Celebrating the music of Joni Mitchell, Hejira featuring Jana Varga on vocals are appearing for this year’s Wickham Festival on Friday 31 July.

“The UK’s best and most convincing take on Joni Mitchell”
The Guardian

Hejira is a project that has rapidly blossomed from an initial ‘one-off gig’ into a highly successful touring band, set up to celebrate the music of Joni Mitchell. In particular, the band performs the masterpiece works that Mitchell captured on her albums, ‘Court and Spark’ through to ‘Wild Things Run Fast’. Hejira comprises 7 highly experienced, world-class musicians whose primary concern is to serve the music.

Within three years, Hejira have clocked up 130 + shows, including many prestigious venues and festivals; they will be performing 40-50 shows in 2026 including theatres and festivals in America, this July.

Hejira have produced several high-quality videos which have now been viewed approximately 1.5 million times! Their rendition of ‘Help Me’ was cited by the internationally renowned critic and musicologist Ted Gioia as one of his ‘Favourite Videos on Youtube’.

The band comprises:

Jana Varga ~ vocals & guitar
Ollie Weston ~ tenor & soprano saxophones
Chris Eldred ~ keyboards
Pete Oxley ~ guitar
Dave Jones ~ bass
Rick Finlay ~ drums
Marc Cecil ~ percussion

“I was mesmerized by this interpretation of the great music of the legendary Joni Mitchell with illustrious band led by Pete Oxley”
John Etheridge (UK’s primary guitar player [Soft Machine; Andy Summers; Stephane Grappelli etc.)

“Anyone who loves Joni will find these performances entrancing”
Lynne Truss (best-selling author and broadcaster)

True Foxes, an acclaimed Folk/Americana cousin duo, will make their Wickham Festival debut on Friday 31st July 2026. They are quickly gaining popularity in the South West and beyond. Amie’s powerful vocals and soulful songwriting has been compared to the likes of Laura Marling and Brandi Carlile, performing on Acoustic Guitar. Together with Chloe’s ethereal harmonies and melodic bass lines, the duo’s storytelling and sisterly banter take the audience on an emotional journey. If you’re a fan of First Aid Kit and The Secret Sisters but with a touch of British influence, you’ll definitely enjoy True Foxes.

Having performed over 800 shows (and counting) since forming in 2019, and following the release of their debut album ‘Howl’ in March 2024, the duo have been featured on numerous international radio stations, being named as Americana Album of the Month on The Country Mile Radio and UK Country Radio and have received glowing reviews from AmericanaUK, Rocking Magpie, and Fatea magazine, with a Nomination for UK Duo of the year 2024 from BCMA.

Travelling in their little white van, the duo has taken their music from the South West to major cities across England, Scotland, and Wales. They have graced the main stages at major UK festivals, sold out shows, completed multiple debut headline tours, and shared the stage with renowned folk bands and acts such as Sound of the Sirens, Steve Knightley, Flats and Sharps, Daisy Chute, Willie and the Bandits, The Magpies, Alex Hart, Mark Radcliffe, David Boardman and Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

Their performances have received rave reviews from prestigious venues like the Liverpool Philharmonic, The Royal Glasgow Concert Hall, and The Water Rats in London. After the success of their debut album ‘Howl’ last year, True Foxes have begun working on their second album, ‘Just a Woman’ due to be released March 26th 2026 with a UK tour just announced.

2026 and beyond is shaping up to be a very exciting new chapter for True Foxes, who are definitely the ones to watch.

Steve Knightley is stepping into an exciting new chapter, unveiling his brand-new four-piece “The Winter Yards Band” to audiences on an extensive UK tour for summer festivals in 2026. Following the success of his Winter Yards solo shows, Steve now shares the stage with three outstanding musicians—guitar virtuoso David Delarre, master percussionist Evan Carson, and double bass maestro John Parker. Together, this powerhouse ensemble brings a fresh, dynamic energy to Steve’s much-loved Winter Yards album, offering audiences a richly textured live experience, pushing the sound further beyond traditional boundaries.  

Don’t miss the chance to see one of folk music’s most revered figures at the top of his game, in collaboration with some of the finest touring musicians in the country.

Originally a session player in many bands, Tommy Emmanuel is an Australian guitarist. He has released many award-winning recordings as a solo artist. More than sixty years into his storied career as one of the modern era’s most accomplished and versatile guitarists, Tommy Emmanuel is still hungry for adventure.

Along with his brother Phil, Emmanuel performed live at the closing ceremony of the Sydney Olympics in 2000. The event was televised to over 2 billion viewers worldwide.

It should come as little surprise that Emmanuel’s extraordinary new album, Living in the Light, is easily the most daring—and most rewarding—collection in the Grammy-winner’s remarkable catalog. Recorded and mixed in just four days with producer Vance Powell (Jack White, Chris Stapleton, Phish), the album radiates the kind of raw, electrifying energy that can only come from an artist operating in complete and total surrender to the moment. Emmanuel captured most of the performances here in one or two takes, and the sense of joy and wonder in these sonic explorations is more than just palpable; it’s intoxicating. While many of the recordings are solo instrumentals, Emmanuel lends his voice to several of the album’s tracks, as well, grounding his dazzling, percussive fretwork with a poignant dose of warmth and vulnerability. The result is a record as exhilarating as it is intimate, a virtuosic blend of acoustic pop, jazz, classical, and roots music delivered by a master craftsman with a penchant for living on the edge.

From Glasgow & the Isle of Man, high-energy, celtic fusion band MEC LIR will make their Wickham Festival debut on Friday 31st July, 2026. Right from the launch at their debut gig at one of the largest Celtic music festivals anywhere in the world – Brittany’s famed Festival Interceltique de Lorient – the exhilarating, genre-busting Mec Lir have been frenzying festival audiences for over a decade, with 2026 being their 12th anniversary!

Mec Lir’s live shows are the stuff of legend – and not to be missed!

Well-known for their tight, lightning-fast playing and huge sound, fusing Celtic trad with unapologetically electro synths and drums – yet all the while with the fiddle melody at the forefront – the Isle of Man/Glasgow band have brought their infectiously joyous energy to stages in many corners of the folk sphere; from Cape Breton’s Celtic Colours to the Shetland Folk Festival, Denmark’s Tønder Festival to Schots Weekend (Belgium), England’s Cambridge Folk Festival, and sell-out, rapturous appearances at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections.

Fronted by virtuoso Manx fiddle player Tomas Callister (Ímar), along with fellow Manx musicians Adam Rhodes on bouzouki (Ímar) and David Kilgallon on keyboard (Neear Nesañ), joined by Glasgow’s own Paddy Callaghan on button accordion (BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2013) and expertly grounded by Scotland’s Greg Barry on drums (Elephant Sessions), the group’s second album, Livewire, met critical acclaim upon its 2020 release, and topped the iTunes World Music charts – a feverishly- anticipated follow-up to their groundbreaking debut, Not An EP (2014).

“Wonderful, absolutely wonderful.”
Bruce MacGregor, BBC Radio Scotland

“The energy these guys created with their mix of electric guitar, synthesizer, fiddles, drums and button accordion was different level”
The Irish Voice

“perhaps the most energetic album you’ll hear this year”
RnR Magazine

Award-winning multi-instrumentalist Tim Edey is widely regarded as one of the finest melodeon and guitar players in the world of contemporary folk and Celtic music. A double BBC award winner, he was named BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Musician of the Year in 2012 and later received BBC ALBA Scotland’s Best Traditional Musician award in 2020, recognising his remarkable contribution to modern traditional music.

Over the past two decades, Tim has toured extensively across the UK, Europe, North America and beyond, performing at leading folk festivals and concert venues around the world. Along the way he has collaborated and recorded with many of the biggest names in traditional and roots music, including The Chieftains, Christy Moore, Sharon Shannon, Natalie MacMaster, Altan, Capercaillie, Michael McGoldrick, Dougie MacLean, Mary Black, and Julie Fowlis. These collaborations have helped establish him as a respected figure within the international folk scene.

Originally from Broadstairs in Kent and of Irish heritage, Tim’s musical path began early. He developed his distinctive approach under the guidance of his father, guitarist Richard Edey, and drew inspiration from influential players such as Ed Boyd, Steve Cooney, and legendary jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt. These influences helped shape a sound that blends traditional Celtic roots with elements of folk, jazz and world music.

Tim spent several years living in Ireland before settling in Perthshire, Scotland, where he is now based with his family. From there he continues to travel widely, bringing his energetic live performances to audiences across the global folk circuit.

A Tim Edey live show is a highlight for audiences at any folk festival, combining dazzling instrumental virtuosity with warmth, humour and infectious energy. His performances move effortlessly between intricate instrumental pieces, powerful Celtic-inspired melodies and moments that invite the audience to sing along. The result is an unforgettable night of world-class traditional music, delivered by one of the most exciting performers on the folk scene today.

Formed in 2016 and based in Glasgow, Ímar have quickly established themselves as one of the most dynamic and distinctive forces on the contemporary Celtic folk scene. Bringing together five leading musicians from across Scotland, Ireland and England, the band unites deep-rooted tradition with explosive energy and a richly textured, modern sound. When they last appeared at Wickham Festival in 2018, they left an indelible mark with a set that was both ferocious and finely tuned — a hallmark of their live performances.

Ímar was conceived as a cross-border celebration of shared musical heritage. The original line-up brought together musicians who had already forged strong reputations in their own right, united by friendship, session culture, and a desire to create something powerful yet rooted. At the heart of the band is founding member Mohsen Amini (concertina), a driving creative force also known for his work with Talisk. His distinctive, rhythmically propulsive style forms a central pillar of Ímar’s sound.

On fiddle is Adam Brown, widely respected for his expressive playing and also a member of RURA, one of Scotland’s most celebrated modern traditional groups. Bodhrán virtuoso Ryan Murphy, a former All-Ireland Champion from Cork, anchors the band with precision and flair, drawing on deep Irish rhythmic traditions. Guitarist Marc Clement (formerly of Project Smok) brings harmonic sophistication and driving groove, while Charles Overton (harp) — long associated with The Outside Track — adds a distinctive tonal colour that sets Ímar apart from many of their contemporaries. The inclusion of harp in a high-energy instrumental quintet gives the band a rare blend of delicacy and power.

Though firmly grounded in West Coast Scottish and Irish traditions, Ímar are best known for their bold, expansive arrangements. Their music thrives on tight interplay, blistering tempos, and an intuitive sense of dynamics that makes every performance feel spontaneous yet razor-sharp. They avoid over-complication, instead focusing on melody, groove and collective lift — qualities that have earned them a devoted following across the UK, Europe and beyond.

Their debut album Afterlight (2017) announced them as an exciting new presence, while subsequent releases, including Avalanche (2019) and Awakening (2023), have cemented their reputation for musical evolution without sacrificing raw energy. Awakening in particular marked a subtle shift in texture and maturity, showcasing a broader emotional range while retaining the thrilling drive that defines their live shows.

In recent years, Ímar have toured extensively across Europe and North America, appearing at major international festivals and selling out headline shows. Despite their demanding individual schedules with other projects, the band remains a creative priority — a testament to the musical chemistry that sparked their formation in the first place.

Now returning to Wickham Festival, Ímar bring nearly a decade of shared experience, global touring, and musical growth. Audiences can expect a performance brimming with intensity, precision and joy — a celebration of tradition pushed thrillingly into the present.

The Young’uns’ live shows are renowned roller coaster rides. With heart-on-the-sleeve storytelling, beautiful lyrics, warm harmonies and relentless repartee, Sean Cooney, Michael Hughes and David Eagle (the award-winning stand-up comedian) write and sing folk songs for today.

Born from empathy, crafted with care, fired by hope, and shared with joy, The Young’uns’ songs have been described as ‘a heartfelt secular hymnary for these troubled times and a rallying call for humanity’ (The Scotsman). They have led the band to three BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards (including Best Album in 2018 for Strangers) and the creation of the acclaimed international theatre show The Ballad of Johnny Longstaff (based upon their 2019 album of the same name).

Nearly twenty years after accidentally stumbling into the alien world of their local folk club as drunken teenagers, (and gaining their cureless name in the process) these three thirtysomething friends from Stockton and Hartlepool have never lost the joy of that first night of singing together. Whether performing at Glastonbury Festival, writing a song about pigs with a group of school children, or presenting a programme on Radio 4, Sean Cooney, Michael Hughes and David Eagle are just the same.