, then found folk at 17. He fell in love with twelve-string guitar at 18 and has been playing one ever since.
Andrew WigglesworthAndrew, amongst other things, plays melodeon and whistle in a way that stops you in your tracks and insists you listen. A member of Greenman Rising, his sound can be heard all over the country, and is always in demand.
Steve BentleyFrontman of Greenman Rising, and main organiser of the Ragged Bear Festival, Steve is a vocalist and bodhran player respected for his ability to put across an old tune with a new slant.
DragonheadDragonhead are a talented duo offering an eclectic mix of traditional & modern folk with a big slice of Cajun.
They use the word ‘eclectic’ without shame as their first recorded tracks were on a promotional compilation in association with other local artists and was indeed an eclectic mix of traditional, modern, unusual & new material.
Brian PhillipsA regular performer on the folk music scene in the Midlands and the West Country, he gives all he has, whether it be a floor spot at a club night, or as the principal artist on the main stage at a festival.
Thrup’nny BitsThrup’nny Bits (Des Patalong, and Gareth and Barbara Wyatt) is a three voice unaccompanied harmony group singing traditional and contemporary folk songs with some Early Music and humourous songs for good measure.
They like to feel their performances have light and shade.
John KearneyJohn is a great supporter of the local Folk Clubs. His songs range from traditional through to contemporary, and even the odd pop song has been known to creep in occasionally. John also writes some songs of his own and his friends’ experiences, all of which are performed in his unique manner.
Dan Gascoigne and Sarah BennettDan Gascoigne is a guitarist and songwriter from Coventry. He performs self-penned songs and covers arranged in his own style. He began performing at the age of 18, and soon began to gain spots at folk clubs and festivals. Sarah Bennett grew up visiting folk clubs and festivals, but didn’t pick up an instrument until she was 15 years old. Together, they are mesmerising.
Pete McParlandPete performs regularly, and with acclaim, at numerous folk clubs in the Midlands. Songs from the 60s and 70s are his forte, but he wanders into other areas, too, with great success.
