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The Mighty Doonans
www.themightydoonans.co.uk |
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The Mighty Doonans have a
deserved reputation for their imaginative and innovative
interpretations of traditional and contemporary songs. With
brass, drums, keyboards, electric guitars and amazing
vocals, they have the ability to blend different genres of music
and dance (and the occasional joke) into their act. This leads
to thoroughly entertaining performances that delight audiences across
the ‘folk world’.
The original ‘Doonan Family
Band’ regulars; Mick & Kevin Doonan, Phil Murray & Stu
Luckley, are joined by various family members, Rosie & Frances
Doonan (Mick’s daughters), Jamie Luckley (Stu’s son) a great
old friend Ian (Walter) Fairbairn and occasionally joined by Ben
Murray (Phil’s son) which all constitute ‘The Mighty Doonans’.
The original ‘Doonan Family Band ‘ have been part of the
British folk scene for over 40 years. John Doonan , father
of Mick and Kevin, was the godfather of Irish music, a World
Champion Piccolo Player.
The Mighty Doonans continue to
deliver their traditions and influences along with powerhouse
arrangements and sensitive interpretations of a wide variety of
material, while retaining their renowned rapport and
relationship with all audiences and headline our Friday evening
concert.
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Bob Fox
www.bobfoxmusic.com
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Bob Fox honed his trade over many years first in the local
folk club circuit, then on the national and international scenes.
Although Bob is a renowned solo performer he has also collaborated
with others on many occasions, notably with Stu Luckley (see The
Mighty Doonans) and more recently as one of "The Pitman
Poets" who have recently completed their second hugely
successful season.
2011 saw Bob clinche the role of "Songman" in the
National Theatre production of War Horse in London's West End.
After its touring programme was completed, Bob returned to his
solo career and The Pitman Poets. He is now ready to reprise his
role in the new production of War Horse which will keep him very
busy from 2017 to 2019!
Catch Bob on our Saturday evening concert, one of his last
commitments before once again becoming "The Songman".
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Anthony John Clarke
www.anthonyjohnclarke.com
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Anthony John Clarke is a Belfast-born
singer-songwriter for some time based in Liverpool but now
living in the Scottish borders. Playing solo, duo or with a
band, he has played at folk clubs and festivals all over the UK
and beyond, and he has a considerable number of albums to
his name.
Amongst his best known songs are "The
Broken Years" (about "The Troubles"), "The
Only Life Gloria Knows" (about homelessness), and
"Tuesday Night Is Always Karaoke".
In his own words: "All I ever wanted to be
was a writer of songs. From the minute I heard Barry Maguire
singing the song “Eve of Destruction” and held the single
“Like A Rolling Stone” by Dylan in my hand. From those
beautiful Sunday evenings I would sit and watch Al Stewart, John
Martyn, Claire Hamill and Christy Moore and a host of other
greats grace the University Hall stage in Belfast, and from the
time I spent my paper round money on a second hand Eko Ranger 6
at Smithfield Market, I was doomed"
Catch him headlining our Saturday afternoon
concert.
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Other Roads
other-roads.com |
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Other Roads are one of the finest contemporary folk bands to
emerge in recent years. Based in the UK they also tour in Holland, Germany,
Denmark, Spain and New Zealand and continue to gain popularity across the globe.
Pete Abbott, Gregor Borland and Dave Walmisley draw upon their diverse
backgrounds in Scotland, England and Africa to create an exciting and original
sound.
These talented multi-instrumentalists incorporate fiddle,
bouzouki, guitars, mandolin and harmonica with some fine harmony singing. They
perform an eclectic mix of traditional, contemporary and original compositions
ranging from soft ballads to foot-stomping Celtic fiddle tunes and choruses.
We are delighted to welcome them to end our Saturday evening
concert.
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Flossie Malavialle
www.flossiemalavialle.co.uk
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Flossie Malavialle is a French singer
who started getting involved in the British folk scene in 2000-2001 while she
was on a teacher exchange in the North East of England.
After 12 years of teaching English full time in secondary schools in the South
of France, she decided to apply for a job as a French teacher in England, as she
felt it would boost her English to live abroad for a year.
She got one in Stockton-on-Tees and was living in Darlington at the time (great
part of the world to improve your English, like!)
She had also been singing for years in
France before that and that’s why she found it quite natural to turn up at the
Darlington folk club one night to meet the locals and
sing a song... She didn’t realise then that this was going to be the
beginning of a new life in England for her.
She has released 13 albums since
September 2002, including
two with Keith Donnelly as Dark Horses.
See Flossie in our Friday evening concert.
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Leonard Brown
www.leonardbrownaccordion.co.uk |
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Leonard Brown first became involved in music at the
age of four when he started piano lessons and achieved his Grade 8 at the
tender age of 15. Moving on to South Tyneside College until the age of 18
when he achieved his A levels, Leonard was then accepted to study the
Bachelor of Arts Degree Course in Classical Music at Newcastle University
in 2009. He graduated with a 2:1 in July 2012.
Leonard first picked up an accordion at the age of eleven.
He was an Irish dancer for four years from the age of seven with the
McElvogue school of Irish Dancing and after winning 120 medals and 17
trophies, he decided to retire and take up the accordion. Leonard competed
in October 2012 at the Perth Accordion and Fiddle Festival an annual event
held since 1950. He won and became only the second Englishman to be the
all Scotland Accordion Champion. This is the creme de la creme of
accordion competitions in Scotland and is a title that Leonard is very
proud of. He was awarded the Jimmy Shand Shield by the adjudicator John
Carmichael.
Leonard has consequently played extensively across the
United Kingdom as a soloist and with his band. As well as playing with his
own band, Leonard is also a member of the Happy Cats band who are also
based in the North East of England.
Leonard can be seen in our Saturday afternoon concert and
in workshops earlier in the day.
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The Goodfellows
www.freakmusic.co.uk/bands/the_goodfellows
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The Goodfellows are a Birmingham based duo and are
an upbeat and lively act, delivering pop and rock classics from The
Everley Brothers to The Beatles, from Wheatus to Taylor Swift (with a
twist). Playing all the favourite songs across the decades from the 50's
to modern day they perform superb vocals harmonies and both accompany
themselves on electro-acoustic guitars. They are a highly experienced act
having performed at countless festivals, weddings, corporate events and
international events.
See them on our Saturday evening concert.
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Los Capitanes
www.loscapitanes.co.uk |
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Los Capitanes are a Spanish-infused 3-piece acoustic
band based in the North of England, covering songs from flarmenco to rock
and pop.
Band Members Michael Bedwell (Guitars/Vocals/Percussion),
Richard Marshall (Guitars/Vocals) and David McKeague
(Cajon/Percussion/Vocals) are from Barnard Castle but are starting to make
themselves known to a wider area thanks to their superb musicianship and
infectious material.
See them on our Friday evening concert.
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John Wrightson Band
johnwrightsonmusic.co.uk |
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John Wrightson has spent many years
involved in music in his native North East. Initially working
with bands on the club circuit he became interested in
acoustic/folk music and since 1988 has been a prolific writer of
excellent songs, dealing with thought provoking, contentious
issues, ever since. Several CD’s of original songs, all recorded
in his own studio, are available at gigs, with many now being
sung by folk professionals such as Vin Garbutt, Other
Roads and Flossie
Malavialle.
Joan Edmundson's keyboards and vocals along with Kenny
Jobson's guitar and vocals, and Frankie
Porter on bass and vocals join John in the band. The John Wrightson
Band, quite rightly, has a strong local following and are
residents at the monthly Live Music Club held at Sedgefield
Cricket Club. John, Joan and Bob Edmundson organise this popular
local event where many of the Festival artists have recently
appeared.
The band will be first on the Parish
Hall stage on
Friday evening to start the festival.
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Judith Haswell & Trish McLean
www.facebook.com/judithhaswejh
www.trishmclean.co.uk
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Two well-respected and loved local musicians and
songwriters, Judith and Trish have amassed a wealth of material and an
army of followers over the years, Judith has performed both solo and with
a variety of backing bands while Trish is frequently to be seen either
solo or as a duo with Judith.
We are delighted to have secured them for a festival spot
in our Saturday evening concert.
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The Brothers Gillespie
http://thebrothersgillespie.co.uk
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The Brothers Gillespie are a traditional folk song duo
from Northumberland, whose music combines searing sibling vocal harmony
with arrangements of guitar, fiddle, mandolin and shruti box. Their
repertoire spans material from Scotland, Northumberland, England, Ireland,
the traveller tradition, border ballads and their own compositions.
James and Sam Gillespie were born in Newcastle, to
parents of Scottish and English descent, and grew up roaming the
Northumbrian fells along the line of the old Roman wall. Music was always
a part of their shared lives but in 2013 they decided to formally
collaborate. In 2015 they recorded and released their first album together
'Songs From The Outlands' and have since been touring extensively through
England and Scotland.
Catch them in our Saturday afternoon concert.
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Dave Wilson
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Dave Wilson is a popular performer known to many around
the North East's Country Music clubs. As our usual concert MC Andy
McLaughlin is unable to be with us this year Dave is stepping into the
breach and will be in charge of our three Parish Hall concerts this
weekend.
Welcome aboard Dave!
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Bert Draycott
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Bert came to Sedgefield last year and walked away with the
World Spoons Championship (for the umpteenth time!). Can he hold onto it
in 2017 ?
He will be found in Ceddesfeld Hall for much of the
weekend and will be running a spoons workshop on Saturday morning. Almost music hall in style, songs and stories rooted in
the culture of the North-East are interspersed with unashamed nostalgia.
If this is your first encounter with Bert you are in for a big surprise -
and you won't forget it in a hurry!
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The Old Age Travellers
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The Old
Age Travellers are a 3-piece band with a wide repertoire of songs
that are well loved in the folk world with a soft spot for the music
of Ireland and Scotland in particular. Their appearances are all about
audience participation and "having a good time". They will be
leading the Saturday evening get together in Ceddesfeld Hall from 7:30pm
until the care home drags them out!
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Stockton to Darlington Ukelele Express
ukuleleexpress.blogspot.co.uk |
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.......is a fun Ukulele club in the Stockton to
Darlington area, almost at bursting point at the moment! They meet at the Foresters Arms, Darlington.
They are also available to hire for events and try to do a
few charity performances throughout the year.
S2D Ukelele Express will be starting our Saturday afternoon Parish Hall
concert..
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Step This Way
Step This Way are an Appalachian
clog dance team based in Durham. Their lively performances are accompanied
by the Bones Creek Band. They will be performing around
Sedgefield at various times throughout Saturday. Try to catch at least one
of their performances!
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