TURNPIKE

The wonderful Turnpike - Traditional and modern folk/ bluegrass musicians. We’ve all enjoyed their melodic harmony and musical interludes at our Festivals and we look forward to them opening our festival and to another entertaining set. We also hope that they don't have to endure the monsoon storm where they stoically played on despite the waterfall in front of the stage last year!

RUTH AND KEN POWELL

www.ruthandkenpowell.co.uk

These reviews say it all.

Folk Roundabout - magazine review

Ruth Powell is blessed with a lovely voice and boy! does she use it well!
Ken Powell is a brilliant guitarist who tends to keep his light under a bushel but some excellent playing can be heard on their latest recordings.

Spenborough Guardian - 'Folk stars shine at Cleckheaton Folk festival'

Ruth and Ken Powell provided the perfect partnership, with Ruth's staggering vocal abilities enhanced by Ken's guitar playing, all making for a fine evening of folk.

Wirral Folk Festival - Festival news 2014

Ruth remains one of most exceptional female vocalists in the UK. Her interpretation of the material they choose leaves one in no doubt of her abilities as a singer. Ken has been admired for his ability to enhance and strengthen the personal achievements of a singer and musician over the years with his competent, dedicated guitar playing

CHONKINFECKLE

www.chonkinfeckle.co.uk

Wigan’s own totally unique stage act are Chonkinfeckle. The carefully written comedy lyrics about all places and things “Wigan” are accompanied by excellent ukulele, keyboard, percussion and mouth organ playing. These three performers bravely manage to produce a set so different that they can only be classed as brilliant.

HARD TIMES ACOUSTIC FOLK BAND

HARD TIMES is a Lancaster based Folk band who play regularly in Northwest England.

GORDON JOHNSTON ... Banjo, Mandolin, Guitar and Vocals.
LAURIE JOHNSTON ... Whistle, Flute, Mandolin, Guitar and Vocals.
GEOFF WILKINSON ... Bass and Guitar.

Gordon
Gordon Johnston is one of these guys who can play most anything with strings attached. His main instrument in Hard Times is 5 string Banjo which he plays to a level unsurpassed in this part of the world. He is an excellent guitarist and mandolin player and features prominently on these instruments on any performance.

Laurie
Laurie is the band's main vocalist who also plays Flute, Whistle, Guitar, Mandolin and one or two other bits and pieces. As with the other lads, Laurie's performing skills are of the highest order and he expects nothing less from the band as a whole. He is the "Front Man" and presents their shows with good humour, informative anecdotes and musical excellence.

Geoff
Geoff Wilkinson is the band's Bass player and a fine Guitarist who compliments the musicianship generated by this talented trio.

KEN SCALLEY

Ken has been a stalwart promoter of the festival for 5 years and is a very talented musician and all round folk singer. He specialises in traditional Lancashire songs, poems and stories bringing them to life in his own inimitable way. Saturday afternoon is his spot where, not on does he do a great set, but he invites new talent to grace the stage with a different theme each year. There is so much untapped talent in the Wigan area. This year its the young local talent and no doubt the afternoon will be as enjoyable as ever.

JON BRINDLEY

www.jonbrindley.co.uk 
This is one of the most versatile, entertaining, and brilliant singer-songwriters in the North West. We are delighted to welcome him back.

From Jon's Website:

I’d like to let you know about the music in me.... I feel very lucky that I've played and sang in piano bars, at some of the larger folk festivals, art galleries, country festivals, pubs, arts centres, care homes, band stands, on street corners and café terraces all over Europe.

My songs might well take you to new places and after the feeling that brings the creation of a song I want to recreate the atmosphere and spark of that moment…

My latest album, The Missing Emotion, was recorded with my voice, my acoustic guitar and the double bass of James Budden, then layered with other instruments played by myself (with the notable exception of Steve Wickham on the fiddle).

Performing is like being on a journey – one that can find a lively rhythm - and there’s so much to share along the way… Sometimes I will caress those guitar strings delicately then other times throw that beat straight at you creating bass lines and layering lead phrases on the chord progressions. My fiddle was handed down from my Grandma and I could well play you one or two of my compositions. I was inspired to take it busking all round Europe after reading Laurie Lee. I’ve explored music through many forms. Celtic melodies, blues, contemporary folk, country, rock, popular songs and traditional ballads can all be picked out of my repertoire and it’s usually my own interpretations. Expect the unexpected!

ED MCGURK AND NIC CAFFERY

www.caffreymcgurk.blogspot.co.uk

We are looking forward to a evening of the finest folk music to close the festival. This popular duo continues to explore the delights of traditional and contemporary folk songs. With their good humour and informed understanding of the song subjects, they instil their particular flare for harmony and enthusiastic performance making each song a joy to hear.

People started coming from 6.20 pm to ensure they got a good seat at the sell-out concert.   Ken started the show with a brilliant set of “Lankie” tales and songs, suitably attired in his “Lankie” flat cap.  This continued to be the theme of the night.  Steve followed with his melodic renderings of songs and stories of Wigan and environs.   His excellent guitar work and delivery are always a delight.  Phil ended the first half with two of his favourite songs and got the crowd ready for the main act.  All of these talented artists could run a whole concert in their own right but they had to make way for our main guests.

The Houghton Weavers lit up the stage with their slick delivery of stories and jokes, and carefully chosen songs with choruses, that we all knew.  So the audience was involved right from the beginning.  In the second half, their repertoire consisted of songs chosen by the audience, - “You shout out the name and we will sing it”, and they did.  There was a strong “Lankie” theme in this half. This demonstrated not only their confidence, but why they have been going for so many years delighting audiences to sell out shows.   They finished the night by inviting all the artists on to the stage to join in a rousing version of “Will ye go lassie  go”.  They have a unique ability to leave their audiences with a feel good factor and did just that once again.

Thank you to Ken, Steve, Phil and the Houghton Weavers, thank you to the back-up team who work diligently to make the concert such a success, and thank you to you the audience for supporting us.  We now look forward to the main event – the Free Festival at the Alison Arms on 6^th, 7^th and 8^th June, 2014. 

Another great night of live music was enjoyed by all.

Mervyn opened the show with his musical lyrics and top notch guitar work.

Then came Queen Jan who lived up to her name with her dynamic and musically inventive set, featuring the bodhran, guitar and ukulele.  She radiates power and confidence and good humour, and we always enjoy her performance.

One Hand Clapping finished the evening with a terrific set which alternated between high energy and soulful melodic songs.  Tim and Chris are a great duo and complement each other brilliantly with fiddle and guitar.  They were on great form and obviously enjoyed themselves.  This enjoyment was infectious and had us all dancing by the end of the evening.

Thanks to Mervyn for the sound which was brilliant as always, to Ken the MC, to those who donated raffle prizes and helped to sell tickets, and to you the audience for making the night a great success.  Let's hope that the Houghton Weavers concert on April 18th is just as good!

Another great night of music making, thanks to all who helped - 8 November 2013.

Coppull Folk’s fundraiser was a wonderful night of live music.  Talented regulars Ken, Jim, Steve,  and Mervyn did us proud with their melodic sets .   Bryn provided some brilliant guitar accompaniment to Steve and Jim, and a few people even remarked that the main guests Gary and Vera had a very hard act to follow!  However Gary and Vera got into their stride with their Lanky jokes, stories and songs and had us all laughing for most of the night.  Thanks to all who performed, to Mervyn who did an excellent job with the sound, and to you the audience who came from near and far to support promoting live music, and, the next Folk Festival  at the Alison Arms in June 2014.