Madison Violet is a Canadian Juno-nominated female musical duo, consisting of Lisa MacIsaac and Brenley MacEachern. 2025 marks the 25th anniversary of Madison Violet. A rare and impressive feat that they are both proud of and grateful for.

The pair, who both have roots in rural Cape Breton, came together musically in the late 1990s. Influenced by their maritime heritage, Brenley and Lisa began creating music together that had roots firmly planted in their past, but with contemporary and modern elements generously overlaid. Categorizing Madison Violet’s music is an impossible task, in that one can hear elements of folk, singer-songwriter, pop, indie, bluegrass, and country flawlessly interwoven throughout.

MacIsaac and MacEachern are exceptional story tellers, skilled multi-instrumentalists, and together, perfect harmonists. Their voices soar, perfectly complimenting each other, as they sing lyrics that will both mend and break your heart.

MacIsaac and MacEachern have released more than 10 albums together. Their latest record “eleven” was self-recorded and produced, ranking MacIssac and MacEachern among the less than 2.1% of female-identifying music producers in the industry.

“Eleven” is considered their most candid album to date, filled with deeply personal stories of love and loss.

The musicians have received dozens of notable accolades for their work, including a JUNO nomination for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year. They have brought home a Canadian Folk Music Award for Best Vocal Group Album of the Year, have reached the top 5 on the Canadian iTunes download charts, amassed over one million streams on Spotify, and have placed on CBC’s Top 20 multiple times throughout their career.

Their music is consistently played across Canada and throughout the world, and the internationally acclaimed artists are no strangers to receiving glowing reviews for both their studio work, and live performances.

MacIsaac and MacEachern currently live in and around Toronto, Ontario, tour internationally, identify as members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and are fervent advocates for social justice.

Richard Thompson’s musical influence cannot be overstated. Having co-founded the groundbreaking group Fairport Convention as a teenager in the ‘60s, he and his bandmates invented the distinctive strain of British Folk Rock. He left the group by the age of 21 which was followed by a decade long musical partnership with his then wife Linda, to over 30 years as a highly successful solo artist.

In 2011, Thompson received an OBE (Order of the British Empire) personally bestowed upon him by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. The Los Angeles Times called him “the finest rock songwriter after Dylan and the best electric guitarist since Hendrix” and Rolling Stone has named him one of the Top 100 Guitarists of All Time. He has received lifetime achievement awards for songwriting from the BBC Radio 2 Awards, the Americana Music Association, and was awarded the prestigious Ivor Novello Award. His song “1952 Vincent Black Lightning” was named one of TIME Magazine’s “100 Greatest Songs Since 1923.”

A wide range of musicians have recorded Thompson’s songs including Robert Plant, Elvis Costello, R.E.M., Sleater-Kinney, Del McCoury, Bonnie Raitt, Tom Jones, David Byrne, Don Henley, Los Lobos, and many more. His massive body of work includes many Grammy nominated albums as well as numerous soundtracks, including Werner Herzog’s Grizzly Man and 2019’s The Cold Blue.

His genre defying mastery of both acoustic and electric guitar along with engaging energy and onstage wit continue to earn him new fans and a place as one of the most distinctive virtuosos and writers in Folk Rock history. In May 2024 Richard Thompson released to critical acclaim, Ship To Shore, his first studio album in six years.

The Thumping Tommys are a London based Folk/Bluegrass/Americana band. They have toured extensively throughout the UK and Europe captivating audiences with their heady brew of barn-storming, blues infused Irish, American and English folk music.

Quickly establishing a reputation as one of the most sought after groups on the British folk music scene, The Thumping Tommys are a collection of talented musicians specialising in old-time music. Having played internationally at many great festival stages, bars and clubs, The Thumping Tommys play a heady brew of Irish and American folk music performed with a distinctly English style, which has established them as one of the most entertaining groups working in the UK right now.

Eabhal have made a significant impact on the Scottish music scene with their vibrant and energetic folk music. The band’s distinctive West Coast sound and dedication to their craft have earned them a prestigious Folk Band of the Year nomination in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2022 amongst multiple other awards and nominations over the past 10 years.

Eabhal have released two albums to date, the debut This is How The Ladies Dance in 2018 and the second Aisling, which was released in 2022 and showcased an array of new arrangements and both Gaelic and English songs. The band’s focus on kinship and connection to people and land, elevation, journies and language are all reflected in their music and identity. Although they all come from different backgrounds and places, each member was immersed in traditional music, and their collective passion for their craft is evident in every song and performance.

Current members are Kaitlin Ross (Vocals), Megan MacDonald (Accordion), Nicky Kirk (Guitar), Robbie Greig (Fiddle), and Ewan Duncan (Pipes & Whistle). The band bid farewell to their former members Jamie MacDonald and Hamish Hepburn in 2021/22, with Hamish emigrating to Canada and Jamie off to explore new opportunities. However, they are thrilled to embark on a fresh chapter with Robbie and Ewan.

Eabhal’s achievements in their career include the successful release and tour of their second album, Aisling, which took them to stunning locations like Glenelg, Ardgour, and Tobermory. Additionally, the band has been fortunate enough to showcase their talents at World Music Asia in Shanghai and perform at various shows in the US in 2018, prior to the pandemic.

Eabhal are eagerly anticipating what lies ahead as they gear up for their next chapter. With their third album currently in progress and a fresh lineup, the band is ready to continue its journey and elevate traditional music to new heights.

We’re delighted to announce that chart-topping singer songwriter Leo Sayer will be at Wickham next year on Saturday 2nd August 2025.  Songwriter, singer and performer – Leo Sayer excels at all three. Throughout his long and successful career Leo has resisted being forced down one avenue at the expense of the other two, determined to develop his career to encompass his many talents.

Gerard Hugh Sayer was born in May 1948 in Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex, England. After studying graphic design at Art College he began his working life as an illustrator in London, playing blues harmonica by night in folk clubs. During this period (the year is now 1968) he began to write songs and in 1972 met David Courtney, an ex-drummer for 60’s pop star Adam Faith.

David and Leo started co-writing and shortly afterwards Leo Sayer signed a management contract with Adam Faith. The trio did not have to wait long for success and this came in 1973 when Roger Daltrey, Lead singer with The Who recorded Leo and David’s Giving It All Away for his debut solo album. The singer reached number 5 in the UK and hit the Top 10 in the states. Leo Sayer had arrived. He had been brought to public attention on both sides of the Atlantic and the subsequent release of his first album, Silver Bird, on Chrysalis, proved a major 1973 release.

Leo’s single, The Show Must Go On, hit number 2 in Britain, while Three Dog Night, the American group, released a version which went to number 5 in the US. Chart success was followed by concert appearances supporting Roxy Music where he frequently stole the show with his now famous white face and Pierrot costume. The Leo frenzy continued to grow and spilled over into the States where his headline tour drew rave reviews from the critics and public alike in New York and Los Angeles.

A two-month headlining tour of the US was followed by the release of Leo’s second album, Just A Boy, from which the singles, One-Man Band, Train and Long Tall Glasses were huge international hits. A series of concerts followed in Australia where Leo (by now the clown image had been discarded) became a favourite with fans – a mutual affection which endures and goes from strength to strength.

In 1975 Leo was back in the UK with Moonlighting to the top of the charts (taken from the album Another Year), co-writing by Leo and Frank Farrell, Leo’s bass player at the time. The release of Here in 1979 and World Radio in 1981 saw Leo once again collaborating with David Courtney.

A major turning point in Leo Sayer’s career came in 1976 when he began working in Los Angeles with producer Richard Perry. Perry was originally more impressed with Leo’s own composition, You Make Me Feel Like Dancing, became his first US number 1 hit and won, in 1977, a Grammy Award for the best R & B song. Endless Flight turned out to be Leo’s most successful album to date, particularly in the States with When I Need You a second number 1, and How Much Love also hitting the US top 40.

The US success had positive reverberations around the world resulting in When I Need You becoming number 1 in almost every major territory and the BBC in England offering Leo his own series. This project was so successful that it was extended into the eighties with two further Leo Sayer TV series.

Two more albums with Richard Perry followed, Thunder In My Heart in 1977 and Leo Sayer in 1978. Leo was at this time resident in Los Angeles, and on a constant touring schedule in the US as one of the major headline acts in the country.

Leo returned to Britain in 1980, recording his first album in the UK for five years with Alan Tarney co-writing and producing Living in A Fantasy. His version of More Than I Can Say went to number 2 both in the UK and US charts.

In 1981 Leo embarked on highly successful world tour, taking in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Hawaii, the US and Canada. Somehow he found time to record his ninth album World Radio with Arif Mardin, the celebrated New York producer. Have You Ever Been In Love from the album was yet another international hit single?

In 1983 the critically acclaimed Orchard Road was conceived by Leo and Alan Tarney, and was one of the major hits from that year’s Have You Ever Been In Love album.

In 1989 Leo Sayer returned to the studio to record the album Cool Touch. Leo and Alan Tarney had got together yet again and in a remarkable 28 days recorded ten new songs, the album proving especially popular in Germany and Japan.

In 1990 Leo had a unique opportunity to play two concerts in Moscow to capacity audiences at the Olympic Hall. It was a long overdue visit judging by the reaction of the Muscovites, who were very familiar with his hit songs. This was followed in 1991 by a tour of Australia and New Zealand.

In 1992, Leo made his final record for Chrysalis, All The Best, the definitive compilation of his greatest hits, which included cover design and liner notes from the man himself. The album became a big success back home in the UK.

In late 2004 Leo was preparing to fulfil a lifetime ambition, leaving England to live in Australia, when he received a request from a U.K. based DJ to remix his 1977 classic “Thunder In My Heart”. Beautifully re-worked as Thunder In My Heart Again by DJ Meck (and Bimbo Jones) this became a monster dance hit all over the world, so in 2005, having just settled in Australia, Leo had achieved his second official No.1. in the U.K.

In June 2016, Leo had teamed up with Scottish legend, Lulu, for a tour of Australia and New Zealand. With both of them being the same vintage and with two strong voices that matched superbly, the tour was judged a great success. It was the first time Lulu had performed down under. The year ended up with Leo performing in Sydney for ‘Carols In The Domain’, a massively popular free concert which annually heralded Christmas into sunny Sydney. 

In 2022, Leo had reached a milestone in his career, as it had been 50 years since that first single by Patches, the recording of his Silverbird album and Roger Daltrey’s recording sessions, singing his and David Courtney’s early songs. To celebrate this, Leo with his British band performed a 32-date tour across the UK from September to November, also finding time revisit the postponed dates he’d missed in Ireland the previous year.

By popular request, The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican will be back at Wickham on Saturday 2nd August 2025.

Put on yer finest knitted gladrags, style your barnet, put on your dancing shoes and bring your finest singing voices, as we cordially invite you to witness the Greatest Show On Earth (in tank-tops).

Hailing from Barnsley Rock City in t’North, Yorkshire’s hardest working comedy band, The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican, are on a mission! Determined to follow in their spiritual father’s immortal footsteps and keep his legacy alive, they have a talent for Bar-Stewardizing other famous people’s songs with new comedy lyrics, on acoustic geetar, ukulele, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, accordion, keyboard and kazoo. To complete their squeaky-clean image, estranged brothers Scott, Björn and Alan have become instantly recognisable for their immaculate hair and their stylish choice of knitwear.
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The Bar-Steward Sons have, in their 11 year history played over 850 side-splitting shows and have brought smiles and belly-laughs to audiences across the UK; from Barnsley to Barnstaple, from Glasgow to Glastonbury.

They continue to wow audiences with a fine selection of their greatest hits, including the likes of “Jump Ararnd”, “Tarnlife”, “The Lady In Greggs”, “Nandos”, “Fight For Your Pint”, “Bono Bloody Bono”, “Since You’ve Been Ron”, “She’s From Dodworth”, “Walking In Manpiss” and “If I Could Punch A Face… It’d Be Justin Bieber’s”.

Merry Hell have firmly become a Wickham favourite, last performing in 2023.  Multi-award winning Merry Hell offer joyful, uplifting folk-rock, with a message for troubled times. Native to the North-West of England, the 8-piece musical charabanc was fuelled from the embers of the much-loved folk-punk band The Tansads, before developing a life and feel all of its own. Their energy and passion are complemented by their love of what they do and desire to share hope and togetherness with as many people as are willing to listen. Through 7 well-received albums and hundreds of gigs, they’ve offered voices of hope and beacons of light to anyone valuing spirit, energy, melody and positive humanity.

Merry Hell are a band founded on the ever evolving Folk tradition – music made by the people and shared by the people. Though their hearts and souls are tuned to the songs which came before them, they bring you new words and music forged from their own experiences, from the lows and the loves of theirs lives. Their art is energy and their hope is unity. Their pleasure is to please, let the audience be the acid test and let the music speak for itself!

During 2014, Merry Hell played over twenty festivals, including a highlight support slot to Richard Thompson at Towersey, undertook its first national tour in Spring, a further tour in October, plus a ten date acoustic jaunt around the folk clubs and arts centres of Northern Britain.  In March, 2015 they released their third album, The Ghost In Our House and Other Stories.

In 2017 they proposed an alternative National Anthem – Come On, England!  The single was released on 1st August 2017 and taken from their album Bloodlines. Words and music by Bob Kettle.

Having entertained us last in in 2018, Tom Robinson returns to Wickham on Saturday 2nd August.  He shot to fame with the top 10 hit 2-4-6-8 Motorway and Glad To Be Gay.

Born in Cambridge in 1950, Tom Robinson first became known in the late 1970s as a musician and LGBT activist with the Tom Robinson Band (TRB) who were early supporters of Rock Against Racism and Amnesty International. In 1977 their Top 5 debut release 2-4-6-8 Motorway became one of the landmark singles of the UK punk era. Other hits included Glad To Be Gay, Up Against The Wall and the band’s debut album Power In The Darkness which went gold in the UK and Japan.

As a solo artist Tom had further solo hits in 1983 with War Baby and Atmospherics: Listen To The Radio, and co-wrote songs with Peter Gabriel, Elton John and Dan Hartman. In 2015 he released Only The Now – made with award winning producer Gerry Diver – with many guests including Billy Bragg, John Grant, Martin Carthy and Ian McKellen. It can be heard in full on Spotify, YouTube and Bandcamp.

Only The Now is Tom’s first new album in two decades can be heard in full on Spotify, YouTube and Bandcamp and is available on CD, Vinyl and download from their own webstore.

As a radio broadcaster Tom hosts two shows a week on BBC Radio 6 Music. He has won two Sony Radio Academy awards and served as a member of the Ivor Novello Awards committee for 15 years. In 2016 he was awarded a fellowship of LIPA for his support of new music through hosting BBC Music’s Introducing Mixtape podcast and his Fresh On The Net music blog.