Starting our Sundays witha choir has proved very popular so we thought we’d make it a great way to start our Saturday too. Encore Choirs will make their Wickham Festival debut and kick off action at 12 noon on Saturday 1st August.

Founded in 2019, Encore Choirs brings people together through a shared love of singing, creating uplifting musical experiences that welcome everyone, regardless of background or ability.

Their mission is simple: to offer a fun, relaxed and rewarding space for people to explore their voice, make new friends and feel part of something truly special. Whether you’re a complete beginner or someone with plenty of singing experience, their doors are open.

The Wickham branch of Encore choirs is a welcoming and inclusive group where you can meet new friends, develop your singing skills, and be part of a supportive community. If you’re searching for a welcoming and lively choir in Wickham, look no further than Encore Choirs.

Archie couldn’t resist a sing, how about you…

The electrifying sound of Birmingham’s fiery, (un)traditional folk band Bonfire Radicals is both intensely creative and irresistibly fun. Their live set is a frenzy of energy – “dynamic and high octane” (Fatea Magazine) – and captures the adventurous breadth of their musical imaginations which emerge from a melting pot of original and traditional tunes from the British Isles to the Balkans.

Their recently released album, ‘The Space Between’, was met with great acclaim and went straight into the UK Folk Charts at #13.

The band features a front line of recorders, fiddle, clarinet, and vocals set alongside a punchy rhythm section of electric guitar, bass, and drums. French melodies decorate African groves, delicate English folk song is underscored by Heavy Metal, Klezmer moves through moments of Art Rock, Brazilian drumming accompanies snapping Scottish Strathspeys.

Amy’s Original band led by her long-term Musical Director/bass player and close friend Dale Davis, celebrate her era defining global music and live performances, keeping her spirit and legacy and the Amy Winehouse sound alive in a true connection only possible by Amy’s original band.

Fronted by an incredible female singer chosen by Dale Davis, the show features on-screen visuals and unique footage (at equipped venues) and has become an unforgettable experience and celebration for audiences young & old alike with sell out shows, tours & festival stages, worldwide including South America, Paris, Helsinki, Athens, London, Jakarta.

Amy Winehouse continues to touch millions worldwide with every new generation connecting deeply with her music. She is arguably the greatest female voice to have ever come out of the UK, a national & international treasure and for so many, simply the greatest artist of her generation. Amy is missed by everyone who loved her and her music.

Bringing you all of Amy’s hits and masterpieces from the multi award winning albums, Back To Black, Frank and Lioness …..‘Rehab’  ‘Valerie’ ‘Back To Black’  ‘Love Is A losing Game’ ‘Tears Dry On Their Own’ ‘I’m No Good’ and many more.

Dale Davis – Amy’s MD/bass player and close friend. “Amy was amazing. She had such a big heart and gave everything to her music and the people she loved. Hers is such an important musical legacy and with this show we aim to keep it alive throughout the world”.

Hawi Gondwe – Guitar. “She was inspired by the best jazz and soul music and through that developed a compelling style of her own, our show lets us celebrate and continue Amy’s hugely important place in musical history.”

Nathen Allen – Drums. “ Performing and recording with Amy was simply as good as it gets.”

Henry Collins – Trumpet. “Amy was a beautiful person inside and out and a musical inspiration to us all.”

Ade Omotayo –BV’s & front man.  “Amy was truly magical., In my life she was like an angel.”

What people say

…Amy’s original band are keeping her flame burning brightly
NME April 2024 

‘‘That was incredible, insane, amazing’’  Live TV Performance
Holly Willoughby  ‘This Morning’  ITV1 UK 

…the band are keeping Amy’s songs and spirit alive
The Times 

‘Truly an honour to hear this amazing band once again. I shut my eyes and I was listening to Amy’
Waterfront Norwich

‘Whilst Amy might not be around anymore, her spirit absolutely lives on with her band’
Chris Proctor, Head of Programme – Birmingham Symphony Hall / B:Music Ltd

Jim Causley is a folk-singer, award winning songwriter, musician, proud Devonian and all-round entertainer. He grew up in a wassailing village not far from Sidmouth Folk Festival and found his voice singing with local choirs. He studied Performing Arts and Jazz & Popular Music at Exeter College where he cut his teeth performing in bands on the Exeter music scene before heading to the University of Newcastle upon Tyne to study on their brand new degree course in Folk & Traditional Music. He rose to prominence singing with The Devil’s Interval and Mawkin:Causley as well as touring with Waterson:Carthy and David Rotheray. In recent years his work has focused on his musical settings of poems by his relative Charles Causley, penning his own songs and reviving lost gems from his home county.

Miranda Sykes started her career as a musician in 1996 at the age of 18, playing bass guitar in a country rock band. After 2 years touring and playing for line dancing in working mens clubs across Britain, folk-rock band Pressgang were looking for a bass player. Miranda spent the next 2 years touring internationally with them. After a few years of musical promiscuity playing with Firebrand, Little Johnny England, Robb Johnson, Bill Jones, Steafan Hannigan, Reg Meuross, Kirsty McGee, The Phil Beer Band, Martyn Joseph and The Scoville Units; Miranda depped for Pete Zorn in the 2004 Show Of Hands festival band line up. She worked with them for the next 20 years. Miranda also found time for a short tour and album with the Miranda Sykes Band in 2005, duo album tours with mandolin player Rex Preston and 2 solo albums. 2024 brings a second tour with Hannah Martin, a new Baring-Gould Centenary project with Jim Causley, summer festivals with vocal group Daphne’s Flight, a tour with The Phil Beer Trio and a new solo album and tour “Out Of The Woods”.

Black Umfolosi performances are inspired by the traditional song and dance of their native southern Africa, with a beauty and enthusiasm that is unrivalled. Their performances are energy driven and completely engaging, mixing a great gentleness of spirit and song with an exuberance in dance. Their trademark harmonies mixed with intricate rhythms, clicking and clapping are highlighted during their brilliantly choreographed shows with a full range of movements from subtle to vibrant stomping and leaping! 

Their famous Gumboot Dances showcase the traditional styles and rituals of the South African mining regions and are a particular crowd pleaser.The group formed in 1982 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, naming themselves after the Umfolozi Omnyama River –an area to which their ancestors can be traced to. Arguably Zimbabwe’s greatest ambassadors, the group have toured the UK many times building up a lasting relationship with venues and their fans. They have a natural ability to communicate passion and feeling in their spectacular performances that thrill audiences worldwide.

Mashing their own brew of pop-punk and folk since 2013, Black Water County continue on their mission to provide merriment and moshing to the masses by relentlessly touring the UK and Europe.

Drawing inspiration from their favourite pop punk bands growing up, such as Green Day, Sum 41 and The Offspring as well as their self-discovered affinity to folk legends such as The Pogues, Flogging Molly and Bellowhead, the fusion of folk melody and instrumentation with driving, high energy drums and guitar have continued to forge the distinctive sound through the years.

Their debut album ‘Taking Chances’ was released in 2017, with the sophomore album ‘Comedies and Tragedies’ being released three years later during the first lockdown of 2020. Lastly, newest release ‘The Only Life Worth Living’ came out to the masses in 2023 boasting four singles, including one featuring guest vocalist Hannah Greenwood of Creeper. All three releases were released independently and were produced and mixed by Lewis Johns of The Ranch Studio UK.

To date the band’s UK festival appearances include Cropredy, WOMAD, Boomtown, Beautiful Days, Belladrum, Black Deer, Camp Bestival along with hundreds of smaller UK festivals and beyond, venturing into Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Czech Republic and France.

In both 2016 and 2018, Black Water County won their place on Fireball’s ‘Fuelling the Fire Tour’ supporting Less Than Jake, Flogging Molly, The Bronx and The Skints. They subsequently featured in Kerrang!’s online coverage of the tour, received an endorsement from Fireball UK and also appeared on BBC radio stations with the single ‘Rise and Fall’.

John Jones is best known as the powerful and charismatic singer with Oysterband, veterans of the folk and roots scene since the 1980s. They started as The Whitstable Oyster Company Ceilidh Band, one of the best ceilidh bands in the business, which then evolved into the folk/punk/rock group Oysterband, releasing over 20 albums and playing every major festival in the UK, Europe and Canada. They recorded and toured with some of the UK’s most revered folk artists, including acclaimed tours and two award-winning albums with singer June Tabor.

John’s solo work developed alongside his Oysterband duties. In 2009, he released his first solo album, Rising Road, and began walking between gigs with musicians and fans in a group he called The Reluctant Ramblers. In ten years, the Reluctant Ramblers walked over 1000 miles between shows and John released his second album, Never Stop Moving, in 2015.

Now, with Oysterband saying farewell to their armies of faithful fans across the UK and Europe with their hugely successful The Long Goodbye tour, John is about to embark on his next chapter, enlisting the help of his two long-standing friends and fellow musicians: Ray Cooper a.k.a. Chopper and Al Scott. Ray joined Oysterband in 1990 and brought in the cello sound alongside his bass and backing vocals before leaving in 2013 to go solo. Al has been associated with Oysterband for over 30 years as producer and stand-in guitarist. Al joined the band in 2013.

Between them, the trio play a variety of instruments and will be performing a range of songs and tunes from over the years, from each of their back catalogues, alongside new songs and traditional numbers.

The Song Goes On Tour launches across the UK in Spring 2026, with further dates planned at summer festivals and in winter 2026, and with European shows in the pipeline as well. So whilst one chapter may be coming to an end, another is just beginning: The Song Goes On!

Rob Clamp & The Ashmen will be back at Wickham on Saturday 1st August following their successful debut last year. It’s not often you come across a voice with such controlled power: even at the emotional heights and depths of the songs, Rob’s voice retains a purity and focus that is all too rare. Wherever his song-writing leads him, his voice adapts to the genre, from pop through folk and roots. A classic voice for classic music.’ Rob has been featured on BBC introducing, has won the highly regarded ‘Purbeck Rising 2022’ imprinting himself onto the UK folk scene, and won the ‘Sofia International Singer Songwriter Festival 2022’ in Bulgaria. Rob’s music is filled with real life experiences, performed in his own compelling storytelling style, with acoustic guitar accompanied by a variation of foot percussion.

The Ashmen are all multi-instrumentalists, banjo and drums, electric and double bass, keyboard and mandolin, violin and harmonica, while Rob plays acoustic and foot percussion. With such a line-up, their sound sits comfortably across folk-rock and americana – reflecting Rob’s British and American influences.

Gilkicker Weevils made their Wickham debut in 2025 as a duo (pictured above). They impressed us so much that this year we’re welcoming them back on Saturday 1st August in their three-piece guise.

Stories and songs from Hampshire, country & coast, Gilkicker Weevils are a contemporary folk and roots band with a rocky flare. Whether through big hooky chorus’s, heartfelt ballads or fast paced footstompers, their feet are firmly planted in the ancient folk tradition of storytelling. You’ll immerse yourself in history and folklore through their catchy folk rock melodies. 

We’re delighted to confirm that top Irish band The Saw Doctors will headline on the Saturday 1st August  2026.

“ If The Saw Doctors could bottle the sort of bonhomie that can make an entire concert hall feel better, they would have the medicine show to end them all”
Paul Sexton, The Times

The Saw Doctors were discovered by Mike Scott of The Waterboys on a stormy Tuesday night in Galway in the 1980’s, plying their trade with more gumption than virtuosity in the back room of The Quays Bar. Scott offered The Saw Doctors the support slot on The Waterboy’s Irish Tour to launch the ‘Fisherman’s Blues’ album in 1988 and before the tour was completed, Mike asked The Saw Doctors to support The Waterboys on their six-week tour of Great Britain in Spring 1989.

Mike Scott produced The Saw Doctors first single, ‘N17’, which was written by the band’s singer Davy Carton and guitarist Leo Moran. ’N17’ got a few plays on Irish radio and a second single was scheduled to be released to fulfil the band’s two-record deal with Solid Records in Dublin.

With Philip Tennant, whom they had met through Mike Scott, now on the producer’s perch, The Saw Doctors went to the haunted Loco Studios in Wales and put down three tracks – ‘It Won’t Be Tonight’, ‘I Useta Lover’ and ’Sing A Powerful Song’.

After much debate, it was eventually decided that ‘I Useta Lover’ would be the second release from The Saw Doctors. The Galway band plugged away at gigs around Ireland and scored an early afternoon slot at the coming-of-age Irish festival of its time, Féile, in Thurles, in August 1990. The Welsh ghost must have brought them luck for that Sunday evening, they learnt that ‘I Useta Lover’ had somehow entered the Irish single charts at No. 27, from where it slowly climbed, taking seven weeks to reach Number One and remaining on top for the following nine weeks, going on to become the biggest selling Irish single, outselling U2 and Sinéad O’Connor. The Saw Doctors were now known the length and breadth of Ireland and beyond.

Things got fast for The Saw Doctors. A Channel 4, film documentary, ‘Sing A Powerful Song’, was shot in Manchester and at a homecoming concert in the Football Stadium in Tuam and it aired in Britain and Ireland. The Saw Doctors made their first trip to The United States in 1991, a journey they have made almost a hundred times since.

Through the 1990’s, The Saw Doctors chalked up well-received appearances at numerous prestigious festivals including Witness, Oxegen and Slane Castle in Ireland; Glastonbury, T in the Park, the London Fleadh in Britain as well as at its Fleadh cousins across the Atlantic in New York and San Francisco, and garnered a reputation for being a powerful and exciting live band, playing gigs in Ireland, Britain and the USA, with the odd trip to Australia, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Holland, France and Belgium.

A handful of singles went Top 20 in the British Charts through the nineties & The Saw Doctors appeared on BBC’s ‘Top of the Pops’ three times with ‘Small Bit Of Love’, ‘To Win Just Once’ and ‘World Of Good’. The Saw Doctors third album ’Same Oul’ Town’ reached No. 6 in the UK Album Charts in 1996.

The end of 2011 brought another surprise hit for The Saw Doctors – having included a verse and chorus of ‘Downtown’ in the show-closing ‘Hay Wrap’, the band noticed that ‘Downtown’ captured the imagination of the audience, making it a potential contender for the Christmas single. On a long-shot, producer Phillip Tennant got in touch with Petula Clark’s manager and a recording session was arranged in London where the old 60’s classic was re-vamped and recorded – ‘The Saw Doctors featuring Petula Clark’! The lively duet made it to number 2 in the Irish singles Christmas chart.

After a five-year break from touring, The Saw Doctors staged a brilliant comeback in 2023 with sold out shows in London at Hammersmith Apollo, New York at Hammerstein Ballroom and two homecoming shows in Tuam, Co. Galway where they played to 10,000 people in St. Jarlath’s Arena. Perhaps their most enjoyable and memorable performance was  when they graced the stage at Wickham Festvial that year 🙂

The Saw Doctors are powered by song writers Davy Carton (vocals) and Leo Moran (guitar) with a band lineup including former Waterboy Anthony Thistlethwaite on saxophone, Rickie O’Neill, drums, Pearse Doherty, bass guitar, Kieran Duddy, keyboards, Noelie McDonnell, backing vocals and Tommy Carton, backing vocals.

“Born into a repressed, catholic, conservative, small-town, agrarian, angst-ridden & showband infested society, The Saw Doctors are trying to preserve the positive elements of our Irish background and marry them to the sounds which have culturally invaded our milieu through TV, radio, social media, 45’s, fast food restaurants, 24-hour petrol stations & electric blankets”.
Leo Moran, The Saw Doctors

Kathryn first took up the smallpipes at the age of 9. She learnt tunes from hill-shepherd friends and family, recording them on her trusty cassette player. Since then she has taken the musical spirit of ancient Northumbria to stages all over the world.

As well as her own acclaimed concerts and recordings, she has recorded and played with Sting, The Chieftains, Penguin Café, Eveyln Glennie, Jacob Collier, Royal Northern Sinfonia and many more. She was awarded the OBE for services to folk music. Kathryn also presents ‘Music Planet’ for BBC Radio 3.

“…a euphoric experience… edgy, dark dance-based adventures, precise virtuoso instrumental wizardry and magical, haunting soundscapes”
Fatea

“Dynamic and breathless jigs and spins… this is the energy we want!”
The List (Celtic Connections)

“…the best living advertisement for English folk music.”
The Daily Telegraph

Legendary Irish folk music band Dervish, are one of Ireland’s best known traditional bands and are described by the BBC as “an icon of Irish music”.

Dervish received a prestigious lifetime achievement award from the BBC in 2019, a fitting tribute to the band after over 30 years of recording and performing all over the world, playing at festivals from Rio to Glastonbury.

Dervish have a line-up which includes some of Ireland’s finest traditional musicians, fronted by one of the country’s best-known singers, Cathy Jordan. Regarded by many as the most distinctive voice and finest front-woman in Irish traditional music today – the instrumental line-up of fiddle, flute, bouzouki, mandola, bodhran and accordion draw from seemingly limitless depths of talent, finesse, subtlety and fiery energy. Exceptional musicianship, breath-taking vocals, vibrant sets of tunes and instantly compelling songs all come together to make Dervish as complete a band as are to be found anywhere in the tradition.

Dervish are regular visitors to the US, performing sell out shows from coast to coast. However, their fan base stretches across several continents, including Europe, Asia, and South America. They were the first Irish band to play the world’s biggest music festival, Rock in Rio, performing to an estimated 250,000 people. Over the years they’ve been on the same bill as artists such as James Brown, Neil Young, Sting and even Iron Maiden!

All six members of Dervish are steeped in the musical traditions of counties Sligo and Leitrim in north-west Ireland. It’s an area which matches Atlantic coastline with storied mountains and rural landscapes. It has inspired a host of musicians, artists and writers, including the Nobel Prize-winning poet W. B. Yeats.

Ferocious Dog will be performing at Wickham Festival 2026 on Saturday 1st August.  They’ve been hailed as “a representation of our gut feeling, savage and merciless” and at the same time, called “folk in the grand tradition of it being the peoples sound.” Ferocious Dog, however are all those things.

2026 will be the final year of Ferocious Dog… but of course not before one last stop along the way at a certain field with us in Hampshire. They are not bowing out quietly!!! Let’s tear it up together one last time together in 2026.

Ferocious Dog has emerged as a prominent figure in the music world, renowned for their dynamic and authentic folk-punk sound that echoes the essence of Nottinghamshire. The band is celebrated for their narrative-driven lyrics that adeptly address social, political, and personal issues, striking a chord with their audience.

The journey began in 2011 with the release of their debut single “Ferocious Dog,” laying the foundation for a diverse and profound discography. Their first album, released in 2013, highlighted their dedication to storytelling, a hallmark of their musical identity.

“Ferocious dog are a very socially conscious band and their music and lyrics are designed not only to make you smile and sing along but also to make you feel something.”
Folk-Metal.NL.

Over the years, Ferocious Dog has expanded their repertoire significantly. Projects like “Ferocious Dog 3 Piece Acoustic” in 2014 and the acoustic version of “From Without” in 2017 showcased their ability to strip their music back to its core while retaining its impactful message.

Their albums, including “From Without” (2015) and “Red” (2017), have further established the band’s status in the folk-punk genre, blending poignant lyrics with engaging melodies and capturing a growing international fanbase.

The band’s commitment to exploring current issues was evident in their 2019 album “Fake News & Propaganda,” which ventured into introspective and critical territory, reflecting on complex societal themes.

In 2021, “The Hope” marked a significant milestone, highlighting the band’s expanding audience and the wide-reaching appeal of their music with its chart success.

“9/10 Earning a reputation as the UK’s most exciting Folk Punk band for good reason”
Vive Le Rock·

Their singles, such as “Hell Hounds,” “The Landscape Artist,” and the collaboration “Psychedelic Spin” with Dr. Peacock, have contributed to their evolving narrative, each revealing different facets of their artistic journey.

Ferocious Dog has established themselves as much more than a conventional band. They serve as a powerful voice for stories that are often untold or overlooked, embodying a spirit of resilience and insight. As the band continues to evolve, their unwavering dedication to producing music that is not just entertaining but also empowering and enlightening shines through. They express sincere gratitude to everyone who has contributed to their journey and warmly invite fans to join them as they continue to make their mark in the music world.

“This is serious social commentary with superb tunes and Dan Booth’s sublime violin takes the listener on a rollercoaster of emotion”
W.D Emsley

“Without doubt Ferocious Dog are one of the best bands on the UK folk punk circuit as they brought Rock City to life with their stomping, energetic sound. Not only are they one of the most hardworking bands around, but as their fans will testify, they are also one of the most approachable”
Nottingham Post. Kevin Cooper

The Alistair Goodwin Band will be performing on Saturday 1st August.  The band members are as follows:

• Alistair Goodwin – Guitar, Vocal
• Nigel Rippon – Cello
• Age Gould – Cajon
• Nigel Davies-Patrick – Bass

Hard-driven freak-folk steeped in psychedelia, country-punk and urban blues – you won’t know what to call it but you’ll want to keep hearing it.
Alistair’s raw vocal-guitar sound is taken to new dimensions by an actual wizard, whose soul-tripping electric cello sweeps you from rock to flamenco via trance and whale song.

Add percussion, grunge bass and some Nigels, and the result is a musical oddity of strange and rare beauty.

To illustrate the diversity, the audio embed below is the full Alistair Goodwin Band whilst the video at the bottom is from a solo performance.

Since first picking up a guitar at the age of three the instrument has held a lifelong fascination for Alistair. His love of acoustic music has led him to play with an extremely wide range of musicians from street performers to the classically trained.

“Powerful vocals and mastery of the guitar make this guy a must see.”

“A unique and wholly original talent and after having seen him play live on a number of occasions, including a session on the programme, I’m very happy to confirm that.”

“If you’re a fan of acoustic music that’s firmly rooted in the Troubadour tradition then you’ll enjoy Alistair’s music.”

Phil Jackson, BBC Introducing

Described as gutsy driven acoustic roots, Alistair’s live performances blend melody, rhythm and vocal talent into a heartfelt and heady brew. Recent performances include radio exposure on the South Coast’s Spirit FM, live interviews and performances on the BBC’s Radio Solent and for Portsmouth and Southampton Television. His frequent live performances at venues across London and the south coast of England continue to build an impressively awed and loyal following in his musical wake.