Jez Lowe

www.jezlowe.com

Jez is one of the best respected and most influential singer-songwriters to emerge from the Nort-East folk scene. He has released a staggering 16 albums of original songs, and he contributed over 20 to the BBC "Radio Ballads" which won two Sony Radio Academy Awards.

For the last 25 years, Jez has toured the world building a formidable reputation in the USA, Australia and Europe, and gaining the respect of his peers and his audience alike. Folk supremo Richard Thompson called him "the best songwriter to emerge from the UK in a long time", and his songs are among the most widely sung by folk singers and bands around the country's clubs and festivals.
His album "Northern Echoes" won Album of the Year in the USA as part of the Indie Acoustic Project Awards. The live double disc set features 17 classic Jez Lowe songs recorded "Live on the Tyne" with his full band, the Bad Pennies, plus a "Song for Geordie" DVD that mixes documentary and music footage from his 2007 tour of the same name. Indeed in that year Jez was nominated for the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards as "Folk singer of the Year".

Jez has more recently toured extensively as one of the highly successful  "Pitman Poets" and has also branched out into  a writing with his much acclaimed novel "The Dillen Doll".

Jez headlines our Friday evening concert.

Bob Fox

www.bobfoxmusic.com

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. In 2017 he was once again called on to reprise his role in the new production of War Horse which he has recently completed!

Catch Bob as he headlines our Saturday afternoon concert.

The Salts

www.thesalts.co.uk

first century folk fires a respectful broadside at the traditional. The Salts are a co-operative of seasoned musicians, creating what is fast becoming one of the most exciting and energetic folk concepts of recent times.
The Salts have developed their own unique sound mixing well written original compositions alongside traditional tunes we all know and love, their live shows are guaranteed to get you dancing and singing along. Their debut album ‘She Rises’ and now their second album 'BRAVE' are receiving rave reviews across the board.

The Salts headline our final concert on Saturday evening

The Shackleton Trio

www.shackletontrio.co.uk

The Shackleton Trio (formerly The Georgia Shackleton Trio) features fiddle player Georgia Shackleton alongside guitarist Aaren Bennett and mandolinist Nic Zuppardi. Together they play an exciting blend of folk, Americana, and self-penned material instrumentally influenced by British, American and Scandinavian folk traditions, with a regional twist from their native East Anglia. Following the success of their debut album ‘The Dog Who Would Not Be Washed’, they are excited to be heading back out on the road with a brand new release ‘Fen, Farm, and Deadly Water’.

See them in our Saturday afternoon concert.

Sunjay

www.sunjay.tv

Sunjay’s style has that natural drift between folk and blues and both
camps have recognised his obvious flair. There have been a clutch of award nominations, including winning the Wath Festival Young Performers Award. He also made the final selection for the BBC’s Young Folk Award in 2012, had three nominations at the Exposure Music Awards 2014 and was also recognised by the 2014 British Blues Awards.
Drawing from a rich, musical and cultural background it is hardly surprising that Sunjay has quickly become recognised as one of the UK’s rising stars. His performances have been described as “mature & confident”, while his guitar playing has been hailed as “superb, brilliant, experienced, intricate & faultless”.

You can see Sunjay on our Saturday afternoon concert.

Flossie Malavialle

www.flossiemalavialle.co.uk

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.

We Steal Flyers

www.westealflyers.co.uk

We Steal Flyers - An International Touring duo of Songwriters from the heart of Northumberland. Derek and Shaggy met in 2008 while they were supporting US Rocker, Adam Bomb, both were fronting different bands at the time. They both have a real love of music and songwriting, and decided to combine their uniqueness, talents and skills to bring the best of what they had together to create the magic that is We Steal Flyers.

We Steal Flyers released and toured with their debut album Our World and sold over 1000 hard copies in the first year by hand and touring through UK and Europe and playing an impressive 250 shows a year. With radio support across the world and with the success of their online status they have followers and friends in many places.

Experience We Steal Flyers in our Saturday evening concert.

The Often Herd

www.theoftenherd.com

The Often Herd reach beyond what is expected of a bluegrass band, marrying the wistful sunshine harmonies of Southern California with the striking industrial allure of their home in the North East of England. An engaging and dynamic live act, the band are able to pull off their intricately arranged material alongside moments of exciting, spontaneous improvisation. Rupert Hughes (guitar) and Evan Davies (mandolin) are responsible for penning the band’s vibrant and catchy original music. American fiddler Niles Krieger and jazz bassist Sam Quintana contribute deft and dynamic instrumental skills that lift the songs to new heights. The Often Herd released their self-titled debut EP early in 2018 and hit the road soon thereafter. Flock to the herd; you won’t be disappointed!

They perform in our Friday evening concert.

Marske Fishermen's Choir

www.marskefishermenschoir.co.uk

The Marske Fishermen's Choir are a group of people (currently all male although there has been a female member in the past) who enjoy singing and are willing to give their time freely to practise weekly and give concerts during the spring and autumn seasons.  They raise funds principally for the RNLI  and other worthwhile causes, and entertain at care homes, village halls, churches and chapels, pubs & clubs or even out in the open.

They will start our Saturday afternoon concert in the Parish Hall.

John Wrightson Band

http://www.johnwrightsonmusic.co.uk/

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 and Flossie Malavialle.  
 Joan Edmundson's keyboards and vocals along with Kenny Jobson's guitar and vocals  join John in the band. When available, Joan's daughter Jane adds violin to 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.

Alterego 

www.alteregocb.net

Alterego is a York (Stamford Bridge)/Leeds based band specialising in foot tapping barn dance music, lively original tunes and traditional and original songs. Equally at home at a ceilidh, a folk club or a festival stage Alterego is guaranteed to get your feet tapping.

2016 sees Alterego performing at folk clubs and festival concerts across the North and we are pleased to welcome them back to Sedgefield

They will be on stage to start our Saturday evening concert.

Lol & Maxine Crallan

Lol and Maxine have been playing music together for 30 years.  Lol plays the guitar and ukulele. Maxine plays clarinet, flute and recorder. The mixture of instruments gives them a wide range of sounds and they play many styles of music from folk, standards, rock and pop with a few surprises and twists.  

Lol has recently turned his hand to teaching and runs a ukulele workshop in Ceddesfeld Hall. Maxine is an experienced teacher of piano and woodwind and runs Beat Buddies a class for young children also in Ceddesfeld Hall.  

They will be in Ceddesfeld Hall on Friday evening. Enjoy the music and don’t be afraid to sing and dance along.

Whisky & Wine

Stripped back arrangements and simple but effective harmonies are the hallmarks of County Durham-based folk/country/Americana duo Whisky & Wine. The combined voices of guitarist Rob Guest and pianist Kristen Peacock come together in heartfelt, acoustic interpretations of songs from artists such as the Civil Wars, Waylon Jennings and Chris Stapleton, with the odd original thrown in for good measure.

You can see them in our Saturday evening concert in the Parish Hall.

Old Age Travellers

 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!

Dave Wilson

Dave Wilson is a popular performer known to many around the North East's Country Music clubs. As our previous concert MC Andy McLaughlin was unable to be with us last year Dave stepped into the breach and oversaw our three Parish Hall concerts with masterful effect. Now part of the Sedgefield tradition Dave will once again be in charge of the main stage concerts.

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!