Wickham Festival News

Ewan McLennan

Ewan McLennan has, in a short space of time, come to be known as a guitarist at the forefront of his generation; a troubadour, balladeer and storyteller cut in the old style; a singer that can move audiences with his passion and pathos; and a songwriter for whom social justice is still a burning issue.

By the time he began playing the folk and acoustic music clubs around Britain in 2010 he’d already been playing music for years – guitar and piano and all kinds of styles but with a strong interest in folk songs.

The Young ‘Uns

The Young’uns have proved themselves a unique proposition – writing and performing a cappella or subtly accompanied songs that tell it how it is alongside traditional songs from their native North-East and further afield – songs of conscience, songs of warmth and wit, songs to provoke, songs to inspire.

“The harmonies are glorious, the wit is waspish. The songs are powerful, the banter is relentless and the audience is happy.” The Guardian

Renowned for their pitch perfect harmonies and rapid fire humour, their live show undeniably has the human touch. Always engaging, frequently heart-warming, they have built an enviable audience rapport. They are an act that truly takes the cliché out of the “make you laugh, make you cry” tag.

Visit their shop to purchase a collection of material.

Saltfishforty

Saltfishforty are a fresh and dynamic duo hailing from the Orkney Islands in the north of Scotland. Douglas Montgomery (fiddle/viola) and Brian Cromarty (songs/guitar/mandola) combine the rich traditional music of Orkney with original compositions. The duo have four previous albums to their name: LIVE (2013), Netherbow (2010), Orkney Twister (2005) and Goose Music (2003).

The powerhouse partnership have won a devoted following throughout the UK and beyond, brilliantly transcending the duo format’s conventional confines. Linchpin figures in the currently flourishing revival of Orkney’s traditional music, they unite these deep-rooted sources with an exhilarating breadth of influence and expertise, catalysed by a creative empathy born from decades of friendship. The result is a sound of equally thrilling raw attack and multi-dimensional richness.

A partnership forged back in 2002 – more by accident than design – the two knew each other since primary school, and played together in sessions and various bands, until they were booked in a four-piece for a charity gig, and only the two turned up: “We decided to go on and just make as much noise as two people possibly could – which is kind of how it’s been ever since” they say.

Years later, Saltfishforty have delighted audiences at many of the world’s top folk festivals including Celtic Connections, Cambridge, HebCelt, Shetland, Lorient in Brittany and Canada’s Celtic Colours, as well as touring to the US and throughout Europe. Their focus on Orkney music takes in traditional, contemporary and original material, boldly cross-fertilised with influences from Americana to East European folk, plus a high-octane whiff of heavy metal.

The Chair

The Chair on-stage is an experience that will have even the most reserved audience beating a path to the dance floor. Melodies from the band’s native Orkney are mashed up with blues, dub and klezmer in an 8-piece riot of fiddles, banjos, accordions and drums. Collectively, the sound approaches the energy levels of a rock gig, yet remains acoustic at heart. The Chair, a must-see festival band, were voted Band of the Year at the 2008 MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards.

Chas & Dave

Chas & Dave (often billed as Chas ‘n’ Dave) are an English pop rock duo, most notable as creators and performers of a musical style labelled “rockney” (a portmanteau of “rock” and “cockney”), which mixes “pub singalong, music-hall humour, boogie-woogie piano and pre-Beatles rock ‘n’ roll”. For a time, “Rockney” was also the name of their record label, and they achieved several British chart hits, their major breakthrough being “Gertcha” in 1979, which peaked at No. 20 in the UK Singles Chart, and was the first of eight Top 40 hit singles the duo played on. They also had nine best-selling albums. In October 2013 they released That’s What Happens, their first studio album in 18 years.

Oysterband

Oysterband (originally The Oyster Band) is an English electric folk, folk rock, and folk punk band formed in Canterbury in or around 1976. The band formed in parallel to Fiddler’s Dram, and under the name Oyster Ceilidh Band played purely as a dance band at first. The name Oyster comes from the group’s early association with the coastal town of Whitstable in East Kent, known for the quality of its oysters.

“Polished, vibrant and passionate…” – Martin Ellis, The Journal

Lynched

Lynched are a four-piece traditional folk group from Dublin, Ireland, who combine distinctive four-part vocal harmonies with arrangements of uilleann pipes, concertina, Russian accordion, fiddle and guitar. Their repertoire spans humorous Dublin music-hall ditties and street-songs, classic ballads from the Traveller tradition, traditional Irish and American dance tunes, and their own original material.

‘The most convincing folk band to come out of Ireland in years.’ ★★★★★
The Guardian

Le Vent Du Nord

Le Vent du Nord (The North Wind) is a Canadian folk music group from Quebec. The band, formed in 2002, performs traditional Québécois music (which is heavily influenced by Celtic music from both Ireland and Brittany), as well as original numbers in this style, in French. The group’s membership currently consists of Nicolas Boulerice (vocals, hurdy-gurdy, piano accordion, piano), Olivier Demers (vocals, fiddle, foot-tapping and guitar), Simon Beaudry (vocals, guitar, Irish bouzouki), and Réjean Brunet (vocals, diatonic button accordion, acoustic bass guitar, piano and jaw harp). Their first five recordings have been nominated for multiple awards; the first two have received awards.

Mànran

Fàilte bhlàth oirbh uile!

Multi award-winning Scottish supergroup Mànran have been at the heart of the Scottish traditional music scene for over a decade. Internationally recognised as one of the most iconic and respected Scottish bands on the road today, the seven-piece show no signs of slowing down as they continue to push boundaries and explore new musical and geographical territory, bringing their uplifting and unique live performances to stages across the world.

“Listening to Mànran made us want to sing and dance like primal animals”
The BILD

“Twin-bagpipe attack could heat the blood of any non-Celt”
Sydney Morning Herald

“Mànran are a band we’d put money on to succeed”
The Financial Times

Having played in over 30 countries, including the USA, Asia and Australia (where they were awarded the accolade “International Artist of the Year” at the Australian Celtic Music Awards) this multifaceted musical powerhouse has gathered a loyal fanbase worldwide, due to their self-penned tunes performed on a mixture of traditional and modern instruments, outstanding songs in Gaelic and English and vibrant live performances.

“Mànran live are electric and quite simply unstoppable”
Sunday Herald

“Mànran are up there with the best folk-rock bands our country has ever produced.”
The Daily Record

“Gaelic folk superstars”
BBC Radio Scotland

Slim Chance

The late, great Ronnie Lane’s band Slim Chance will be at the 2022 Wickham Festival on Friday 5th August 2022

Playing the songs of Ronnie Lane…

After leaving the Faces, Ronnie Lane formed his own band, Slim Chance.  They are a tight band of good friends, which has evolved around three original members of Ronnie’s band – Steve Bingham, Charlie Hart and Steve Simpson. They are now regularly joined by Brendan O’Neill, Billy Nicholls, and Geraint Watkins, and together they deliver a unique and entertaining show, both joyous and of a high musical calibre.

The Slim Chance extended family consists of a host of wonderful musicians whose contributions will always be greatly appreciated: Jim Cregan, Colin Davey, Alun Davies, Des Horsfall, Malcolm Hoskins, John Lingwood, Frank Mead, Nick Pentelow, Jim Russell, James Walbourne and Graham Walker.

Ronnie always jokingly claimed that he found the musicians for Slim Chance in the pages of Exchange and Mart. In 2010 Charlie Hart and Steve Simpson trawled the streets of South London and miraculously found three more ex-Slim Chancers who were all keen to sign up again to the quest for Ronnie’s musical holy grail. By gigging round the country the line-up has gelled into a fine band and become a powerful entity in its own right.

The aim is to create a show which celebrates the range of Ronnie’s later music: to take this show to people in village halls and clubs, festivals and theatres at home and abroad; and eventually, joined by numerous friends, to resurrect the Passing Show itself.

 

Bruce Foxton and From The Jam

The words legend and icon are sometimes used too frequently these days but not when being used to describe Bruce Foxton. Since the punk explosion during the summer of 1976 when, as a part of The Jam, Bruce Foxton’s thumping bass lines exploded onto London’s live music scene. The next year the anthemic “In the city” album and single were released to the record buying public and the shockwaves sent out by the music of The Jam lives on today. He was recently voted by readers of NME as the 7th Most Influential Bass Player, which shows the high regard he is held in by fans, musicians and the music press alike.

Skerryvore

What are Skerryvore? They’re like no one else. Epic of melody, intimate of feeling and plugged into the roots of Scotland but blasting out to the world.

Three time winners of Scotland’s ‘Live Act of the Year’ award, Skerryvore have evolved from their humble beginnings to become one of the country’s leading forces in a thriving live music scene. At the forefront of a movement that has reinvented and reignited a traditional Scottish scene for a modern, multicultural audience, the band have brought their high energy performances to audiences across the globe. From their early days in Scottish West Coast halls and bars, to festival crowds in the USA, Canada, Australia and throughout the UK and Europe, Skerryvore’s wide range of influences and talent produce a musically expansive, immersive yet intimate set that excites and captivates audiences.

With a mix of bagpipes, fiddles, accordions, and whistles, alongside guitar and vocals, underpinned by driving bass, drums and keys, Skerryvore represent the best in contemporary Scottish traditional music. Their 6 studio albums demonstrate the wide range of influences the individual musicians bring to the mix – a unique fusion of folk, trad, pop and rock.

Their latest studio album ‘tempus’, due for release on April 28, is already making waves in the UK music scene, with the first three single releases – You & I, Together Again & Everything You Need – all having been consecutively chosen to feature on the BBC Radio 2 new music playlist.

To celebrate the release of the new album, Skerryvore will be bringing the Tempus Tour to audiences across the UK, Europe and USA.

“Skerryvore have crafted a world beating fusion, which takes pride in their heritage and above all else is a pure joy to listen to.”
Folk Radio UK

“A spectacular mix of traditional Scottish folk music and the most diverse rock elements.”
Süddeutsche Zeitung, GERMANY

“The highest rated show we have ever had on our post-concert surveys… people LOVED the show.”
Anchorage Concert Association, ALASKA

“Such a fresh, real, new sound… I love it”
Jeremy Vine, BBC Radio 2 UK

Blazin’ Fiddles

Take a group of the hottest contemporary fiddle players from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, mix with some wonderfully sympathetic piano and guitar arrangements and you’ve got the award winning Blazin’ Fiddles on your hands. And they are Blazin’, in the past decade no other band has quite captured Scottish fiddle music’s variety, energy and sensitivity like Blazin’ Fiddles have. Like rare single malts, each member of Blazin’ Fiddles draws the distinct flavour of music from their part of the Highlands and Islands. Blending solo and ensemble sets, aged with the occasional insightful tale, they all come together in a fiery blend to excite your senses. From remote village halls to the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, fiddlers Jenna Reid, Bruce MacGregor, Rua Macmillan and Kristan Harvey are joined by Anna Massie on guitar/fiddle and Angus Lyon on piano to deliver a musically intoxicating evening for all.

Kathryn Tickell and The Side

With a dozen albums to her name, Kathryn is the country’s leading Northumbrian pipes player as well as being an accomplished fiddle player. A winner of the Queen’s Medal for Music and the 2013 Radio 2 Folk Musician of the Year, her work is deeply rooted in the landscape and people of Northumbria.

Her new folk-classical ensemble the Side comprises Louisa Tuck (cello), Ruth Wall (harp) and Amy Thatcher (accordion, clog dancing).

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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  • Facebook Posts

    Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons
    Well be announcing another top-class artist tomorrow (Thursday) for our 2025 Wickham Festival (31 July to 3 August 2025).  A household name, a UK singer whos had 6 x Top 10 albums and 10 x Top 10 singles plus 2 American No. 1s.  Any guesses?

    We'll be announcing another top-class artist tomorrow (Thursday) for our 2025 Wickham Festival (31 July to 3 August 2025). A household name, a UK singer who's had 6 x Top 10 albums and 10 x Top 10 singles plus 2 American No. 1's. Any guesses? ... See MoreSee Less

    22 hours ago

    44 CommentsComment on Facebook

    Will you be rearranging the position of the main stages to guard against sound contamination of other stage’s next year.

    Would love to bring The RPJ Band one year 😜🤘

    Google says Elton John.

    View more comments

    Another confirmation!  The excellent Reg Meuross and his quartet feat. Phil Beer, Marion Fleetwood & Geraint Watkins will be bringing their Fire & Dust / Woody Guthrie story to Wickham on Sunday 3rd August 2025.  Cheap-rate earlybird day & weekend tickets still available (if you hurry!) via www.wickhamfestival.co.uk/tickets

    Another confirmation! The excellent Reg Meuross and his quartet feat. Phil Beer, Marion Fleetwood & Geraint Watkins will be bringing their 'Fire & Dust' / Woody Guthrie story to Wickham on Sunday 3rd August 2025. Cheap-rate 'earlybird' day & weekend tickets still available (if you hurry!) via www.wickhamfestival.co.uk/tickets ... See MoreSee Less

    2 days ago

    27 CommentsComment on Facebook

    Soo looking forward to coming back to Wickham Music Festival with this exciting new project!

    Wow, that's an awesome quartet with some awesome material!!!!!!

    Is there any chance of getting Seth Lakeman back again?

    View more comments

    Our Twitter Feed

    Another confirmation! The excellent @regmeuross and his quartet feat. Phil Beer, Marion Fleetwood & Geraint Hughes will be bringing their 'Fire & Dust' / Woody Guthrie tribute to #WickhamFestival on Sunday 3rd August 2025.

    The wonderful @katerusby, Mercury Prize Winner & 6-times BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winner, is our latest confirmed artist for #WickhamFestival 2025. Kate will be appearing on Sunday 3rd August. Earlybird day & weekend tickets are now onsale via

    Another artist confirmation. We're delighted to say that the multi-award-winning Scottish band @TaliskMusic will be appearing at #WickhamFestival next summer on Friday 1st August 2025. Day & Weekend tickets now onsale via

    We're delighted to announce our first confirmed artists for the 2025 #WickhamFestival. @Fishy_Friends will be at Wickham on Friday 1st August 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNCcSJiZR1I...

    Missed out on @oasis tickets? You can enjoy a full weekend of top quality music at #wickhamfestival instead... and tickets are a lot easier to book. Simply go to and save up to £100 on an Early Bird weekend ticket if you book now.

    We've fewer than 100 'earlybird' weekend season tickets still available for Wickham 2025. At just £40 a day (£160 for the weekend) with no added booking fees, they're the Festival bargain of the summer so don't delay. Prices have to rise next weekend.