Wickham Festival News

Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs are an acoustic duo from Southampton UK, who write and perform folky/bluesy songs focussing on harmony and melody.  They play guitars and also sing all sorts of stuff from across the decades.

Beth Malcolm

Beth Malcolm is a singer-songwriter and keyboard player from Perth. Beth’s music is folk-inspired, and she sings a mix of traditional Scots songs, with her own writing. Beth was named BBC MG ALBA Scots Singer of the Year in 2022.

Thanks to a sustained indoctrination from kin, Beth has been performing since she was old enough to stand on stage. After a brief hiatus from folk music in her teenage years, (read Girls Aloud), Beth fell in love with the old songs and music she had grown up with. She found a home, singing regular floor spots at the Glasgow Star Folk club. Beth has been singing, arranging, playing and writing ever since.

Beth had a ‘breakout’ moment when she won a coveted ‘Danny’ award at Celtic Connections 2019. Beth’s love of music is not confined to folk, and she has collaborated with a number of Scotland’s finest outfits including Fat-Suit, Adam Holmes and Lewis McLaughlin. In 2022, Beth featured on ‘Gaelictronica’ sensation Niteworks’ album with hit track ‘John Riley’. Well suited to Beth’s love for reimagining traditional song, she has performed with Niteworks at several shows including the Glasgow Royal Concert hall with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

Since being named BBC Scots Singer of the Year, Beth released her debut album ‘Kissed and Cried’ in Spring, 2023 which received a 5 star review from The Scostman: “Beth Malcolm brings passionate commitment to whatever she sings, her own compositions or otherwise… Judging by this debut, a glowing future beckons.”

Now officially in her ‘mid life crisis’ era, Beth has written her next album, ‘FOLKMOSIS’. Working with producer and musician Dorian Cloudsley, she plans to turn her ‘musical coming of age’ story into a show. FOLKMOSIS is woven together, track by track, by song and spoken word. It explores what is means to belong, the heartaches and hilarities of life in the big bad world, and celebrates the connections we have to land and language through our shared music. This story reminds audiences that music will always be there to bring us home when we feel a little lost.

Rachel Hair & Ron Juppy

“An electrifying duo” (Fatea) Rachel Hair and Ron Jappy twin Scotland’s oldest instrument, the clarsach (Scottish harp), with and one of it’s newest instruments, the acoustic guitar. Performing an exquisite mix of Scottish traditional music they balance virtuosity with emotion, with captivating results.

Influenced by Hair’s upbringing in the Highland village of Ullapool, and Jappy’s North-East roots, together they showcase their passion for traditional music with a repertoire rich in melodies old and new. With crisp strathspeys and heartfelt airs, to virtuosic reels and driving jigs, Rachel and Ron have combined their influences to embrace the rich cultural tradition of Scotland.

Originally paired for a 2 and half week tour of Europe, their musical chemistry was apparent from the outset and they have since gone on to tour the US, Europe, New Zealand, Australia and Japan. Their latest album Élan (released in 2023) was described as an energising, inspiring and precious delight.” (Folk Radio).

Hair stands at the forefront in todays Celtic harp revival and is unique in placing it at the helm of her music, performing, teaching and promoting it worldwide. Ron is in constant demand as one of Scotland’s leading accompanists and educators in Traditional music. 

Together they are a “brilliantly simpactico duo” (fRoots magazine) performing as one and as they tailor each performance to the needs of their audience, no corner will go untouched by their rootsy charm.

Sarah Smout

Sarah is a cellist-singer and environmental activist, creating music and poetry deeply rooted in nature and place. Her music has been played on BBC Radio 2, BBC Look North, and has been used for campaigns by Greenpeace, COP26 and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. Prior to her solo career, she toured and recorded internationally with renowned artists such as Michael Chapman, Bridget St John, The Mediaeval Baebes, Gren Bartley, The Magpies and many more. This led her to appear at many mainstream and folk festivals across the globe such as Primavera Sound, Shambala, Greenbelt, Cambridge, Green Man, Larmer Tree, and Folk Alliance International.

Yearning for adventure, and a tour that could go at a slower and more environmentally friendly pace, she embarked on a month-long odyssey to Iceland, travelling by boat via Orkney, Shetland and the Faroes. These experiences have inspired an entrancing and transportive solo show called Eyjar (Old Norse for ‘islands’) which explores our connections to place, the different lenses through which we view the land, and what that means for our relationship with
nature. Sarah’s performances are imbued with visceral story-telling, bristling with atmosphere created with live-looped cello, haunting melodies and deeply felt lyrics that are never too far from the sea. Eyjar forms the backbone of the 2023 tour together with exceptional new material.

Recent live highlights include a sold out show at RNCM supporting Sam Lee for Manchester Folk Festival, Timber Festival, and Just So Festival. 2023 saw her return to the stage with a sell out show at Hay Festival.
In 2022, Sarah made ‘Rooted’, a live recording and film that weaves together experiences of her journey to Iceland with a strong connection to her homeland of the Yorkshire Dales. It is a film about drawing strength from all that we have around us, performed in the ancient hamlet of Hubberholme. Rooted was officially selected to take part in Kendal Mountain Festival’s international film competition and was premiered at Skipton Plaza Cinema as part of Hinterlands Festival.

2023 saw Sarah embark on her first solo tour, and a variety of environmentally themed projects.

Ranagri

Ranagri are Jordan Murray, Eleanor Dunsdon, Eliza Marshall, Dónal Rogers and they have forged a new and contemporary sound on the folk scene, winning audiences at home and internationally, an energetic festival band yet equally at home with their more intimate writing and thought provoking lyrics. They are as happy to make you dance as they are to make you smile or shed a tear, passionately delving into current world topics, playing with politics, and creating uplifting music to lyrics with great depth.

Their recent release – ‘Tradition II’ – is the sequel to their acclaimed album ‘Tradition’ – exploring traditional folk songs – deconstructing and reconstructing – trying to eek out alternative meaning whilst adding the unique Ranagri flavours; harp, flutes, guitars, dulcimer, percussion all woven together with lead vocals and harmonies.

Festival performances include Cambridge, Towersey and Montelago, venues as diverse as Birmingham Symphony Hall to Topic Folk Club, all of which are loved in equal measure. Recent headline slots include Lyme Folk Weekend and Baafest and this Autumn they tour throughout Germany, followed by a new collaboration with pop legend Tony Christie.

“Voices and instruments combine to astound the listener with some of the most attention-grabbing music I’ve heard in a long time”
FRUK 2022

Muireann Bradley

She was THE star on Jools Holland’s New Year’s Eve Hootenanny. Now 17-year-old Irish country blues sensation Muireann Bradley is coming to Wickham on Friday 2nd August.  This debut appearance on the BBC has been already been watched nearly 500K times on YouTube!

With only 4 UK dates announced, 2 of which are UK Festivals (Green Man being the other), we’re dead chuffed to have Muireann coming to Wickham. With so many other festivals trying to book, her we are delighted she has chosen Wickham and can not wait to welcome her to the our stage this summer!

Muireann Bradley is a 17 year old finger picking guitarist & singer who grew up in the hills overlooking the Finn Valley outside the town of Ballybofey in County Donegal, Ireland. Muireann performs primarily Country, Ragtime & Piedmont style blues from the 1920s & 1930s.

Her influences include Rev Gary Davis, Blind Blake, Mississippi John Hurt, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Robert Johnson, Elizabeth Cotten, and Memphis Minnie to name just a few. She delights in interpreting & performing the music of these early blues masters, always putting her own unique stamp on the tunes.

Muireann grew up surrounded by guitars & old blues & began playing at the age of nine when she convinced her father to buy her first guitar and teach her. She worked hard and learned to finger pick in various old blues styles. However as she got older she began to invest more time in the sports of boxing and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu which she trained and competed in successfully from a young age. This led to the guitar and music beginning to take something of a back seat. Then in March 2020 when the first COVID lock downs happened all contact sports were shut down. Muireann felt lost for a while but she soon rediscovered her love for the guitar and the old Blues that she had grown up with. She was now listening and practicing with a new intensity and focus. She decided to start posting videos on You Tube, the first of which was her rendition of Blind Blake’s “Police Dog Blues”. It received a lot of attention, and has now had 80,000+ views. She was then contacted by Josh Rosenthal of Tompkins Square Records in San Francisco who suggested she record an album. Muireann was very keen to hear herself on record but as it turned out the recording of the album would be delayed and interrupted numerous times by the ongoing pandemic, allergies, orthodontics and just generally growing up! The songs and instrumentals were all recorded live in the studio in one or two takes in an attempt to make the process as similar as possible to that of the original classic country blues artists of the 1920s and 30s. These recordings would become the album “I kept these old blues” which is due for release in early December on vinyl, CD and cassette as well as being available on all the digital platforms.

Muireann recently went down a storm performing on the Marquee stage at the 46th Ballyshannon folk & traditional festival as the 2023 solo showcase winner.

The great Arlen Roth has described her as “a natural!”, Jorma Kaukonen said that kid is really good and I don’t mean really good for a kid, I mean REALLY GOOD, while Stefan Grossman said “ A wonderful player, I can now retire, the torch has been passed”.

She released her first album, I Kept These Old Blues, in December. Head over to Amazon or Apple to purchase this great release before seeing her live this August!  She can also be found on Spotify here.

Suzi Quatro

The iconic rock trailblazer Suzi Quatro will be headlining Wickham Festival on Friday 2nd August 2023. She paved the way for a new generation of female rock stars in the 70s.  We really are over the moon to welcome Suzi and her fantastic band to the Wickham stage.  There’s no doubt that as far as live rock performances go, Suzi is up there with the all-time greats. We’re sure this will be a night to remember!  To date she has sold over 55 million records. Her hits include, Can the Can, 48 Crash, Too Big, Devil Gate Drive, Daytona Demon, The Wild One, She’s in Love With You, Mama’s Boy, If You Can’t Give Me Love, Rock Hard, and a million seller in the USA, Stumblin In a duet with Chris Norman .

She was born in Detroit, Michigan and raised in a musical family with three sisters and one brother, who all played various instruments. Suzi herself made her debut on stage playing bongo’s in her fathers jazz band, The Art Quatro trio.

From an early age she studied classical piano and percussion, then aged 14, began an all-girl band with elder sister Patti  called The Pleasure Seekers. Suzi was ‘told’ she would be playing bass guitar, which was as tall as her! She quickly became the lead singer and front person.

The band toured successfully for 7 years releasing a few singles along the way.  They changed their name to Cradle in 1969. It was in this band, a couple of years later, that Mickie Most (a producer behind scores of hit singles for acts such as the Animals, Herman’s Hermits, Donovan, and many others) came to a Cradle concert one night and offered Suzi a solo contract. Since then she never looked back and flew to England in 1971 to begin her journey to fame. When Mickie asked her what she’d like to wear to promote Can the Can she said “leather” which he thought was old-fashioned. But she stuck to her guns and THE look was born …

Throughout the 1970s Suzi’s iconic look & glam rock style *broke the Internet* decades before it was invented! This renowned photograph by Gered Mankowitz in an unzipped leather jumpsuit was taken at a photoshoot in London, 1973.

Prints of this iconic picture signed and numbered by the photographer, Gered Mankowitz, sell for over £2K!

Soon after Suzi began working with now legendary songwriters Chinn and Chapman (Mike Chapman also produced). This resulted in the huge hit, Can the Can, which topped the charts in May 1973, and went on to sell two and a half million copies worldwide.

Between 1973 and 1980 Suzi featured in the British charts for no less than 101 weeks.  She has sold to date over 55 million records, and still counting.

As the 1970s drew to a close, Suzi spread her wings and landed a part on the worldwide hit TV  show, ‘Happy Days’, playing Leather Tuscadero opposite Henry Winkler and Ron Howard.

She continued to act in other shows including Minder, Dempsey and Makepeace, Absolutely Fabulous, and Midsomer Murders. In 1986 Suzi made her West End debut playing the leading role of Annie Oakley in Irving Berlin’s ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ for which she received great critical acclaim. 1988 saw Suzi spread her wings again as she hosted her own talk show called ‘Gas Street’ which ran for a year.

In 1989 Suzi was one of the first rock and roll acts to go to Russia where she performed for over half a million people in just six weeks. In 1991 Suzi was triumphant again when realised a lifelong ambition by co-writing the music and lyrics to ‘Talullah Who?’, a musical about notorious actress Tallulah Bankhead. She also starred in this production.

1999 saw Suzi start her radio career with BBC Radio 2, which is ongoing today. Suzi has done her own weekly programs, and many special documentaries including Elvis Presley, Otis Redding, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Patsy Cline, and a recent special on her home town of Detroit. Suzi has met, interviewed or played on stage with most of her hero’s. She was nominated for music broadcaster of the year at the Sony radio awards in 2006. 1999 also saw Suzi honoured in ‘This Is Your Life’, with Michael Aspel and the famous red book.

In 2006 Suzi released the autobiographical album, “Back to the Drive”… which has become a fans favourite worldwide. Suzi also made an appearance alongside Charles Dance in the theatre in a play called “Exonerated at this time”. Unzipped, Suzi’s Autobiograpy was released in 2007 and has done extremely well worldwide.

In 2014, to celebrate her 50 years in the business, BBC Radio 2 featured this show as part of their Christmas schedule taped at the BBC Radio Theatre. It was prime time 2 hours long, unzipped, turning into a mini concert at the end, and was attended by such luminaries as Bruce Welch (The Shadows) and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Suzi did a 23 date sell out tour of Australia in 2015, her 32th tour of this country. It was to be her *final* tour of the Australia.  But this decision was turned around about a year later when she realised she was nowhere near retiring and promised her audience to NEVER use the f-word again.. (final)

“I will retire when I go on stage , shake my ass, and there is silence” – Suzi Quatro

In may 2017, she headlined a ‘Legends’ Arena tour in the UK, along with Hot Chocolate , The Osmonds and David Essex.  In 2019 her documentary, “Suzi Q” was released. It has been featured on CNN, Entertainment Tonight, Golden Globes Page, Billboard, Rolling Stone and Variety just to name a few. 

It is a warts and all, raw and real film, and because of the attention it has received she has now signed to do a movie of her life. The script is nearing completion and a list of names has been drawn up to play Suzi.

In 2021 she released a second album, with her son, ‘The Devil in Me’, which also charted around the world. In 2022 she released ‘Uncovered’ on the Sun Record label.  This release has six of her favorite cover songs including James Brown’s “The Boss”, Carole King’s “I Feel The Earth Move”, and Rufus Thomas’s “Walking The Dog”.  There will soon be a live stream of this which will be a one time only chance to see her play these track live.

Last year she released her duet album ‘Face to Face’ with Wickham Festival favourite, singer/songwriter and guitarist Kt Tunstall.’ This has charted in numerous terriorities around the world, even getting in to the top 10. It was album of the week on BBC Radio 2, and picked up the ‘Album of the Year’ award, presented by Jools Holland. It has impressed critics with tracks like Shine A Light and Overload …

As Suzi said in one of her interviews , “people aren’t liking this album, they are loving it“.  Track samples and links to purchase Face to Face can be found here.

2023 marked the 50th anniversay of Can the Can being number one.  Throughout this time Suzi is never idle … she must entertain, she must create, and she must communicate. Her famous quote says it all…

“I will retire when I go on stage , shake my ass, and there is silence”
Suzi Quatro

The Annie Keating Band

Brooklyn based The Annie Keating Band will be touring the UK this summer and we can’t wait to give them a Wickham welcome on Friday 2nd August 2024.

Featuring (first ever) new Vinyl albums only available at UK shows, The Annie Keating Band features Keating on acoustic guitar and vocals, rising star Joe Coombs on electric/slide guitars, Scott Warman on bass and Jamie Dawson on drums. This band believes that live show clips capture the magic better than words can; for a taste of what the band delivers live, please visit their YouTube Channel.

“A MUST SEE”
Bob Harris, BBC Radio

“Tremendous… Razor sharp rockabilly, sweet country and swampy blues, the band at full tilt.”
Americana UK

“Keating is building the reputation her talent deserves.”
The Telegraph

Talent spotted by BBC Radio‘s Bob Harris with the release of her breakthrough album, “Belmont” in 2008, Keating has been growing in stature and reputation, having released 11 critically acclaimed studio albums drawing formidable comparisons to artists including Lucinda Williams, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Bonnie Raitt and John Prine along the way. A staple of the contemporary Americana scene, Annie Keating writes and sings like a woman who knows deep down that heartache is the price of hope, and she can make us believe — in that way that only the best artists can — that all of it is worth the cost.

Martin Stephenson & The Daintees

Martin Stephenson began his career as a busker aged 15. He then spent three years plying his trade as the guitar player in various bands in the North East of England . But Martin wanted more, he wanted to tell stories of his own and he was quickly developing ways of doing just that.

He developed his song-writing technique by firstly learning a few licks from a Spanish guitar book and repeated the process with Jazz, Blues, Country, SkifFle, Reggae etc. Eventually, this glorious collision of styles would become the trademark which Martin has carried through his career of almost 40 years.

Martin formed his band The Daintees, who became busking sensations and were signed by Kitchenware at around the same time as Prefab Sprout and Hurrah! The band, and indeed Martin, have always been known for their incredible range of styles, each album covering a multitude of genres, tempos and moods. The Daintees went on to release four critically acclaimed albums between 1986 & 1992; Boat To Bolivia, Gladsome Humour and Blue, Salutation Road, and The Boys Heart.

His must-see live performances are an exuberant tour-de-force combining heart-in-your-mouth intimacy with playful humour and warm self-deprecation.

The Longest Johns

Having met and bonded over sea shanties across a kitchen table in their native Bristol a decade ago, The Longest Johns – Jonathan ‘JD’ Darley, Andy Yates and Robbie Sattin – have sailed the seven seas in the name of the “rock ‘n’ roll of 1752” to grace the stages of international folk festivals, tour the UK, Europe and North America, and appear on TV.

To celebrate ten years of pitching and rolling in brotherly harmony, in October the band are set to release a tin anniversary edition of their self-released debut EP Bones in the Ocean. That follows their latest tour of Canada in September as they build towards the release early next year of a new studio album – their ninth but the first as a three piece following the departure of co-founder Dave Robinson in May.

By any standard The Longest Johns have enjoyed a whirlwind of a journey these last ten years. As well as eight full length albums, they’ve released four EPs and nine singles, including the 2021 version of ‘Wellerman’ that began a sea shanty craze on social media as a 150year-old folk song from New Zealand became a worldwide viral sensation, sweeping the group to the #2 berth on the US Spotify Viral Chart and #5 Global.

They’ve racked up more than 500 million streams across all platforms, signed up more than half a million YouTube subscribers and logged some 200,000 hours watched on Twitch. Their gaming partnerships include Sea of Thieves and Wanderworld and they’ve recorded the soundtrack to No Man’s Wife, a new film made by the co-producers of the Fisherman’s Friends film.

Jim Malcolm

Jim Malcolm is the ultimate Scots troubadour. Travelling the world with his guitar, harmonicas, and engaging wit, he sings the traditional songs of Scotland and his own masterfully crafted songs in a style which is modern and accessible, yet utterly authentic. He is highly regarded as an interpreter of the songs of Robert Burns, and has been described as “one of the finest singers in Scotland in any style”.

Though he now works solo, Jim was lead singer with the world-renowned and multi-award-winning Old Blind Dogs for eight years, a fantastic experience with some of Scotland’s finest musicians, taking him to the most prestigious festivals in North America and around Europe.

3 Daft Monkeys

3 Daft Monkeys’ dynamic style of world-influenced folk music and infectious dancing rhythms will leave you breathless, enthralled and exhilarated.  The band members are:

  • Tim Ashton – Vocals, 12-string guitar, penny whistle
  • Athene Roberts – Violin, vocals, accordion
  • Jamie Graham – 6-string bass
  • Rich Mulryne – Bespoke hand percussion kit, vocals)

With Celtic and eastern influences, the 3 Daft Monkeys’ dynamic style of world folk music reflects the global village in which we now live. Their infectious dancing rhythms lead you through a musical journey of the senses and emotions, and will leave you breathless, enthralled and exhilarated.

After experiencing the band’s notoriously energetic live performance at Glastonbury Festival last summer, Mark Radcliffe declared them as one of his “Highlights of the Festival” on BBC TV coverage, and subsequently invited them to play a session on his BBC Radio 2 Folk Show. The band have also performed a live session with Whispering Bob Harris on Radio 2.

The band have just released a brand new album in April 2017, following a highly successful crowdfunding campaign. The title track “Year of the Clown” is a social and whimsical comment on the strange and disturbing times we find ourselves in, where the ‘elected principles’ in the world circus appear to be the fools.

With their quirky and original approach to music, and their passion, intensity and sheer joy of life, 3 Daft Monkeys have gained themselves a large and loyal cult following. Their music is hard to pigeon-hole, mixing and crossing many musical genres from Celtic, Klezmer, Gypsy, Balkan, Latin, Ska, Dub Reggae, Indie, Rock and even a hint of Shostakovich. 3 Daft Monkeys have always maintained an independent and cottage-industry approach to their musical career, and have gained a huge following whilst ploughing their own furrow through the music business, gaining momentum through their live performances and intensive European touring schedule.

With a brand new 4-piece line-up, the band weave enchanting melodies with catchy choruses, virtuoso vibrant fiddle, rhythmic 12-string guitar, 6-string bass, bespoke hand-percussion and 4-part vocal harmonies. Fascinating lyrics of personal and whimsical observations on life, and folk tales both ancient and modern, are told within the swirling layers of their music, all with the essential catchy sing-along chorus.

The band’s diversity is reflected in the acts for whom they have been invited as special guests, including touring across the UK and Europe with the Levellers, and opening for bands such as Hawkwind, Bellowhead, Show of Hands and Dreadzone, as well as headlining their own national tours.

3 Daft Monkeys have played at a huge number and variety of festivals in the UK, including Fairport Convention’s Cropredy, Beautiful Days, Trowbridge Village Pump, Towersey Folk Festival, Cambridge Folk Festival and Boomtown Fair. Their eclectic mix of styles has drawn them a following right across Europe, and the band have headlined festivals in Holland, Germany and France. 3 Daft Monkeys have also recently joined acrobats and circus performers in the new and vibrant boutique “busking festival” scenes of Switzerland and Italy.

Shamus O’Blivion & The Megadeath Morrismen

Shamus O`Blivion have been plying their trademark super fast jigs and reels and powerful folk rooted songs at festivals and music events across the country and occasionally in mainland Europe since 1989.

Their mission is simply to make people dance and laugh. When you walk away from a Shamus O`Blivion gig dripping in sweat with a huge grin on your face, they consider it ‘Job Done !’.

Not easily pigeonholed, their music appeals to all ages and tastes , they are not limited to one type of venue or event. Audience participation is insisted upon, to which end they furnish the audience with colourful morris dancing sticks to aid the raucous dancing and frolics. Bounding on stage like five real life cartoon characters their performance is humorous, colourful and theatrical.

This band mean business and their business is FUN !

Shamus O’Blivion & The Megadeath Morrismen lineup:

  • Mick – Accordion & Vocals
  • Mel Gardner – Bass Guitar ,Electric Guitar, Whistle
  • Steve-the-fiddle – Violin , Bass, Vocals
  • Dave (Wolfie) Moon – Mandolin, Acoustic Guitar, Bass & Vocals
  • Paul Rhodes – Drums

The Spooky Men’s Chorale

As thunderous as a herd of wildebeest, as sly as a wagonload of Spike Milligans and as sonorous as a cloister of monks, the Spooky Men’s Chorale are the gift that keeps on giving.

They emerged blithering and blinking-eyed from the Blue Mountains of NSW in 2001, and armed with no more than their voices, a nice line in deadpan and an ill-matched set of hats, have been gleefully disturbing audiences everywhere since.

Formed by NZ-born spookmeister Stephen Taberner, the Spooky Men soon attracted attention with a judicious combination of Georgian table songs, pindrop beautiful ballads, highly inappropriate covers, and a swag of original songs which seek to both celebrate the “boof” and mock it.

The Spooky Men’s CV includes nine tours of the UK, six CDs, sell-out shows at theatrical venues like the Melbourne Recital Centre, and festival appearances too numerous to mention. Faced with a mid-life crisis, they chose not to become a tribute band to themselves, but instead find ever fresher, deeper, more ludicrous perspectives, such as those found in their latest album Welcome to the second half.

Always renowned for a combination of Visigothic bravado, absurdist humour and eye-moistening tenderness, the Spookies in middle age, and fortified with a new generation of wunderkids, are more masters of their territory than ever before. They will delicately garnish their much-loved black-catalogue with new incursions into beauty and stupidity, somewhat like a chocolate muffin with bits of chocolate in it. You must see them, really you must.

“Inspired – and a triumph of choreography! Catch them on the road – a fantastic night out is guaranteed!”
Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2

“High camp, epic folly – probably the best programming choice of the entire summer festival circuit”
The Irish Times

“Highly theatrical, they veer from weird to touching and back again. Grown up entertainment in the best, most infantile way. Don’t miss an opportunity to see them”
Daily Telegraph

Seth Lakeman

Westcountry folk singer and multi-instrumentalist Seth Lakeman was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize in 2005 for ‘Kitty Jay’. Seth’s thrilling solo performance of the eponymous title track on live television won him unanimous praise and started him on an incredible solo journey which has included record deals, 11 album releases (including 6 Top 40), BBC Radio 2 playlisted singles, a clutch of awards and touring all over the world. 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the album’s release.

Seth released his latest and 11th studio album Make Your Mark in November 2021. The album features 14 powerful, brand-new songs including the singles Higher We Aspire and title track Make Your Mark which were playlisted at BBC Radio 2. Seth was also delighted to be asked in late 2022 to record on Van Morrison’s new album ‘Moving On Skiffle’ which was released in March this year and he collaborated with Public Service Broadcasting. He has previously worked and toured extensively with Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin) with his band the Sensational Space Shifters.

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    'I'm looking forward to seeing you at Wickham' says our Festival Patron Johnny Kalsi (Afro Celts/Dhol Foundation/Dream in Colours') Join Johnny for a great Festival weekend. 1st-4th Aug. Tickets onsale via www.wickhamfestival.co.uk ... See MoreSee Less

    7 hours ago
    One of many great live bands making their Wickham debut next weekend, Dream in Colours feat. Steve Knightley (Show of Hands), Johnny Kalsi (Afro Celts / Dhol Foundation); Bennet Cervan (Trouble Notes) & Eliza Marshall (Ranagri)  See them on Sat. Aug. 3rd. www.wickhamfestival.co.uk/line-up

    One of many great live bands making their Wickham debut next weekend, Dream in Colours feat. Steve Knightley (Show of Hands), Johnny Kalsi (Afro Celts / Dhol Foundation); Bennet Cervan (Trouble Notes) & Eliza Marshall (Ranagri) See them on Sat. Aug. 3rd. www.wickhamfestival.co.uk/line-up ... See MoreSee Less

    12 hours ago

    7 CommentsComment on Facebook

    Shame there’s a clash with ferocious dog 😔 but looking forward to our 6th Wickham

    Really looking forward to seeing this grouping

    Oh fabulous what an amazing grouping!!

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    Our Twitter Feed

    With a little over a week until #WickhamFestival 2024, get in the mood by listening to exclusive backstage interviews from last year:

    It’s not long until @festivalwickham, and we will be firing up the grill once again to serve delicious breakfasts for the happy campers in our field 🥓🍳

    Breakfast will be served daily, from Thursday to Monday, from 7am! 😋

    Wickham History Walks are back for 2024! Just £5 for a one and a half hour stroll around the village with a local history guide.

    This year sees the return of the SIGNED GUITAR RAFFLE, raising money for @GeorgesRockstar!

    The guitar, kindly donated by @PalmBayGuitars, will be signed by a number of artists appearing at #WickhamFestival 2024.

    For more info and tickets, visit https://georgesrockstars.com/wickham/