Pallet Stage
Our smaller pallet stage showcases local and unsigned talent throughout the festival
Thursday 4th
The Cain Pit are a "punkgrass" quintet from Norwich, Norfolk (UK). The band formed during the end of the world, originally as a studio project. However, when it turned out the world wasn't ending any more, cousins and founding members Daryl Blyth (vocals, double bass) and Scott Blyth (guitar) decided to try and make the studio project a real-life band.
After a year of stops and starts, Scott and Daryl managed to weed out the most suitable hillbilly punks in the area: Isaac Crass (banjo), Joe Halliday (acoustic guitar and harmonica), and Jamie Tritton (drums).
The idea for the band is to combine their love of punk rock, bluegrass and other roots music. The Cain Pit like to think they bridge a gap somewhere between The Old Crow Medicine Show and a millennial punk rock band, jumping off said bridge and paddling in some sort of roots-rockabilly-punk primordial soup, emerging to sing sugar-coated melodies with crunchy bitter centres.
Foreign Affairs is the musical collaboration of brothers Adam and Lawrence Purnell, who began writing together in their early teens before Adam relocated to Brussels to study guitar. The move did not halt their progress, with writing sessions over Skype maintaining their productivity and the long-distance partnership providing the inspiration for their name.
On Adam’s return to the UK the duo released their first single, ‘Sell My Soul’, which received both local and national BBC radio play, and in December of 2018 the band released their first EP The Old Fire Station. The record was the culmination on their journey to date, the sounds, sights and experiences that the duo have shared. The EP received widespread critical acclaim and was followed by a 22-date European tour with Grammy-nominated artist Larkin Poe.
"The song, the atmosphere, the harmonies are all special. What a wonderful record"
Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2
"Absolutely infectious, everything they do is passionate, from the heart."
BBC Introducing
Sir-Reel Clarks
Music has always been a part of the Clarks’ family tradition, and it was after Aaron inherited his grandfather’s melodeon in 2019 that he discovered his passion for playing music. Despite facing challenges in school, Aaron was determined to show the world that anyone can learn to play music. With inspiration from Tim Edey, Aaron honed his skills during lockdown and is now making a name for himself as a talented and innovative musician.
Aaron has just released his debut album, Out of the Box, which he collaborated on with his dad Andy and Tim Edey. Featuring some of Aaron’s original compositions, the album showcases his ability to juggle different styles and genres to create a truly unique sound.
Aaron’s Autism, ADHD, Dyspraxia & Tourettes have not stopped him from becoming a North East Champion and winning numerous TMSA competitions over the past few years.
Friday 5th
The Hangover Club
"The most requested band return we've ever had"
The New Inn, Bath
"I urge everyone to check them out"
Ollie Lewis, Bath Radio
The Hangover Club is a modern, energetic Folk Americana band based in Bristol, UK. Made up of PM LeGrand, Geoffrey Kokel, Helen Payne, and Josh Munday, they tell sordid cowboy tales with the help of crunchy cigar box riffs, warm acoustic guitar tones, and three-part harmonies.
The Hangover Club grew up on a diet of classic country music, including Jeff Bridges, Johnny Cash, Colter Wall, and the Dead South, before honing their craft in a more experimental and tribal universe taking from Orville Peck, Hollowbelly, and Fever Ray.
The group released their debut single, Ride, in February 2020, which was mixed by Massive Attack's Stew Jackson. But even as the onset of the pandemic threw everyone's best laid plans into disarray, it provided time to rethink, reorganise, and gain new inspirations from different avenues and genres.
The Club naturally fell into a trio in April 2021 and a four-piece in August 2023. They've been busking their way around Bristol gaining hoards of fans on the street since 2018. The Hangover Club has played in iconic venues in the city, including the Bristol Fringe and Mr Wolf's, as well as a handful of festival slots in the UK and France (Wychwood Festival, Maverick Festival, PAKA Festival).
Tennessee Twin
Victoria and Geoff, met in a recording studio in 1997. From that moment on, their musical journey took an upward trajectory, connecting them on a personal level and captivating audiences around the world.
In 2018 their song ‘Wings Of Red White & Blue’ won the British Airways/Nashville Music City song-writing competition, taking them to record in Nashville, Tennessee and their debut EP ‘Tips In A Jar’ went straight into the iTunes UK Country Chart at No.1 the following year.
Today, celebrated as a well-loved singer-songwriter duo in the UK Country and Americana world, they are driven by shared interests, inspiration, determination, and a love of performance & storytelling through music.
Performances include: British Country Music Festival, Cambridge Folk Festival, The West Country Music Festival, Country on the Coast & Nashville Calling and overseas (Nashville, Denver, and Amsterdam).
Awards
British Airways/Nashville Music City Song-Writing Competition 2018
UK Country Showcase Awards – Best Newcomer 2019
UK Country Showcase Awards – Duo Of The Year 2019
UK Country Showcase Awards – EP Of The Year 2019 (‘Tips In A Jar’)
SW20 Radio Country Music Show – Best Group at Spring Festival 2020
ISSA Silver Award - International Band Single Of The Year 2023 - ‘Rear View Mirror’
'These guys are exceptional. The emotion they bring with their songs is undeniable. Their story telling is second to none.’
Forever British Country
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‘Geoff and Victoria’s voices are captivating when singing solo and combine into very rich harmonies.’
Silverball Country
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'This song is stunning and that pedal steel mixed with the harmonies, what a song!! The vocals were so beautiful too and the cover, Tennessee Twin have put a lot into this song! It's a best of 2021 contender!!!'
Linda Conway - Voice Of A Woman (SATA)
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M G Boulter
“Gorgeous in a word”
Uncut
“Brings freshness to songwriting”
The Daily Telegraph (Top Ten Folk Album of the Year 2016)
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“Highly Recommended”
Independent on Sunday
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“Consistently high-quality set of songs by a master craftsman”
fRoots Magazine
Following his successful tour in Autumn 2022, which brought his Clifftown album to life through specially shot film projections and an enhanced touring band, M G Boulter is preparing live shows for Spring 2023. It’s been a busy 2022 for M G having toured extensively with his Clifftown show but also undertaking his live duties as a member of Jon Boden’s Remnant Kings.
He also recorded and released his new EP ‘A Shadow Falls over New Brighton’ on Hudson Records, as well as the joint single, ‘Flint Knapped' with Shetland songwriter Jenny Sturgeon. 2023 promises to be equally productive with a new album being recorded in March (with BBC Folk Award winning producer Andy Bell and an ensemble of some the country’s best known folk musicians) and more singles planned with Jenny.
Garnering praise from reviewers like Uncut describing his work as “gorgeous in a word” and R2 listing him as “a weapons grade songwriter”, expect a more intimate show for 2023 combining new album material and storytelling, highlighting M G’s songs as an important contemporary voice in the long tradition of the singer-songwriter.
The Browns
The Browns are singer-songwriters who started singing together in 2018 after reconnecting in 2015. They met as teenagers at a school dance and lost touch after arrangements for their first date went awry, but the intervening years has given them plenty of material for their songs.
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Known for their rich and expressive blend of voices in harmony they have performed at festivals and folk club venues across East Anglia and beyond.
As well as their own songs, The Browns bring their unique touch to popular songs from the second half of the 20th century.
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With just two voices and one guitar, which Vernon plays upside down, they have developed an exceptional sound allowing their distinctive vocals to take centre stage and shine.
“Fabulous acoustic music and intertwining vocals, not to be missed! ”
Joe McBurnie - Founder of #FolkOclock
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“Goosebump harmonies. So good”
Marc Peirson
“If you've not heard it [the album] yet, I've got two words for you - 'highly recommended'”
Mark Radbourne - Poppyland Radio
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Saturday 6th
Hiroshima Twinkie
Hiroshima Twinkie are a quirky and interesting 4 piece indie-folk-rock band from Lancaster. Together for 5 years now this exciting band have self produced 3 full length albums of rich and varied original material and are currently working on their 4th album 'Back to the Country', on Woodshed Records, with an expected release in November.
The band are known for being lively and engaging in live performance and mix accomplished 4 -part harmonies with music styles blending folk rock with hints of country, bluegrass and jazz. When seeing this excellent band live expect storming harmonic danceable grooves, a conga request and a stonking polka about a dead tortoise - what's not to enjoy!
Pistol Pete Wearn
&
Olly Parry
Pistol Pete Wearn & Olly Parry bring together rustic pre-war blues with hokum, hoedown & mournful balladry. Their fingerpicked blues guitar & lightly-skipping fiddle take you from the frivolity & sound effects of the vaudeville stage via the dark Appalachian gothic to the
roof-rattling barn dance, evoking the ghosts of old-time string bands and murderous outlaws.
After Pete met the then 18-year-old Olly at a Stafford open mic night their collaboration began as two thirds of the team, along with singer-songwriter Helena Francesca, on the 2019 EP Pistol Pete Wearn & The Wildwood Flowers & they have reunited post-pandemic to release a full album of original songs Blues, Ballads & Barnstormers in May 2023. It has since received airplay on BBC
Radio 2, reached the top 40 of the IBBA Album chart and the RMR Contemporary Blues chart and been described in one review as “an album to listen to in the evening by the campfire, with your head in the stars and a drink in your hand...”.
"...a local legend"
Cerys Matthews, BBC Radio 2
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"With his...skill at blues, bluegrass and even spirituals, Wearn is a talent to watch"
R2
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"...a classic English blues voice... His music is as true as it gets."
Blues Blast
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"...a master slide guitar virtuoso"
Maverick
Sirens at the Helm
Sirens at the Helm are a Norfolk based, all female crew, founded out of a mutual love of traditional shanties in 2023 along the west Norfolk coast from Lynn to Hunstanton.
They raise money to support local charity, singing traditional songs of the sea whilst retaining just the right mix of quality and hilarity. The Sirens are sure to engage audiences wherever their ship may dock.
The Leftychris Band
Leftychris originated as the solo project of Derbyshire based singer songwriter Chris Carr in 2017. The first Leftychris release was ‘Humble Moon’ (available online) and features an album of original songs performed, in the raw form, by just Chris on guitar and vocal.
In early 2020 Chris released his second studio album (self-titled) featuring guest musicians. It’s this foray into extending the lineup that laid the foundation for the ‘Leftychris Band’.
These days the solo project is no more, as the band has settled into the preferred outlet for Chris’ songs. The band is - Alex Ivanov on drums, Annie Botham on violin, Simon Ball on bass and Rosana Coll with co-vocal.
Since the expansion The Leftychris Band's emphasis is the live performance of the songs with the band applying a more ‘in the moment’ style to the structure of the songs. The interplay of instrumentation and genuine listening jammy feel make every gig different and every version of the same song variable.
The style has been said to be reminiscent of Tim Buckley’s in the 60s but with a lighter instrumental feel.
Jol Rose
Jol Rose is a Swindon-based singer-songwriter. With roots in London, Jol has performed his raw mix of Americana acoustic folk on moving trains, stationary flat-bed trucks and remote Pacific islands.
His debut album My Nebraska (2019), recorded and released in Swindon’s Earthworm Studios, mixed stateside influences with desolation and doubt from much closer to home.
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​2020 saw the release of Jol’s home-recorded, self-produced Welcome to Zombieland. Mixing fake news with the winged facts flying past the box room, captured by the condenser microphone, dystopia and fallen dreams come home to roost.
Sunday 7th
Lincoln Skins
Combining banter and laughter with raw talent, along with an old suitcase and a six string banjo; Lincoln Skins and their music are paving the way as an influential act for all generations.
Since joining forces in 2019 Lincoln Skins have captivated fans with their signature sound and unique performances. You will be hooked from the first note. Read on to learn more about this talented acoustic act.
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"Lincoln skins had the whole crowd up and singing at Norwich pride, They brought some thumping beats and unreal vocals. They were a pleasure and an absolute crowd pleaser!"
Luke Boydell - head of Ents - Norwich Pride
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"Lincoln Skins always provide a great show, both entertaining and of superb quality & professionalism."​
H (Howard Marshall) The Room, Front Room
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"Lincoln Skins are a class act who always bring the crowds in. Becs has the most amazing voice and James is a very talented guitarist. The audience interaction is fantastic and we are looking forward to working with them more." ​
Alison Joseph - Ops manager First Light Lowestoft, (East point pavilion)
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"As a local pub it’s important for acts to provide not just a great show but bring a crowd into your venue. Lincoln Skins do both, really well."​
The Dock Tavern (Gorleston)
Tom Mally
The father of one who has spent years working across Norfolk's farms and fields is hoping to make his mark on the music industry in 2018.
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Following the release of his latest single Cards On The Table, the 33-year-old builder turned singer from Norwich, is looking ahead to bigger things.
Influenced by the likes of Rag'n'Bone Man and Bob Dylan, Mr Malachowski first picked up a guitar seven years ago and kicked off his music career by playing in pubs and bars across Norwich.
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New Black Records, an independent record label, discovered him in 2017 and quickly signed him to their business.
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Since being signed, the blues/folk singer has gone on to be featured as one to watch by NME magazine and had his music picked up by BBC Introducing.
Ben Robertson
Ben Robertson is a UK-based fingerstyle guitarist and singer who performs instrumentals and songs from across the Celtic and European folk traditions. Growing up in rural North East Wales, Ben spent his formative years on the Chester and North Wales folk scenes.
His style is influenced by the likes of John Renbourn and Dick Gaughan, and and he has been described as "a virtuoso guitarist in the making" and having "stylings and inflections that would please Renbourn fans". In 2022, he released his latest album Rosewood, which received rave reviews and had airplay on BBC Radio 2's Folk Show, amongst others.
Throughout 2023, Ben has been busy performing at festivals such as Warwick Folk Festival, Bromyard Folk Festival, and Chester Folk Festival, as well as folk clubs and venues across the country.
"Prodigious young britfolk guitarist"
fRoots
"A fine guitarist and singer"
Mark Radcliffe, BBC R2
"A virtuoso guitarist in the making"
tradfolk.co
"★★★★"
Songlines (Rosewood review)