Please keep checking back, and we’ll update details as we announce artists…
You can find out who is playing in each session on the Events Page
ARTISTS CONFIRMED SO FAR…
Doug Eunson and Sarah Matthews
Doug (voice, melodeon) and Sarah (voice, fiddle, viola) use their natural, expressive musicality to craft their arrangements with style and intuitive elegance. As well as drawing on some of the finest English folk song repertoire to sing in breathtaking harmony, they play English and European dance music in outstanding instrumentals and beautifully flowing tune sets.
Visit their website: dougandsarahduo.wordpress.com
Ellie Gowers
Ellie’s songs are built from a childhood love of literature and traditional folk song, but also discuss the more modern narratives of the present day. Her music embeds a fierce energy that echoes the 60’s folk revival scene and she is known to hold pride of place on stage with her strong and lucent vocals.
Visit their website: elliegowersmusic.com
Flats and Sharps
A four-piece bluegrass outfit from Penzance, delivering energetic, enthusiastic and spirited Bluegrass to audiences all around the world. Flats and Sharps have been performing their unique take on this music for over eight years and their shows include a wide variety of influences, from a fresh and modern outlook on foot-stomping Bluegrass material through to their powerful and well-crafted original songs. Their music perfectly blends strong harmonies and stonking solos; their incredible stage presence and energy will have you dancing, laughing and singing along in no time.
Visit their website: flatsandsharps.net
Home Service
A band that we’ve wanted to see and hear in the city for years! Featuring driving rhythms, soaring brass, and wonderful vocals, the band bring all of that and so much more to the stage. Their line up is full of first rate musicians and performers, and they are fronted by a double-edged powerhouse of John Kirkpatrick and our dear friend and patron, John Tams.
Visit their website: homeserviceband.co.uk
India Electric Co.
Sometimes folk, sometimes not. India Electric Company use traditional instruments in contemporary styles to explore diverse themes from Eastern Europe, Irish traditions and modern urban alienation.
Visit their website: indiaelectricco.com
Intarsia
Intarsia is an emerging duo of performers from diverse backgrounds. Jo May and Sarah Matthews have worked together since 2018, combining voice, violin, viola, octave fiddle, tenor guitar, balafon and a whole range of other percussion instruments.
The sounds of these wooden instruments blend to create intricate delivery of original and traditional material inspired by English songs, European dance tunes, West African rhythms and more.
Visit their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/IntarsiaFolk
Jim Moray
Amongst England’s finest interpreters of traditional song, Jim’s relentlessly innovative recordings can truly be said to have changed the sound of folk music since the early 2000s. A five-time BBC Folk Award winner, his songs have been featured in a season finale of Grey’s Anatomy, he has appeared on-screen singing a specially composed song for Dr Who spin-off Class as aliens attack the earth, and has presented documentaries on traditional music for BBC Radio 3.
Visit their website: jimmoray.co.uk
Kitty Macfarlane
Nominated for the Horizon Award in the 2019 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards; her debut album Namer Of Clouds was one of The Guardian’s Best Folk Albums of 2018 ; airplay across BBC Radio 2, 3, 4 and 6 Music; FATEA’s Female Artist of the Year; nominated for Album Of The Year in the fRoots Critics Poll.
We’re very excited to have Kitty back with us, this year bringing a full band to provide a very special concert.
Visit their website: kittymacfarlane.com
The Last Inklings
After a lovely set as part of DFF At Home in 2020, we’re really pleased to have them here in person!
The alt-folk duo is formed of multi-instrumentalists David Hoyland and Leonardo MacKenzie, former members of respected folk trio Kadia. Their experimental sound focusses on cello, mandolin and violin layered with vocal harmonies. Songs are inspired by folklore and the human element of mythology, drawing on narrative influences ranging from Norse myths to the writings of Neil Gaiman, Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung.
Visit their website: thelastinklings.co.uk
Melrose Quartet
Melrose Quartet are Nancy Kerr (voice, fiddle), James Fagan (voice, bouzouki, guitar), Jess Arrowsmith (voice, fiddle) and Richard Arrowsmith (voice, melodeons). From deep roots in their hometown’s vibrant music, song and dance scene, to smashing concert appearances all over the UK, Sheffield-based Melrose Quartet have attracted a reputation for making music that truly connects with people.
Visit their website: melrosequartet.co.uk
Narthen
Narthen are Barry Coope of Coope Boyes and Simpson, Jo Freya of Blowzabella/Moirai, 5 time BBC Folkaward nominee Jim Causley and Fi Fraser of The Old Fashioned/ Polka Works.
They are known for four part harmony, but they are all also instrumentalists and augment some of the repertoire with accompaniment.
Visit their website: narthen.info
Ninebarrow
Exceptional singers and musicians, and great company. They mix original material with traditional folk songs, and come up with recordings and performances that have outstanding harmonies, delicate instrumentation and engaging songs.
Visit their website: ninebarrow.co.uk
O’Hooley & Tidow
Belinda and Heidi’s boundless songwriting has been described by The Guardian as ‘exceptional’ and The Independent as ‘defiant, robust, northern, poetical, political folk music for the times we live in.’ Their song ‘Gentleman Jack’ features as the closing theme song for BBC/HBO drama series Gentleman Jack. Quite simply, they are brilliant!
Visit their website: ohooleyandtidow.com
Old Sea Legs
Best known for his time as frontman of Dublin quintet ‘The Eskies’, Ian Bermingham stepped into uncharted waters as a solo performer after the group’s sad demise in the latter half of 2019. Displaying all of the storytelling nous and craft of the quintessential folk troubadour, the melodic ear of a pop pioneer and the lyrical largesse that has become so synonymous with Ian’s songwriting, ‘Old Sea Legs’ see’s the Dubliner push himself to new and exciting territories.
Visit their website: oldsealegs.com
Ranagri
A contemporary folk/world music band featuring Dónal Rogers, Eliza Marshall, Ellie Turner & Joe Danks, consisting of flutes; Irish whistles; electric harp; bodhran; guitars; piano; bouzouki and voices. A band who exude good times and happiness but are not afraid to tackle serious issues like homelessness and the current trend for fake news.
Visit their website: ranagri.com
Rare Occasion
The band features: Judy Dunlop’s rich voice and wicked sense of humour; Jon Scaife’s mastery of fine arrangements for guitar & cittern; Nigel Corbett’s rich and tasteful fiddle playing – and they really are great to see and hear!
Have a look at them performing : YouTube Clip
Road Not Taken
A Bristol based four piece starting to make waves on the UK folk scene. Having honed their craft over a number of years of performing live, their debut album Fragment brings together songs, inspired by the tradition and which best represent their sound…
Visit their website: roadnottaken.co.uk
Steve & Julie Wigley
A Derby duo, who perform mainly original songs (with lots about Derbyshire’s rich heritage) written by Julie. They are regulars at local folk clubs around the country, and have been performing together for many years.
Visit their Soundcloud page: Steve & Julie – Soundcloud
Winter Wilson
Having become part of what we see as Derby’s “festival family”, we’re delighted to have Kip and Dave back with us again this year. They’ll be appearing at various points during the festival, but wherever you see them, we’re confident you’ll be delighted, and wonderfully entertained.
Visit their website: winterwilson.com
Bob Fox – not performing
Sadly, Bob can no longer be with us for this year’s festival – but we’ll get him back to Derby next year!
Visit their website: bobfoxmusic.com
