Friday Night
Formed by the bringing together of two separate groups, Freckle Beach are a true delight. The merging of trio MGB, and duo Us Two was an inspired one, and produces truly hypnotic results.
For more information on every facet of this group, please visit www.frecklebeach.co.uk
Boogie Woogie, Jazz, Funk, Blues, Klezmer, Fun!
Fungus Licks are a 3-piece combo who enjoy what they do so much that you can't help but be carried along for the ride. Consisting of Matt Collins- Piano, Organ, Matt Nolan - Drums & Percussion, and Tom Skailes - Saxophones, Harmonicas, Fungus Licks will entertain - so there!
It all started with a jam session between the Matts. The percussion duo remains the core of the band, with regular and irregular guests making appearances on other instruments to spice things up. Fungus Licks are mostly instrumental, but not averse to the odd guest singer.
Let them grow on you....
Saturday
Andrew's skill at conveying the sound and the spirit of the old acoustic blues has drawn gasps of admiration wherever he plays: whether it's the Son House/Charley Patton slide style (played on authentic 1929 Nationals) or the melodic fingerpicking style of players like Willie McTell and Robert Johnson (on his 1918 Gibson). But his range is broader, and can include the hokum songs from Bill Broonzy and Memphis Jug Band, alongside the likes of Hoagy Carmichael, Ray Charles and even Aretha Franklin! Andrew's performances are filled with stories, humour, drama, and a huge amount of passion and skill in reproducing the old-time blues.
As a Bath Chronicle music critic once said: “you don’t often hear this music these days – let alone played this well”.
Having played their first gig at a twinning event in France, which was quite successful, the Rough Street Jug Band decided this was not such a bad thing, so thought why not carry on here at home in Wiltshire ?
The band's main inspiration is very much the black American jug band music of the 1920s:- The Memphis Jug Band, Gus Cannon's Jug Stompers, The Mississippi Sheiks etc - a foot tapping mix of blues, jazz, and ragtime with the odd suggestive lyric: all good entertainment.
Lodestone are probably best summed up by this excerpt from a review of their new album from Jim Valance OC:
"The writing is 'smart' ... real attention paid to hooks, melodies, choruses and arrangements. Excellent 'pop' sensibilities, but a hard-edge as well, when called for. First-class vocals and musicianship all round."
Thanks Jim, we couldn't have put it better ourselves!
A unique, exciting band who can get the audience going from the first tune.
A delicate and sensitive band who can play thoughtful traveling songs.
A foot stomping band that play well known Irish drinking songs.
Wessex Contraband are all of these - an acoustic mixture of traditional tunes, popular Irish songs and the occasional Bluegrass song, with fiddle ,whistle, mandolin, accordion, melodeon, banjo ,guitar ,bodhran, bells, tambourines , voices and a good smattering of low class humour. They are quirky and like to stamp their feet a lot...
Bridging influential boundaries between folk, blues and rock, while hinting diversly at musical giants such as Ben Harper, Kings of Leon, Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley.
Windrush Empire weave a rich tapestry of songs both instantly catchy and timeless in origin.
Fox Hat are a band with many influences - and they all show during their performance. Be it soft smooth covers from the 50's & 60's or harder edged covers from the naughties, this female fronted combo really put their stamp on the songs.
Once again Popa Shep plays The Woolley, presenting his own compositions in his Folk Rock style... you never know, there might even be a special guest or two!
Aussie Pete brings his unique style of acoustic Americana back to The Woolley Festival.
See and hear more at www.myspace.com/peterarrowsmith
Beautiful songs performed beautifully.
Nuff said.
Don't believe us?
Check out www.myspace.com/benjaminpowelluk