Originally a session player in many bands, Tommy Emmanuel is an Australian guitarist. He has released many award-winning recordings as a solo artist. More than sixty years into his storied career as one of the modern era’s most accomplished and versatile guitarists, Tommy Emmanuel is still hungry for adventure.
Along with his brother Phil, Emmanuel performed live at the closing ceremony of the Sydney Olympics in 2000. The event was televised to over 2 billion viewers worldwide.
It should come as little surprise that Emmanuel’s extraordinary new album, Living in the Light, is easily the most daring—and most rewarding—collection in the Grammy-winner’s remarkable catalog. Recorded and mixed in just four days with producer Vance Powell (Jack White, Chris Stapleton, Phish), the album radiates the kind of raw, electrifying energy that can only come from an artist operating in complete and total surrender to the moment. Emmanuel captured most of the performances here in one or two takes, and the sense of joy and wonder in these sonic explorations is more than just palpable; it’s intoxicating. While many of the recordings are solo instrumentals, Emmanuel lends his voice to several of the album’s tracks, as well, grounding his dazzling, percussive fretwork with a poignant dose of warmth and vulnerability. The result is a record as exhilarating as it is intimate, a virtuosic blend of acoustic pop, jazz, classical, and roots music delivered by a master craftsman with a penchant for living on the edge.
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’.
From Glasgow & the Isle of Man, high-energy, celtic fusion band MEC LIR will make their Wickham Festival debut on Friday 31st July, 2026. Right from the launch at their debut gig at one of the largest Celtic music festivals anywhere in the world – Brittany’s famed Festival Interceltique de Lorient – the exhilarating, genre-busting Mec Lir have been frenzying festival audiences for over a decade, with 2026 being their 12th anniversary!
Mec Lir’s live shows are the stuff of legend – and not to be missed!
Well-known for their tight, lightning-fast playing and huge sound, fusing Celtic trad with unapologetically electro synths and drums – yet all the while with the fiddle melody at the forefront – the Isle of Man/Glasgow band have brought their infectiously joyous energy to stages in many corners of the folk sphere; from Cape Breton’s Celtic Colours to the Shetland Folk Festival, Denmark’s Tønder Festival to Schots Weekend (Belgium), England’s Cambridge Folk Festival, and sell-out, rapturous appearances at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections.
Fronted by virtuoso Manx fiddle player Tomas Callister (Ímar), along with fellow Manx musicians Adam Rhodes on bouzouki (Ímar) and David Kilgallon on keyboard (Neear Nesañ), joined by Glasgow’s own Paddy Callaghan on button accordion (BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2013) and expertly grounded by Scotland’s Greg Barry on drums (Elephant Sessions), the group’s second album, Livewire, met critical acclaim upon its 2020 release, and topped the iTunes World Music charts – a feverishly- anticipated follow-up to their groundbreaking debut, Not An EP (2014).
“Wonderful, absolutely wonderful.” Bruce MacGregor, BBC Radio Scotland
“The energy these guys created with their mix of electric guitar, synthesizer, fiddles, drums and button accordion was different level” The Irish Voice
“perhaps the most energetic album you’ll hear this year” RnR Magazine
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 TheWhitstableOyster 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!
Curtis Stigers proved himself as a firm favourite with many when he joined us in 2024 so we are delighted to welcome him back on Sunday 2nd August.
Curtis Stigers has had several top ten hits as a long-haired, blue-eyed soul singer and he’s written and sung an Emmy nominated TV theme song. He’s recorded a track for one of the biggest-selling pop albums of all time and he’s released nine critically-acclaimed, award-winning jazz albums. He’s played for presidents and princes and he’s appeared in two Seth MacFarlane movies about a foul-mouthed cuddly bear called Ted. He’s recorded thirteen studio albums and a live album singing Sinatra songs with the world-famous Danish Radio Big Band. He’s toured with symphony orchestras, written songs with Carole King and duetted with Al Green, Shawn Colvin and Tom Jones.
For the past 30 years, the singer, songwriter, saxophonist and guitarist has been making records that confound those who try to categorize his music or put him in a box.
Curtis Stigers’s new album This Life is the answer to that question. It’s a celebration of three decades of musical exploration, evolution and growth. It’s a look back at 13 albums, thousands of concert performances and millions of miles on the road. “We created most of these arrangements onstage, during soundchecks and concerts,” says Stigers. “My songs have changed and grown as they’ve gotten older, just like I have.”
Curtis Stigers burst onto the recording scene in 1991 with his eponymous debut album, which sold 1.5 million copies and spawned several self-penned, pop/soul-flavored hit singles, including “You’re All That Matters To Me,” “Never Saw A Miracle” and the worldwide top-ten hit, “I Wonder Why.” The 25-year-old NYC-based musician then toured the world in support of the album, opening shows for the likes of Elton John, Prince, Eric Clapton, James Brown, Joe Cocker, Rod Stewart and Bonnie Raitt, and made multiple appearances on the TV show circuit, including The Tonight Show, David Letterman, Arsenio and The Today Show.
“Inspired marriage of visceral clout and intellectual savvy.” New York Times
“I cannot think of another vocalist who creates such an exuberant combination of bebop artistry and raw emotion.” London Sunday Times
“When Curtis Stigers came on stage on Wednesday night, it felt as if someone had upped the wattage in the bulbs.” Wall Street Journal
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 at the Hammersmith Apollo in London in 2023.
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
Our headliners will be published as bookings are confirmed.
We’ve already announced that The Saw Doctors will headline the Saturday and The Proclaimers will headline the Sunday. Hold tight for our Thursday and Friday headliners!
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
We’re delighted to announce that The Proclaimers will headline the Sunday night (2nd August) at the 2026 Wickham Festival. They last appeared at Wickham in 2019 so they are long overdue a return visit having had to cancel in 2023 due to Charlie losing his voice the week before. 2026 will see The Proclaimers return with a new album recorded in the spring and back out live from early summer.
2022 had seen The Proclaimers release their 12th studio album to immense acclaim. Dentures Out saw them record again at the legendary Rockfield Studios in Wales with producer Dave Eringa.
The fire and ire of Craig and Charlie Reid remain righteously undimmed. Dentures Out is a record of the times, for the times, the twins at their political, observational, satirical and fist-punchingly tuneful best with guest guitarist James Dean Bradfield playing on a couple of tracks.
On their most political album since Sunshine On Leith, in the lyrical firing line are: the weaponising of nostalgia for electoral capital, porcine press barons, the comforting but distracting illusion of destiny, the hysterical bubble of modern life.
They kicked of a 14-month World tour in June 2022 followed by a series of summer festivals and regional concerts. October to December saw The Proclaimers embark upon their biggest and most successful sell out 35 date UK & Ireland tour.
2023 then saw The Proclaimers touring Australia and New Zealand followed by summer shows and festivals in the UK. 96 shows in total to over 500,0000 people.
Strikingly individual, twin brothers Craig and Charlie Reid emerged 31 years ago with their debut album This Is The Story and Top 3 single ‘Letter from America’. Since then their enduring appeal across generations has have over the years seen them enjoy huge success across the globe.
The Proclaimers songs are timeless, capturing a gamut of human emotions, written with poignancy, emotional honesty, political fire and wit. Their songs feature at weddings, funerals and everything in-between and there is one song, an early
celebration of falling head over heels in love that is known the world over and has become a staggering global anthem. There are many others that have gained great popularity in different parts of the planet and then there is a wide cross section of sublime songs embraced by a multitude that has kept up with The Proclaimers studio albums, compilation collections and extensive touring over three decades.
2018 had seen their ‘Angry Cyclist’ album released to immense acclaim, becoming their 8th UK, Top 40 album debuting in the UK Official Album charts at 17 and at number 3 in the UK Official Independent Album Charts.
The Proclaimers “Angry Cyclist World Tour” began in July 2018 and ended in September 2019, 111 shows in 14 countries to over 400,0000 people. The tour began in Stroud, England and ended at The Hydro in Glasgow. The tour included
their biggest ever tours of Scotland, England, Canada, New Zealand and Australia and notably in June 2019, The Proclaimers opened The Pyramid Stage for their 7th appearance at Glastonbury. The Proclaimers July 2019 Edinburgh Castle concert sold out in just under 10 minutes with Castle Concerts reporting this as the fastest sell out in their 25-year history. A second show at Edinburgh Castle was added, this show also sold out within 24 hours, which Castle Concerts reporting as never before seen demand.
Strikingly individual, twin brothers Craig and Charlie Reid emerged 34 years ago with their debut album This Is The Story and Top 3 single ‘Letter from America’. Since then their enduring appeal across generations has have over the years seen them enjoy huge success across the globe.
The Proclaimers songs are timeless, capturing a gamut of human emotions, written with poignancy, emotional honesty, political fire and wit. Their songs feature at weddings, funerals and everything in-between and there is one song, an early
celebration of falling head over heels in love that is known the world over and has become a staggering global anthem. There are many others that have gained great popularity in different parts of the planet and then there is a wide cross section of sublime songs embraced by a multitude that has kept up with The Proclaimers studio albums, compilation collections and extensive touring over three decades.
The Proclaimers have carved out a niche for themselves in the netherworld where pop, folk, new wave and punk collide. In the process, they have enjoyed Gold and Platinum singles and albums in UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
They have even inspired a musical, the play and film Sunshine on Leith. The movie was the fifth highest grossing Independent UK film of 2013. The stage version of the musical continues to be performed regularly to sell out crowds by productions throughout the UK and Ireland.
On BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island discs, David Tennant describes his first track by The Proclaimers – “I could have chosen any and every track from this band, probably my favourite band of all time. They write the most spectacular songs, big hearted, uncynical passionate songs.”
Earlier this year after Coldplay had performed Sunshine on Leith on BBC’s The Piano Room, Chris Martin said “There is a whole other world of music behind that song that I’ve just been discovering, and they’re a wonderful, wonderful band. Now we live in the age of coolness doesn’t mean anything, just quality and soul. The Proclaimers make more sense than ever.“
We're delighted to confirm that top Irish band The Saw Doctors will headline the Saturday night (1st Aug.) at our 2026 Wickham Festival. Tickets now onsale www.wickhamfestival.co.uk... See MoreSee Less
We'll be announcing our Saturday night headliner this Friday at 9am. A great live band who many people have asked us to get back. Any guesses? ... See MoreSee Less
We are delighted to announce that long-time Wickham favourites @sawdoctors will be headlining Saturday night (August 1). Tickets on sale now http://www.wickhamfestival.co.uk
We will be announcing another major headliner at 9am on Friday. We have had many requests to bring back this great party band who have been popular here for decades. Any guesses?
We're delighted to announce that the great American singer & saxophonist CURTIS STIGERS will be returning to Wickham in 2026 on Sun. 2nd Aug. Day & weekend tickets now onsale via http://www.wickhamfestival.co.uk/tickets
We're delighted to announce that The Proclaimers will headline the Sunday night (2nd August) at the 2026 Wickham Festival. Day & Weekend tickets now onsale. http://www.wickhamfestival.co.uk/tickets
