ARTISTS
Hank Wangford
Hank Wangford is the twisted Godfather, the guilty conscience of the British
alternative country music scene, picking at the miserable underbelly, the dark and
troubled grubby soul of Country music for thirty years.
He spread the word with his two groundbreaking TV series, "HW’s A to Z of C&W"
and "Big Big Country". This messianic derailment onto country music came from
befriending Gram Parsons in the early seventies. But it's not all misery. Some of his
songs and stories are sad and some funny.
Hank’s band The Lost Cowboys is packed with all-star hard-core country musicians.
Martin Belmont - Giant of the Stratocaster and 6-String Bass, ex-Graham Parker &
the Rumour, Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello, Johnny Cash. New CD 'The Guest List'
BJ Cole - UK’s guru of Pedal Steel guitar and dobro. Plays with Martin Simpson, the
Verve, Brian Eno. New CD 'Lush Life'. Kevin Foster - bass guitar ex-Doll by Doll.
Roy Dodds - drums. Ex-Fairground Attraction Country fusions stylist.
www.hankwangford.com
CC Smugglers
CC Smugglers create a 'genuinely original and contemporary' (Maverick Magazine) rag-bag mix of Country, Blues and Gypsy Swing through their own uneducated efforts. Currently working on their debut album, the Smugglers look forward to returning to Stortfest in 2011.
www.ccsmugglers.co.uk
Patrick Walker
Local singer and musician Patrick Walker performs a set of brooding and strikingly
intimate songs, influenced by country and traditional folk music; eerie, ragged and
sparse.
Happnin' Boy & Mike Rasmussen
Stompin’ and hollerin’ Good Time Blues.
Singer and guitarist HappninBoy performs the blues like no-one else. For energy and entertainment he has got to be seen. ‘Toe Tapping Harmonica Ace’ Mike Rasmussen is the second half of the popular duo. Influences for both include Mississippi Fred Mcdowell, son House and Sonny Terry. Things can get pretty cookin’!
Dave Gerard
I play folk acoustic stuff, write my own songs and perform them!
www.davegerardmusic.com
Jack In Water
Jack in Water are a four piece ambient electro act drawing influences from Bjork, The Cure and Sigur Ros. They make films and music about humans and happiness.
www.jackinwater.com
Jodie May
Jodie May is a UK based singer/songwriter with a unique singing voice and otherworldly songs to
match. Jodie left the world of major labels eager to evolve her own original and distinctive style.
Since then she has been working on her dramatic and emotive debut album 'Nature of the Beast’
recorded with legendary producer Jon Kelly (Kate Bush / PaulMcCartney / Beautiful South) and is
due for release later this year.
www.jodiemay.com
Alex Bayly
A recent graduate from Leeds College of Music, Alex Bayly will be showcasing stripped
down versions of his current band's work The Last Men and some of his solo acoustic catalogue.
His music features a wealth of influence, but expect a doff of the cap to Robert Johnson with a
cover of 'Love in Vein' next to his modern twisted indie/folk mantras. For more information see
www.thelastmen.co.uk
Charlie Turner
Charlie Turner is a Stortford-based 17-year-old pianist and saxophonist who is becoming a familiar face on the town’s music scene. She discovered an aptitude for music at an early age and has since strived to enhance and develop these skills. Her musical influences are many and varied ranging from Billy Joel to Adele and this eclectic mix is reflected in the music she produces. Her self-composed, piano-driven songs have proven popular with a variety of audiences and age groups.
Charlie has had the privilege of tuition from internationally acclaimed Jazz musician Ray Gelato and has also been fortunate enough to record in The Premises studio, The High Barn and The Pool Studio, London.
Blue Peacock
Blue Peacock is a solo project by Alex Hardcastle, it combine Blues with a number of
different genres from Rock to easy listening, each song is uniquely designed to capture
each audience member’s preference of musical style.
www.twitter.com/alexslashalex
Bella Chipperfield
Having been brought up listening to artists from Robert Johnson to the Dubliners, Bella has a real love for blues and folk and is always looking for new ways to play music in a new, raw style. Now she is looking to explore the capabilities of the harp playing her lever harp made for her by her father Chip Chipperfield to whom she is eternally grateful.
www.myspace.com/bellachipperfield
Tom Moodie
Thomas Moodie plays piano. This will be his first solo performance at a music festival, having played with St Mary’s Jazz Band in the past. He has appeared at the Acoustic Club to great acclaim!
Dodgy
The definitive line up of Nigel Clark, Andy Miller and Mathew Priest is back...
The first time round, Dodgy were only together for seven years but in that time they sold over a million records worldwide, released three albums and 12 Top 40 singles, including 3 Top 10s and the Top 5 hit Good Enough, still a staple of the Radio 2 playlist; sold out the Brixton Academy for three nights in a row and were awarded an unprecedented 90-minute Saturday evening slot on the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury Festival in 1997 just before Radiohead. Not bad, considering that they also partied harder than an Ewok.
The English trio began their climb to fame in 1992, releasing three singles on their own Bostin Records label, later signing to A&M Records, around the same time as they inked a publishing deal after they made two A&R men battle for their signatures in a pub video football competition. The partnership with A&M generated three albums of life affirming, beautifully crafted songs - The Dodgy Album (1993), Homegrown (1994) and Free Peace Sweet (1996).
Live performance was always integral to the Dodgy experience. When the band first formed they started the infamous Dodgy Club to ensure that the audience got more than just a band on stage. A dedicated touring band - in one 12-month period between 94/95 they played almost 250 shows - Dodgy built a devoted and loyal fan base. Their positivity and summery songs made Dodgy the perfect festival band, and it was such a natural habitat for the trio that in 1996 they conceived their very own Big Top Tour, giving a fledgling Muse their second ever gig when the tour rolled into Exeter. I’m told the boys are happy to have the favour repaid.
Singer Nigel left the band in 1998 to pursue a solo career leaving Mathew and Andy to limp on with a different line up, releasing Real Estate in 2001 before disbanding completely.
In a bittersweet twist of fate, it was the dying wish of the band’s close friend and crewmember, Andy Moore that brought them back together in 2008 and they all agreed that life was too short and anyway, they had forgotten why they split up in the first place.
Since they got back together they played an extremely successful set of reunion shows culminating in an overwhelming finale at the Shepherds Bush Empire, and like prodigal sons, they have been welcomed back to the festival circuit, including legendary appearances at Guilfest, The Wickerman, Summer Sundae, Cornbury a secret gig at The Truck Festival, a headline show at Beached in front of thousands on the beach in Scarborough and they headlined BUGJAM, Whatfest and The Purple Weekend in Northern Spain, and to cap it all they were asked back to play Glastonbury once again their second home in the 90’s, where an exuberant Will Young was spotted ‘dancing like he was on something’ at the side of the stage. Bless.
Besides the hits, such as Staying Out For The Summer, So Let Me Go Far, Making The Most Of, If You're Thinkin Of Me, Melodies Haunt You, In A Room, and the epic Grassman - (I mean, I could go on) the boys have started introducing new numbers into the set, slowly and surely building up enough songs for new album which they finally intend to release this year.
As singer Nigel says, "What’s the rush? We’re gonna take our time to make sure this album is better than our last one... and that was brilliant. The fans deserve it, they’ve waited long enough, so they don’t mind waiting a bit longer."
As anyone who has seen them so far this year will tell you, the Mighty Dodgy Vibe is back and stronger than ever.
www.dodgyology.com
Pandora's Box
Rob Da Bank (Radio 1): ‘putting acts like this on is exciting. The secret is to stand out from the crowd. These guys have done that’.
Metro: ‘They have what it takes!’
Pandora's Box are a quirky folk-pop four-piece, who are all 18 or under. The band have played at the Secret Garden Party, Strawberry Fair, Westmill Farm Festival and Edinburgh Fringe amongst others. Last summer they were selected by Radio 1 DJ Rob da Bank to win a BRIT Class Act Award, which resulted in them playing at Camp Bestival. Subsequently, Pandora's Box were featured in Metro and interviewed by First TV. They have also headlined a local festival called Woodfest and have appeared regularly at The Half Moon and the High Barn. Currently they are backing Mozzy Green's Ben Sommers in a mini-tour promoting his new album 'Avocado Chip'. The band sing in close three part harmonies and comprise a guitar, keyboard, double bass and drums and sometimes a melodica and bouzooki. They have recently recorded their debut EP.
www.pandorasboxband.co.uk
Circus Envy Band
Circus Envy are an alternative-folk band based in East Yorkshire. Featuring a line-up of primarily acoustic instruments, they add a traditional sensibility to their intricately crafted harmony-led modern songs with use of bouzouki, mandolin and cajon.
High profile performances alongside artists such as Jim Moray, Megson, Belshazzer’s Feast, Iain Matthews and Jackie Leven have cemented the band’s reputation as a live act.
The band’s 2010 EP, 'A New Dawn', was released to critical acclaim, and received significant airplay, including from Mike Harding on BBC Radio 2 and resulted in Circus Envy being featured on the front cover of R2 Magazine. The year ended with a Christmas performance at the Ropery Hall, Barton-upon-Humber which sold out before Halloween.
2011 sees the release of a new album and the band will announce tour dates and festival appearances in the Spring.
www.circusenvyband.com
The Willows
An Alt Folk band who create a beautiful sound that intricately weaves traditional and modern roots music within well-crafted songs. Since forming in the summer 2010 the band have released their first E.P as well as supporting top folk acts such as Lau, and are rapidly building up an ever enthusiastic fan base along the way
www.thewillowsband.co.uk
The Cuban Mules
Our inspiration comes from a wide range of music, from rock to jazz, country to funk. We hope our music incorporates all of these styles and maybe a little more.
Keeler's Walk
.....reflections on love and life, faces in clouds, walks in bluebell woods,
the beauty of innocence, coming home, feeling alone, anger at injustice, facing
your fears and so much more....
Keelers Walk consist of Sarah Ross (vocals), Ray Thackeray (guitar and vocals) and Greg Camburn (Vocals, whistle and soprano saxophone). All songs are written by Ray Thackeray and arranged by Keelers Walk.
Chloe Turner
Chloe Turner is a 17-year-old singer/songwriter from the small town Ware in Hertfordshire. She has been singing and playing for some time, but after successfully auditioning for local music events a couple of years back things began to take off for her on the local and London music scene, supporting acts such as Lizzy Pattinson and The Chambers. Chloe has gained excellent feedback and is picking up a steady following along the way, described has having ‘GRIT & SOUL BEYOND HER YEARS’, having recently pulled off great performances at The Bedford and The Elgin. Be sure to catch her live, check out the gig guide.
'This talented young singer is an acoustic sensation, with edgy vocals and an entrancing stage presence. Having played the guitar from a young age, she has recently been taking acoustic open-mic stages by storm and gaining a steady following.' (RITP 2009)
www.chloeturner.com
Evie Wilson
Evie is a 16 year old singer and musician from Bishops Stortford. She has been playing at local venues for a couple of years now and has showcased at The Acoustic Club, Bishops Stortford stunning the audience with her beautiful vocals".
Nick Green
Nick Green is 17, he has been playing guitar for 7 years and singing for 2 years. He enjoys playing a variety of genres and his main influences are Kings of Leon, Bombay Bicycle Club, John Mayer, Paolo Nutini among others. He mostly performs covers but has also written original material of his own.
Katie Staines
15 year old Birchwood student. Singer and Acoustic Guitar player. Plays the occasional live session at the Acoustic club.
Shakila Karim
Shakila started playing instruments from nursery. Has played violin, recorder & ukulele. Now plays piano has been singing for years and now performs locally.
Queen, Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga & Elton John are biggest inspiration.
