ROSEWOOD
WHAT WE DO
Rosewood is a trio who play traditional and contemporary folk songs and tunes. We have played in folk clubs and at festivals. We have recorded a 13-track CD, Rife & Strife & Mirth & Fun, which is available from our website.
TERENCE BLACKER
WHAT I DO
I write and sing songs about the way we live now, and play them on the guitar or ukulele. I have performed shows of songs and stories at venues from the Hay Festival to the Edinburgh Fringe, from from folk clubs to London’s Crazy Coqs cabaret bar.
PROPER ENGLISH
WHAT WE DO
We are a singing trio and barn dance band performing traditional English songs and tunes in a lively and entertaining style.We have extensive collective experience in a number of bands; notably Tickler’s Jam, Katie’s Quartet, Old Hat, The Posh Band and The English String Band, including festivals, recording, TV and community work.
MATT HAINES
WHAT I DO
I sing mainly my own songs and instrumentals and accompany myself on the guitar. I also play bass guitar in The Hosepipe Band and play in a number of acoustic duos. I have played in pubs and at clubs and festivals throughout East Anglia.
HARBOUR LIGHTS TRIO
WHAT WE DO
We are based in East Suffolk and provide relatively inexpensive, light-hearted concerts, folk club spots or after dinner entertainment. Our material is drawn from East Anglian local traditional songs and tunes, music hall and a few more recent gems. The emphasis is on entertainment and audience participation. We prefer to play acoustically and get up ‘close and personal’ with our audiences.
TONY HALL
WHAT I DO
I sing varied songs, accompanying myself on Hohner melodeons and play a mixture of tunes. I have played at folk clubs and festivals all over the UK for the last forty-odd years. I have made a number of solo recordings as well as playing on recordings by Shirley Collins, Nic Jones and The Silly Sisters (Maddy Prior and June Tabor) among others. I have also written a number of ‘Norfolky’ songs.
PAUL RILEY
WHAT I DO
I have played in folk clubs, festivals and pubs as a soloist and with various collaborators since the 1970s. I play a mix of instrumentals and self-penned songs, folk and near folk, folk-blues and non-folk if it takes my fancy! I play guitar and mandolin.
I have recorded a CD The Wanderer – mostly original material, which has been well-received.
HOLLY D JOHNSTONE
WHAT I DO
I sing and perform traditional and original songs rooted in a modern folk style. Many of my songs are based on historic events or human stories that have inspired me. I am engaged by the way that storytelling and song-writing bind together to form an artistic tapestry of music and tale.
TWO COATS COLDER
WHAT WE DO
Two Coats Colder are a fun loving bunch of musicians who will certainly entertain you with their own varied take on folk music, drawing from Traditional, Contemporary & Progressive Styles. Their shows, which always feature a good mix of self penned songs plus a few borrowed gems, never fail to get their audiences singing along.
GWENDAL MOËLE & PAUL RILEY
WHAT WE DO
Mainly songs in French, from old-time chansons like Edith Piaf’s to more modern material.
Our repertoire includes “La Mer” (Charles Trénet), the English version of “Ne me quitte pas” (Jacques Brel), “Je ne regrette rien” and “Hymne à l’amour” (Edith Piaf).
THE HOSEPIPE BAND
WHAT WE DO
The Hosepipe Band is usually a four-piece band playing for English ceilidhs / barn dances. We play for public events – festivals / public dances – and private events – weddings, parties etc.
Our repertoire combines traditional dance tunes from England, Ireland, Scotland and elsewhere with our own compositions.
DRAGONFRUIT
WHAT WE DO
We play songs we have written and songs we like – folk songs and popular songs from the 1920s to the 1990s – songs to listen to, songs to dance to.
THE HARBOUR LIGHTS BAND
WHAT WE DO
We are a six-piece Suffolk-based band who regularly play for Barn Dances & English Ceilidhs. We have our own amplification (PA) if needed. We will arrange for a caller to teach the dances or work with one provided. We play each month in Woodbridge, leading the Dance Folkus ‘Come All Ye’ Band.
MAGGIE & STAN
WHAT WE DO
Maggie and Stan hail from Mid-Suffolk. They have been performing together since the mid nineties, playing and singing a wide variety of traditional tunes and songs including traditional folk, music hall and comedy songs. Stan also has a vast repertoire of “specialist” songs, from the 17th century to the modern day, which have to be performed well after the watershed.
BOF!
WHAT WE DO
Bof! is a four-piece band specializing in traditional French and Breton music for dancing and listening to. We have played in folk clubs, for dance groups and at festivals in England and France, as well as organising regular workshops and public dances in East Anglia, as part of Prêt à danser group.
PHIL LYONS
WHAT I DO
I sing traditional and contemporary British folk songs. I am an experienced performer, having sung at many folk clubs and festivals in this country and France. I play Bartram and Lowden guitars.
I have a solo CD, Time and Tide, that was well received on release.
SOUND TRADITION
WHAT WE DO
Sound Tradition is an a cappella folk foursome (David, Linda, Catherine and Moose) singing in glorious harmony, with occasional harmonium or percussion. Their varied repertoire ranges from lively chorus songs to lilting ballads, and from medieval times to the modern day, but always with an ear for the English folk tradition.
MEGAN WISDOM
WHAT I DO
Born and raised in Suffolk and currently based in Newcastle, I am a solo singer of traditional and contemporary folk songs. I have performed in a variety of folk clubs and festivals, including Sidmouth Folk Festival, Folk East Festival, Hadleigh Folk and Acoustic Music Nights, Colchester Arts Centre and Shannonside Winter Music Festival in Ireland.
EAST CREEK UNION
WHAT WE DO
East Creek Union, formed in 2011, is Scott Simmons (lead vocals, banjo and guitar), Bob Tracey (fiddle) and Pete Young (bass, mandolin and guitar). The band is based in North Essex and plays festivals, concert halls, theatres and pubs throughout England.
PADDY BUTCHER
WHAT I DO
I sing traditional songs and some contemporary story songs with guitar, melodeon and unaccompanied. As a contrast, I play French folk dance tunes on hurdy gurdy and melodeon.
Current CD available. Open Ground consisting mainly of traditional songs and some tunes.
NO STRINGS ATTACHED
WHAT WE DO
We are Anglo-French folk singers bringing our own lyrical style to (mostly) traditional songs from England, Brittany and beyond. We follow the oral tradition of learning and performing by ear, and the great majority of tunes have harmonies arranged by us. We have sung at venues large and small in Suffolk and Essex since 2010.