Wickham Festival News

Swan Samba

Swan Samba are a drumming and movement group open to ages 11+ and all abilities, run via Roynon Performing Arts, a school established for 40 years. Workshops are held for all ages and abilities to learn new and exciting drum and performance skills every Tuesday term time. The drumming band plays a fusion of samba styles and have gigged at local carnivals such as Romsey and Hedge End, as well as exciting events such as Winchester’s Hatfair and Wickham Festival.

Swan Samba at Wickham Festival 2021

They have also been featured in the media, including The Portsmouth News, Voice FM and South Today. Swan Samba can be found on all relevant social media streams and all enquiries are very welcome, whether it’s to try out in the band, set workshops in schools, or to pencil in future performance opportunities. If you’re in the Southampton / Winchester areas, why not get in contact and try three taster sessions for £15?

Jonny Moody

Jonny Moody is a singer, songwriter and producer from the UK. A must see live act!

Deacon Blue

Deacon Blue are a Scottish pop rock band formed in Glasgow during 1985. They will be making their Wickham debut by closing the evening on Saturday 7th August.  The line-up of the band consists of vocalists Ricky Ross & Lorraine McIntosh, keyboard player James Prime and drummer Dougie Vipond. The band released their debut album, Raintown in 1987. Their second album, When the World Knows Your Name (1989), topped the UK Albums Chart for two weeks, and included “Real Gone Kid” which became their first top ten single in the UK Singles Chart.

The band split in 1994 but five years later they held a reunion gig which led on to a new album, Walking Back Home.  Since then they have continued to perform and record new music.  In February 2021, they released their tenth studio album entitled Riding on the Tide of Love to commercial success in both the UK and their native Scotland.

As of 2020, Deacon Blue’s total album sales stood at seven million, with twelve UK top 40 singles, along with two number one albums in both the UK and Scotland.

Liam O’Maonlai & Peter O’Toole

Liam O’Maonlai & Peter O’Toole of the band ‘Hothouse Flowers’ will be appearing on the Sunday.  Hothouse Flowers are an Irish rock group that combines traditional Irish music with influences from soul, gospel, and rock. Formed in 1985 in Dublin, they started as street performers. Their first album, People (1988), was the most successful debut album in Irish history, reaching No. 1 in Ireland and No. 2 in the UK. After two more albums and extensive touring, the group separated in 1994. Since getting back together in 1998, the band members have been sporadically issuing new songs and touring, but also pursuing solo careers.

Moya Brennan

In her music making, Moya has never been content to nestle within comfortable boundaries. From an early age she trod the boards with her father Leo in the dance halls, then became fixated with the likes of Joni Mitchell and the Beach Boys before going on to share, with her band Clannad, an enlightening discovery of the extraordinary wealth of Celtic history and melody on her doorstep.

Clannad sent tremors through the world of traditional music. With Harry’s Game they took the Irish language and its melodies to places that it had never been before. Top of the Pops, major record contracts and world tours. The accolades followed -Ivor Novello and BAFTA awards plus, after several nominations, a Grammy award in 1999. Their music was fresh, vibrant and progressive.

Alongside all of this, Moya has developed an individuality which has already shown itself in her expanding body of work. When an artist’s career can often be measured in months, hers spans decades. Through this clamorous journey, through school halls, folk clubs, festivals, discos, churches, the world’s most renowned concert halls she has travelled purposefully and always focused. The power of her whispered tones and the beauty of her music touch the soul. Gently, yet persistently, her songs and her music are redefining Irish music.

Fairport Convention

Fairport Convention has been entertaining music lovers for over half a century. During that time the band that launched British folk-rock has seen many changes. But one thing has remained the same – Fairport’s passion for performance.

Fairport Convention have won a BBC Lifetime Achievement Award and Radio 2 listeners voted their ground-breaking album Liege & Lief  ‘The Most Influential Folk Album of All Time’. Their story has been celebrated with television documentaries on BBC Four and Sky Arts.

The band features founding member Simon Nicol on guitar and vocals, Dave Pegg on bass guitar, Ric Sanders on violin, Chris Leslie on fiddle, mandolin and vocals, and Gerry Conway on drums & percussion.

“Stuffing their set with a surprising amount of new material for a vintage act, Fairport are still clearly having fun and brought the house down.”
The Guardian

“Fairport is an institution, a festival, purveyors of memories, and keepers of the folk flame. But most of all they are a brilliant live band.”
Folk & Tumble

Sadly Fairport’s fantastic annual Cropredy Convention festival has been cancelled this year. They were left with no other choice than to postpone their festival until 11-13 August 2022. Very kindly they have agreed to appear at Wickham Festival 2021.

Jon Benns

Jon Benns will be our compère for Stage 2 at Wickham Festival 2021 across all days.  He fell in love with acoustic music in his early teens, much to the chagrin of his parents and the posh public school which he turned his back on.

Throughout the 1980s he toured endlessly as the opening act to numerous rock bands such as Camel, Barclay James Harvest, Steeleye Span etc.
At the same time he was presenting Folk and Rock Music programmes on local radio throughout southern England.

Health issues and exhaustion forced Jon to quit performing in 1990. Since then he has worked as an agent, stage manager, compère, tour manager and sound engineer. Current clients include Gilbert O’Sullivan and Phil Beer from Show Of Hands.

Jon is delighted to be compère for Stage 2 at Wickham Festival and is looking forward to meeting up with friends both old and new.

Gerry Colvin

Gerry Colvin was born in Barrow-in-Furness.  In the 1970’s Gerry joined pop band ‘The Man Upstairs’. They released three singles and toured with The Smiths.  In the early 1980’s he co-founded and fronted the legendary John Peel favourite skiffle-cowpunk indie outfit ’Terry & Gerry’. This seminal band toured Europe and the USA and appeared on countless Radio and TV shows including “The Tube” and “The Old Grey Whistle Test”. Their five singles and album all reached No.1 in the indie charts. They wrote numerous theme tunes for Central TV and were the subject of a 30 minute documentary by the legendary film maker Norman Hull, which aired on British Television in July 1986. The quirky portrayal of their unique skiffle music and beloved Birmingham can be viewed below.

In 2010 Cherry Red released ‘Let’s Get the Hell Back to Lubbock’, the definitive ‘Terry and Gerry’ compilation

In the early 1990’s Gerry worked in Nashville as a professional songwriter and back in the UK collaborated with Alison Moyet, co-writing on an album project. He also penned numerous TV themes, three musicals, two film scores and wrote and presented for BBC Radio 2. His band ‘Gerry Colvin’s Inexperience’, a fusion of Soul, R and B and Folk-Country, became a firm favourite on the College circuit.

In 1993 Gerry formed the folk-pop band ‘The Atlantics’: they toured extensively including a slot at Glastonbury Festival where Gerry was compere, and appeared on BBC’s ‘Pebble Mill at One’. Colvin’s other major project at this time was film music as vocalist with ‘The National Screen Orchestra’; he also performed as a comedy double act with Hollywood superstar Mackenzie Crook.

In 1995 Gerry co-founded the five piece folk band Colvinquarmby. They released six critically acclaimed albums and were voted best band at the prestigious Fairport Convention Cropredy Festival in 2009. In 2010 they won the Hancock Award for ‘Best Live Folk Act’. In May 2013 Gerry was invited by New York producer and Robert Plant song collaborator Dave Barratt to record ‘Revolution’ for the ‘Beatles complete on ukulele’ album and website.

In 2014 Gerry released a self-penned solo album ‘Jazz Tales of Country Folk’ followed by ‘Six of One half a Dozen of the Other’ in 2016 which features ten brand new original songs.
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In 2015 Gerry reformed ‘Terry and Gerry’ and was invited to support Status Quo on a nationwide tour. Terry and Gerry also appeared at Glastonbury that year following the release of their new EP ‘Dear John’.

As well as his new album Gerry’s book ‘The Rabbits of Zakynthos’ is due to be published later this year.

The Gerry Colvin band were delighted to be invited to appear at Cropredy Festival 2017 to celebrate 50 years of Fairport Convention!! They received a standing ovation!!

The new CD ‘Back and Forth’ was launched at Cropredy and is available from
www.gerrycolvin.com

The Gerry Colvin Band are: Gerry Colvin (guitar) Jerome Davies (double Bass) Trish Power (accordion) Michael Keelan (fiddle) and Lyndon Webb (guitar)

Gerry is immensely proud to be Patron of Wellcombe Radio based in Stratford Upon Avon www.welcomberadio.co.uk/ and Banbury Folk Club, Oxon. www.banburyfolkclub.co.uk/

“Gerry Colvin is a writer of great substance who is able to give us something that has been largely missing in English Music for a long time. His subjects and characters are clearly defined and his songs create strong images and stories which can make us both laugh and cry in the same breath. This man is unique and unforgettable. The songs are brilliant. He should be a household name. Go see him.”
Phil Beer, Show of Hands

 

The Marching SKAletons

The Marching SKAletons are a horn led Day of the Dead group that can perform either as a street or electric band, being equally at home on stage or weaving through a festival crowd. They can play a set of traditional ska instrumentals for diehard ska fans or mix it up with surprising ska versions of hits from Depeche Mode, Taylor Swift, Kraftwerk and even Europe. The line up features a powerhouse horn section, guitars, marching drums and bass. The music is a celebratory energetic fusion of ska, Latin, electro, pop & mariachi that guarantees audiences will be dancing.

The band have performed at a varied selection of events and head a regular ska night at The Pelirocco in Brighton. They have entertained crowds at festivals and council events throughout the UK. Past performances include Glastonbury Festival, Together the People festival, Elderflower Fields festival as well as supporting Madness at the Brighton centre. They perform annually at Hove County Cricket grounds bonfire night and have entertained at the National Trust carnival at Montacute House as well as arts council funded Basingstoke’s Day of the Dead. Media appearances include Channel 4 News & BBC Hampshire.

Van Morrison

The legendary Van Morrison, one of the finest singer-songwriters and hardest working live performers of his era, will be headlining Wickham Festival on Saturday 7th August 2021. This is a huge coup for us and one we’re incredibly excited to announce.

Morrison’s biggest hits include Brown Eyed Girl, Have I Told You Lately, Moondance and Into the Mystic … to name a few.  He recently celebrated 50 years since the release of the iconic Astral Weeks album in 1968 and is currently on a worldwide sold-out tour.

To date, Van Morrison has released over 40 albums. In 2018 he returned to his blues roots on The Prophet Speaks to critical acclaim. In 2019 he released Three Chords And The Truth which has fourteen new original compositions that effortlessly encapsulate the Van Morrison sound and showcase his talents as one of our generation’s most celebrated songwriters.

Morrison has under his belt a vast accolade of awards: a knighthood, a Brit, an OBE, an Ivor Novello, Six Grammys, honorary doctorates from Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Ulster, entry into The Rock n Roll Hall of Fame and the French Ordres Des Artes Et Des Lettres – attested to the international reach of Van’s musical art.

Van Morrison shows no sign of slowing things down, continuing to work on new material and exciting upcoming projects.

Gadarene

Gadarene blend obscure traditional English tunes, virtuoso acoustic musicians, funky beats and loads of energy.

They create a sophisticated and exciting performance, drawing on many diverse musical influences, yet making a sound that is all their own.

The band’s mission is to take little known dance tunes of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and get audiences dancing to them again. These amazing tunes tie together arrangements drawing on Pop, Rock, Funk, Reggae, Electronica and Club Trance. This leads to a sound which is sophisticated enough for seated audiences and wild enough for audiences who want to dance.

We had a great summer starting with our live recording link. Then we played to a very enthusiastic crowd at the amazing Fire in the Mountain Festival. We finished the summer playing at The London Folk Festival at the centre of the folk universe… Cecil Sharp House.

Tidelines

Tide Lines are a 4 piece band whose roots run all across the Highlands and Islands of Scotland down to the West End and South Side of Glasgow.

Forged from the literature and music of the areas in which they grew up, their original songs meld romantic, rural life with a record collection of classic American songwriters and a strong Gaelic influence.

Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman

Two of the British folk scenes most accomplished performers, Kathryn and Sean have graced stages the world over in a number of guises, however, the intimacy and strength of passion shown as a duo, combined with an eclectic repertoire ensures a rare treat for any listener. With a story that includes over 20 years of music making with the likes of Seth Lakeman, Cara Dillon, Levellers, Kate Rusby and Show of Hands the duo has established themselves as pillars of modern British folk.

The Dartmoor-based husband and wife have twice won the coveted ‘best duo’ title at the BBC Radio 2 folk awards (2016 & 2013), consistently delivering assured, distinctive performances whether live or recorded. Over two decades of performance they have never been trapped in a groove – always bold and innovative, mixing traditional song arrangements with their self-penned material which reels from the bitter to the sweet, the wry to the sad, the political to the passive.

CoCo and the Butterfields

If anyone ever doubted the ability of music to re-route people’s lives, a page from the formative days of CoCo and the Butterfields will soon turn that around.

It’s 2012 in the historic city of Canterbury, where singer/songwriter Tom Twyman has a plane ticket in his hand, for the journey to a new life he’s mapped out for himself in Australia. Singer and multi-instrumentalist Dulcima Showan, meanwhile, has just left sixth form and is all set for art school in Dublin. Neither of them ever makes it though, because by now they’re in the early stages of a band that has very different plans for them.

The decision to stay was difficult at the time and yet so simple in hindsight, it saw the pair lead CoCo and the Butterfields on a steady and unmistakable upward incline, developing an enviable reputation for their exhilarating live shows as their inclusive, acoustic-based sound has ripened to maturity. During the ride, they’ve played to enthusiastic audiences all over the UK and Europe, selling out thousand capacity venues, touring the island’s O2 academy’s and appearing at some of the world’s most prestigious music festivals such as Glastonbury, isle of wight and Bestival! On top of this, the band have played numerous support shows for the likes of Bastille, the Frattelis, Scouting for Girls and Wheatus to name a few.

In recent years CoCo have literally lived in their recording studio, taking the time to create a collection of songs that offer an honest and intriguing insight into their lives both together and personally whilst transforming their upbeat, festival feel into a more mature, radio ready act. The time has come once again to take their music on the road; constantly touring, constantly writing and never quitting, CoCo and the Butterfields will be making music for a long, long time.

Gary Stewart’s Graceland

Led by the legendary Leeds-based troubadour Gary Stewart (Gary Stewart Band / Hope and Social) and backed his incredible 7-piece band, this spectacular group of musicians come together to recreate Paul Simon’s landmark Graceland album in all its glory.

Expect to hear those magical songs, with their captivating stories, distinctive harmonies and South African rhythms brought to life in front of you with no detail spared; from the layers of guitars and percussion, right down to the legendary bass solos and maybe even some token dance moves – if you’re lucky! Let the singing, dancing and nostalgia take hold and pretend you’re basking under the hot summer sun in Zimbabwe.

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    Ireland's John McSherry, one of the finest Uilleann pipers in the world today, is newly confirmed for this year's Wickham Festival. John will appear on Sat. 3rd Aug. accompanied by Brendan Quinn & Francis McIlduff. johnmcsherry.com/#bio www.youtube.com/watch?v=5khv0CbyKH0 ... See MoreSee Less

    15 hours ago

    6 CommentsComment on Facebook

    Day & Weekend tickets now onsale via www.wickhamfestival.co.uk/tickets

    Can I ask, Should we have received our tickets yet? Thanks 🎶

    Oh yesss 👌👌👌👌👌👍

    My kind of music

    Oh WOW!

    A wonderful addition to the festival. Thank you

    View more comments

    Were very sorry to hear that Steve Harley has died.  He appeared many times at Wickham, usually with his own band but also with Spike Edneys SAS Band.  He always gave a great show and was always a pleasure to work with.  Were so sad to hear of his passing and extend our deepest sympathies to his family.

    We're very sorry to hear that Steve Harley has died. He appeared many times at Wickham, usually with his own band but also with Spike Edney's SAS Band. He always gave a great show and was always a pleasure to work with. We're so sad to hear of his passing and extend our deepest sympathies to his family. ... See MoreSee Less

    2 weeks ago

    58 CommentsComment on Facebook

    Here's a backstage interview which Steve gave to our Festival Press Officer Graham Hiley in 2018. It's a great interview. Do give it a listen. www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJh3FjE2Vro

    Very sad to hear this. Loved seeing him at Wickham.

    Heartbreaking news; Steve’s music has been ( and will remain) very much a part of our lives. Our thoughts are with his family. RIP Steve, you will be missed ♥️

    We saw him at Wickham he was brilliant despite having to sit for the performance as he had leg or hip problems! Didn't affect the energy of his set! Sad loss!

    Always great to see - will be missed

    Very sad news. I’m glad we saw him a couple of times in recent years at Wickham. A great performer. Sadly missed

    So so sad about the passing away of Steve Harley. A fantastic performer, wonderful wordsmith, funny, endearing and talked to the audience like we were in his front room.. saw him several times, but very fond memories of his sets at Wickham. So glad I got to see him many times. Xxxxx ❤️ ❤️

    Noooo! He was so lovely. RIP you came up and made me smile.

    So sorry 😔 He stirred such emotion when I saw him at Wickham, a true and great artist ❤️

    Very sad - we loved seeing him at Wickham Music Festival :(

    So sad to hear this news. I saw him at Wickham in 2015, a great artist and performer. Deepest sympathies to his loved ones 💛

    We were there at his last Wickham gig and also a more recent intimate theatre gig nearer to home, just last year. Very different but loved both. A brilliant performer and a very nice guy. Will be sadly missed. 😢

    Heartbreaking news.

    Devastated! One of my all time favourites. RIP Steve.😪

    So sad, he was brilliant there a few years ago, one of the very best highlights of the festival 💔

    Still hear “make me smile” almost daily on the radio. Such a brilliant uplifting song and his voice was amazing. Sad sad loss to the music industry. RIP Steve

    Very sad loss Peter ..Great music

    It's truly heartbreaking. He was wonderful and will be greatly missed

    Oh how sad. My younger years sounds which I loved . 🙏💕

    Thanks for sharing.Very sad news.Yes very sad. Back in the 1990s he headlined several of our Heineken (freebie) Big Top festivals.Always great to work with backstage and a real crowd- pleaser.

    Sad news. Great forever songs to remember him by. Condolences to his family and friends.x

    Very sad 😢 loved seeing his shows - a joy! Cx

    Legend I hope he’s being a rebel in spirit and makes the spirits smile ❤️🥺

    Lucky enough to see him twice at Wickham (once with his band and once with the SAS Band). A sad day :(

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    Our Twitter Feed

    Steve Harley was an audience favourite at Wickham Festival, and a delight to work with. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

    Steve Harley: Cockney Rebel singer dies at 73

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68590846

    The Saw Doctors would like to say a Big Thanks to everybody who has bought or streamed ‘All We Love’ today —the new single is Number 3 in Ireland and No. 23 in the UK. Here’s the link to buy or stream ‘All We Love’   
    https://orcd.co/allwelove

    Wonderfully evocative and typically catchy song from our old friends @sawdoctors ready for #StPatricksDay
    Would love to hear them do this at #wickhamfesival one day. Great stuff!

    Our new line-up inc. Curtis Stigers with a few more artists inc. Jerry Douglas to add. We hope to unveil last confirmed artists inc. one more headliner soon. Day & Tier 4 Weekend tickets selling fast. Save £50 on every 4-day weekend ticket. Book now. http://www.wickhamfestival.co.uk

    We're delighted to announce that 16-times GRAMMY Award winner Jerry Douglas, one of the world's finest dobro & lap steel guitar players, will be at this year's Wickham Music Festival on Sat. 3rd Aug. Day & Weekend tickets selling fast!

    After announcing the great American singer Curtis Stigers for the Wickham Music Festival yesterday we'll be announcing another great American musician this evening (Tuesday). A clue. He's a 14-times Grammy Award winner. Any guesses?