SHAMROCK KEYS - If you wander through the Temple Bar in Dublin the sound of traditional Irish tunes, jigs and reels will accompany every step. There is something infectious about the sound of a fiddle and people singing at the top of their voice while making sure they don't spill any of the Guinness.

Shamrock Keys are dedicated to bringing the vibe of the Temple Bar to clubs, pubs and festivals and fields of Hampshire and, in this case, the New Forest Folk Festival. So if  you are a fan of The Pogues, The Dubliners, The Saw Doctors, Christy Moore and many more, this band is for you.

The band is fronted by Danny Smith who plays banjo and vocals. When asked how come he plays so well when drunk he replies ' I practice drunk'

Dan is supported by:

Jon Foyle on bass - Jon enjoys hanging around with musicians

Bernie Kemp on accordion - 'When asked how come she plays so fast she replies 'Because I can'

Andy Matheson on acoustic guitar and vocals - So talented he can play all six strings at one time. This is highly complex and is known as a chord. The hardest chords of all are D, A and G. Prepare to be amazed.

Sam Horlock on fiddle ' He was classically trained but not for long'

Julian Caesar on percussion and vocals who will often say, 'I don't know anything about music. In my line you don't have to'

This 'must see' Irish band will play all the favourites including "Dirty Old Town' 'The Irish Rover' Whiskey In The Jar' and they love an enthusiastic audience who will join in with the signing.

Links: Website- https://royjbrown.wixsite.com/shamrock-keys

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/shamrockkeys/

GYMJACK - "As good as contemporary folk comes" - Acoustic

"Folk with attitude" - Froots’  "Life-affirming" - Folk Radio

Glymjack is one of the most exciting emerging artists in UK folk music.

Featuring Show of Hands legends Phil Beer and Steve Knightley, debut album

Light the Evening Fire showcases songs BBC DJ Tom Robinson says "remind

you why you got into music in the first place."

The folk-roots project of award-winning songwriter Greg McDonald, Glymjack sees McDonald's hard-hitting vision lit up by Gemma Gayner's lightning fiddle and Radio 2 Folk Award nominee Saul Bailey's dazzling melodeon on music
fRoots describes a "folk with attitude", and Acoustic calls "as good as contemporary folk comes"

Glymjack was a Victorian street child with a lantern who led strangers through the streets of London at night. This forgotten character from the dark shadows of British history is celebrated in Glymjack's signature song "The Glymjack Cry".

Live, Glymjack play acclaimed original songs and dynamic English folk music leavened with plenty of laughs and bonhomie, which has brought the house down at festivals from Cambridge Folk Festival to Larmer Tree, and led to Glymjack's first main stage festival appearances this year.

Greg's award-winning songs have been called "passionate, powerful and poetic"(Rolling Stone), "inspired" (The Times) and "captivating" (Q magazine), and featured in films and TV shows such as Alan Partridge and Match of the Day.

Away from Glymjack, Greg also plays in The Phil Beer Band.

VIDEO - Music, story, press, radio, gigs - in one 100-second video: https://youtu.be/-9nasq0DfwU

www.glymjack.com   

MARY JANE -  Mary Jane was formed in Southampton in1993. Having secured deals in Germany the band spent their first 10 years better known on the European market rather than the UK. Lead singer Jo Quinn evokes memories of Annie Haslam of Renaissance as her soprano soars high on rocking original songs that often have a slightly medieval feel. 'Dirty Linen Magazine'

They play an original blend of acoustic & electric folk-rock. The music is a combination of original songs and & traditional tunes, arranged for an electric five piece band.

Their last electric studio album "Solstice" is currently available from Talking Elephant records.

"We have a fluid line-up as members past and present regularly join us for live gigs and studio work. We get all sorts of gigs coming in from pubs and clubs,  to festivals and private parties. The best place to check for latest gig news and updates from the band is on our FaceBook and Twitter pages where we share gig information, videos taken at live events, gossip and much more"

http://www.mary-jane.info/

BARNEY NEWMAN & TOM LEARY -  Barney Newman is an exciting country blues and roots songwriter and musician from Oxfordshire who has been touring the UK for 20 years. Barney’s authentic Guitar, Banjo and vocal style produces an infectious up-tempo sound. Barney is performing with renowned fiddle player Tom Leary (Joe Brown, Feast of Fiddles, Lindisfarne)

More extended  info about tom below (With Matt Griffiths)

Copper Head Road:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jsC9u5dqMQ

Late One Night:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5njvyTZoArg

Payday:   https://youtu.be/1s9vYJ6UaM0

                                             Palm of my hand:  https://youtu.be/X-ysZRtlOtk  
                                             Website: https://www.thebarneynewman.com/

GREG CAVE & ROWAN GODEL -  Gregg Cave is no stranger to The New Forest Folk Festival performing as Fleetwood Cave and as a founder member of TRADarrr. Since forming folk-rock band CAVE when he was 18 years old, Gregg has been performing in concerts and at festivals in both the UK and mainland Europe. In recent years

Gregg has collaborated with musicians and storytellers and was commissioned by the Arts Council and National Trust to produce two separate pieces of performance.

We are delighted that this year Gregg will also be performing at The Fringe as a duo with Rowan Godel

About Rowan

My name is Rowan Godel. I am a singer, a songwriter and a vocal arranger.

Music has always been a powerful presence in my life and I have always loved to sing. There was a lot music in our house when I was growing up from classical to choral to folk to jazz to african, to name just a few.

Rowan Godel Singer and Songwriter, with guitar, laughing.
I started writing in my late teens and have explored writing and music making in lots of different genres. In my own work, I’ve never wandered far from my folk roots – though I still love to experiment with textures and sounds and bringing other elements into my music.

I find myself drawn to themes of nature and landscape but I also often find myself writing about internal landscapes and humanity. I also like to work with and arrange traditional songs (mainly English) sometimes for my own work and as well as for my singing workshops.

Writing is a very organic process for me. Usually the music comes first but sometimes, something someone says or something I read or see will capture me or I may have a specific idea, for example about working with and arranging a traditional song.

Rowan also works both solo and as a trio with Benji Kirkpatrick and Tim Cotterell so check out her website for dates and upcoming releases.

https://www.facebook.com/greggcave/

https://rowangodel.co.uk/

GRAHAM BUSHELL & MO THOMAS - Mo Thomas and Graham Bushell are masters of finger picking guitar, mandolin and slide guitar on Mo's original 1931 steel National.

They play a unique brand of blues roots music, plus Mo's own songs, which are in the story telling tradition.

Well known figures on the Southampton music scene for several decades, they have played festivals in the UK, and Mo also guested at the Robert Johnson Festival, Mississippi, USA.  They have also provided support for major musicians appearing locally.      
https://www.mothomas.co.uk/

DOM PRAG - Dom Prag is a singer-songwriter from Southampton. As well as his own songs, he sings traditional and classic folk songs, and also sets poetry to music. He plays a Jose Ramirez classical guitar and his compositions and arrangements are variously rousing, delicate, thunderous and complex, making full use of the instrument's massive range of dynamics and tone. The rich mix of classical and raw folk style creates a unique sound, complemented by his clear, harmonious voice.

Dom Prag has recently emerged on the English folk scene, appearing as support for the likes of Phil Beer, Jackie Oates, While & Matthews, John McCusker, Mike McGoldrick and John Doyle, Edwina Hayes, and many others, and his popularity is growing. His debut album, 'Young Man on a Ferry', was released in December 2018. He is currently working on his second album, which will be produced by Phil Beer, which he will start recording this autumn.

"Great playing, singing and writing and a lovely stage presence. Watch out for Dom, his star is definitely on the rise." - Julie Matthews, While & Matthews

 "Dom Prag will be big very soon" -Dai Jeffries, Folking.com

"To borrow a term from the BBC Folk Awards, Dom is a 'horizon artist'… a performer who is destined to be on the leading edge of his generation and a really nice guy." -Flaxey Green

"An excellent singer and absolutely superb guitarist… Dom really is the full package and is what many people will be looking for on the folk scene… talented, young, intelligent, hard-working, and deserves the huge success that I have no doubt is coming his way." -Folk Roundabout

https://www.domprag.com/

CHINA WOLF -  Music with  style, music that rocks, music that moves, music that means, music that grabs.

Expect a varied repertoire that includes music by Chris Isaak,  Imelda May, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, The Levellers, First Aid Kit,  Beyonce, Van  Morrison, Fairport Convention. Johnny Cash, Lindisfarne, Joni Mitchell ,Chuck Berry and many more.  PLUS our own original published songs.

The Band:

DAVID WEST WILLIS

guitars/vocals/songwriter

Began his career in the seventies boyband Crying Shame, and has worked  and recorded extensively in Europe solo and in bands  ever since  

ANNE JAMES

vocals/uke/songwriter

Classically trained, sings on feature film and video game soundtracks, performs widely in duos and bands and is songwriting partner with David.   

STEPHEN VAUGHAN

drums

Has toured professionally all over the world and played all the major venues from the Royal Albert Hall to our favourite pub The Tally Ho! in Broughton.

MIKE FULLER

bass/vocals

The band's bass player and can be found elsewhere on the web moonlighting on sax with the duo 'Pair of Horns'.

https://www.chinawolf.co.uk/

MATT GRIFFITHS & TOM LEARY - Matt is a gifted Dorset based songwriter inspired by the likes of Frank Turner, The Levellers, Country and Traditional Folk. Matt snd Tom will take you on musical journey. Whether he's playing lively covers or thought provoking original songs they are sure to find something in their bag of tricks to suit all tastes.

Tom's lists of credits are endless and include over the last 18 years the John B Spencer Trio (with Graeme Taylor), Clem Clempson (Humble Pie, Jack Bruce Band), Steve Gibbons, Phil Bates Trio (ELO), Little Johnny England, Tanna, Zeus with Dave Lambert of The Strawbs, Graeme Taylor and Jon Davie of Gryphon. Tom spent a brief period working with Lindisfarne in one of its reformed lineups but his main work recently has been with Joe Brown.

Tom was asked by Joe to teach him how to play the fiddle and this lead to Tom's inclusion in Joe's touring band to celebrate his 60th Anniversary in the music business. A huge tour started in 2019 and continued into 2020 until covid-19 brought it to a halt like so many others. Joe Brown will complete the tour in due course and Tom expects to see many of his new friends found on the road with Joe to join his Feast of Fiddles friends in 2021.

A humorous and interesting man, there is not much that Tom has not seen or done within the music world. Tom is a beautifully tender player with a great gift for writing melodic tunes.

Famous within the band for his laugh amongst other things, his mirth is highly infectious.

Tom lives in Oxfordshire and can also been seen playing with Albion Morris with Ian Cutler.

Great fun to be with and hilariously funny, Tom is just the tonic you need after a long, bad day

https://www.facebook.com/MattGriff101

https://mattgriffiths.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/tom.leary3

PLAITFORD COMMON - Plaitford Common have become an integral, and hugely popular part of the New Forest Folk Festival.  As ever they will entertain you with their own brand of 'folk' music.  In their own words, "Its not so much folk music as music with folk instruments".  Their range of songs is truly vast and you are likely to get bluegrass, rock, blues, Swedish disco and pop mixed in with the jigs, reels and occasional traditional folk song.  Always fun and enjoyable, they will be opening the Thursday Fringe.

http://www.plaitfordcommon.co.uk/

MATT BLACK - PIANO MAN - Matt is a local legend from Dorset and delights crowds wherever he plays, be it one of his many comedy nights or playing classical piano at a garden party.

In the 20 years, and more, that Matt Black has been earning a living in the entertainment world, he has consistently altered his stage persona to meet the requirements of his audience, be they guests at a society wedding, delegates at a business conference or corporate dinner, or bikers attending a rally.

Some of the organisations Matt Black has entertained: –Vodaphone, Rover Cars, Eli Lilly, Vauxhall, Nissan, The Mars Group, British Telecom, Sony, Price Waterhouse Cooper, Mothercare, Disney, Donside, Unisys and many more!

Some of the stars Matt Black has appeared with: –

Richard Digance, Tom O’Connor, Boy George, Barry Upton, Brian Connolly, Gerrard Kenny, Dave Lee, The Supremes, Bjorn Again, The Bootleg Beatles, Bernie Clifton, Mud and many more!

MATT BLACK’S STAGE PERSONA CHANGES TO SUIT THE SITUATION!
On Thursday Night at the Fringe many will have enjoyed Matt for his The Comedy Act:
Matt’s comedy nights always have the audience roaring with laughter and he certainly knows how to play the audience just as well as he plays the piano.

Here is one review from many….
“This was billed as a night you won’t forget, and lived up to its promise. Matt treated us to an evening of hilarious and sometimes irreverent anecdotes to piano accompaniment, interspersed with some contemporary pieces. I have to say that Matt’s piano-playing was very accomplished and truly amazing. This was a racy, pacy evening and we romped through pieces such as War Horse and Black Beauty, Titanic (with sound effects), Bohemian Rhapsody à la Mick Jagger(!), Tommy and 1940s trench songs at a breakneck and thrilling speed. I particularly enjoyed his one-liner questions, his British regional jokes, and his Elton John harmonies. I admire a man who can multi-task, in this case playing the piano whilst simultaneously knocking back a Budweiser. And as he said, the piano is a good choice of instrument as you can balance your beer on it. That set the tone for the evening. A good many glasses of wine were downed in very convivial and relaxed, candlelit surroundings. And there was lots of audience participation with ‘Show Me the Way to Go Home’ with funny voices (I won’t say more, but it was fun) – and some good-natured heckling, which Matt responded with lightning-quick wit. We certainly couldn’t let him go without a couple of encores. We all agreed that it was a fantastic evening.”
https://matt-black.org/

By Annette Payne