Whitby – a soul town, significant in John’s life since the 60s when the embryonic folk festival could be contained entirely in The Seamen’s Mission – Loveless, Binless et al. It is his honour to return, albeit as a soloist after over 50 years of collaborative performing – Muckram Wakes, Albion Band, Home Service, Barry Coope, The National Theatre (WarHorse), television (Sharpe), radio (The Radio Ballads) and multiple stages at festivals and clubs but never until recently alone. John’s solo adventuring is entitled “Don’t Get Me Started….” – let’s see where it takes us?

John Tams; singer, songmaker and inactivist

Seb Stone is a traditional singer, whistle player and uilleann piper from the Peak District. In 2022 he won Bromyard Folk Festival’s ‘Future of Folk’ award, and had his first festival season in 2023. He draws on a varied repertoire of traditional English and Irish songs, focussing on the stories they have to tell, and their relevance to our modern world, singing them with “understanding, sensitivity & strength”. Seb is a keen session player, and when he’s not poring over broadsides or field recordings, he can be found playing sessions in Sheffield’s thriving folk scene.

Miranda started her career as a musician in 1996 at the age of 18, playing bass guitar in a country rock band. After 2 years touring and playing for line dancing in working mens clubs across Britain, folk-rock band Pressgang were looking for a bass player. Miranda spent the next 2 years touring internationally with them.

After a few years of musical promiscuity playing with Firebrand, Little Johnny England, Robb Johnson, Bill Jones, Steafan Hannigan, Reg Meuross, Kirsty McGee, The Phil Beer Band, Martyn Joseph and The Scoville Units; Miranda depped for Pete Zorn in the 2004 Show Of Hands festival band line up. She worked with them for the next 20 years. Miranda also found time for a short tour and album with the Miranda Sykes Band in 2005, duo album tours with mandolin player Rex Preston and 2 solo albums.

2024 brings a second tour with Hannah Martin, a new Baring-Gould Centenary project with Jim Causley, summer festivals with vocal group Daphne’s Flight, a tour with The Phil Beer Trio and a new solo album and tour “Out Of The Woods”

Janice Burns & Jon Doran are an award-winning Anglo-Scottish duo who came together after discovering a shared love of traditional music. Their compelling storytelling comes alive through tight vocal harmonies and sensitive interplay between mandolin, bouzouki and guitar. With their relaxed and personable approach to performance, Janice & Jon are renowned for the warmth of their connection with audiences. From opening Stage 2 at Cambridge Folk Festival, to playing at the likes of Edinburgh Tradfest, Cecil Sharp House and Sage Gateshead, the duo are highly sought after across the UK and beyond. Following the success of their self-titled EP in 2020, Janice & Jon released their debut album, No More the Green Hills, in Autumn 2022. The album had overwhelmingly positive feedback, finding its place in the Official UK Folk Albums Chart, as well as gaining airplay on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio Scotland.

Four of England’s finest traditional fiddle players, Bryony Griffith, Jim Boyle, Ross Grant and Rosie Butler-Hall have joined forces to create The English Fiddle Ensemble.

All with a passion for traditional English dance and its music, their combined repertoire is vast and includes rarely played and unusual regional tunes alongside more familiar session favourites. Their aim is to engage with the audience in a way that allows them to feel the bite and lift of four fiddles resonating to create joyous harmonies and striking rhythms.

Centred on the city of Peterborough, this men’s side also has members from the Midlands and East Anglia. Founded in 1979, they perform Cotswold dances, with a focus on those from nearby Northamptonshire. They wear black breeches, white socks, white shirts, blue and yellow baldricks and flowery straw hats. Much in demand locally for events in Cambridgeshire, they also regularly appear further afield.

Francy Devine, born In London, was educated in Peterborough, Leeds and Dublin, and worked as a Trade Union Tutor for the Irish Transport & General Workers’ Union/SIPTU. Active in the Musicians’ Union of Ireland, he is a member of Howth Singing Circle and has appeared at clubs and festivals in Ireland, Brittany and Scotland. With the Scots musician and singer Steve Byrne, he has recorded two CDs – My Father Told Me and An Ownerless Corner of Earth – available on Bandcamp.

Earlsdon Morris are a North West clog side who formed in Coventry in 1971. Their repertoire includes traditional dances originating from the counties of Lancashire and Cheshire, and their own dances in the same style. They are a sociable group who like to dance, sing, travel and be merry. 

Founded in the early 1980s, Duke’s Dandy Clog perform dances predominantly, but not exclusively, in the Lancashire and North-east styles. They meet and practice in Retford, Nottinghamshire coming together from as far afield as Cornwall, Hull, Sheffield, Folkestone, Southwell and Grimsby. Their name comes from an amalgamation of their first dance-out at a “Duke” of Edinburgh Award Ceremony and the name given to your Sunday best – or “Dandy” – clogs. The dancers, who wear purple skirts, black blouses and matching clogs, will be ably accompanied on piano accordion by Bernard Blackwell and on fiddle by David Wigg.