Chris While & Julie Matthews (Saturday) Chris While & Julie Matthews are breathtaking singers, songwriters, musicians and performers whose dedication to their craft and audience holds no bounds. Though internationally acclaimed, they continue to be a leading force on the UK's acoustic/roots arts circuit. Their songs cover life as they see it, from the industrial waste lands of the north, to injustice and freedom, matters of the heart and everything in between. Thought the songs are covered by many revered singers the world over it is While & Matthews' musical partnership and obvious joy of performing together that really brings them to life. As performers they are unrivalled and their audiences leave their concerts having been through every possible emotion.

The Churchfitters (Sunday) The Churchfitters were one of a our most popular guests in 2007 and we just had to have them back. Their energetic and festive show unites the rythmns of rock and pop with the universal appeal of traditional music.Three explosive voices and the use of a dozen or so acoustic instruments (fiddle, guitar, double bass, flute, banjo, dulcimer, mandoline, saxophone...) allow them a rich musical language with which to express their varied programme of songs and melodies from Ireland, Scotland, Québec, England, USA and their own compositions. With their flamboyant personalities, Rosie and Chris Short from London, Topher

Loudon from Belfast and Boris Lebret from Brittany present their unique show with good humour and a sense of fun delighting audiences whenever they play.

Sid Kipper (Sunday) Sid Kipper is, depending on who you ask, "The folk world's comic genius", "Norfolk's redoubtable folk hero", and "A visionary/warbler from Trunch". Over the last decade or so Sid has developed into something of a one-man industry. He writes, records, broadcasts, tells stories, sings, acts, and plays a bewildering array of equally bewildering instruments. He has released six albums, published five books, written and presented two series for Radio 2, and a podcast series for Channel 4 Radio. Above all, Sid is a live performer of the highest quality. His rich mix of stories and songs entertain and delight audiences until they are willing to eat out of his hand (which he always washes beforehand). Don't miss his show on Sunday - see Special Events.

Chris Wood (Monday) Chris Wood is an uncompromising writer whose music reveals his love for the real history of the English speaking people. With gentle intelligence he weaves the tradition with his own modern parables and his writing shares the same timeless quality as Richard Thompson at his best. Chris Wood and Hugh Lupton won Best New Song at the 2006 BBC Folk Awards for 'One in a Million'. Chris was also nominated for three other awards, Best Album - The Lark Descending, Best Traditional Track - Lord Bateman, and Folk Singer of the Year. Three years ago Chris joined together with Robert Harbron and John Dipper to form The English Acoustic Collective. Chris was a guest at Chester Folk Festival 1993 as part of a duo with Andy Cutting and this will be his first return visit.

Cloudstreet (Sunday & Monday) Cloudstreet are an Australian duo, John Thompson and Nicole Murray. Their performances are packed with vitality, humour and excitement, as they breathe new life into some of the great songs of the Australian, English and Celtic traditions and carry them forward with original songs and tunes. Driving guitar and Irish flute support their enthralling vocals. Their trademark dazzling harmonies and their impassioned presentation are leavened with humour and great tales from their travels. With their warmth, talent and loving stage presence, they make their audience feel that they are the privileged viewers of something very special.

Grant Baynham (Saturday) Grant Baynham has been playing guitar since the age of 14 and started performing in folk clubs soon after. However, he is best known for his comic songs which he performed on such TV shows as Pebble Mill at One, Start the Week and That's Life. Since then he's played guitar and comic songs to anyone who'll listen, played jazz with anyone who'll let him sit in (notably with Marilyn Middleton and Steve Mellor), produced radio documentaries and written television scripts. He's also half of the duo Quicksilver with Hilary Spencer. He's been a popular guest at Chester Folk Festival on several occasions and we're glad to welcome him again in 2008.

Kerfuffle (Sunday/Monday) Kerfuffle are four of the finest young musicians on the folk scene today: Sam Sweeney, Hannah James, Jamie Roberts & Tom Sweeney perform their music with immense vitality and style. Now in their 6th year, they have played venues as diverse Fairport's Cropedy Convention, most major Folk Festivals, Radio 3's Late Junction and the bar under the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Their music cannot easily be categorised and their vibrant arrangements draw on influences from across Europe, incorporating tunes, songs and dances.

Shona Kipling & Damien O'Kane (Saturday) This duo has been together for three and a half years since meeting at Ethno Sweden. Shona is 20 and hails from Hawthorn, Co. Durham, while Damien, 28, is from Coleraine, Co. Derry in Northern Ireland. An extremely gifted pairing, this instrumental and vocal duo play an array of traditional and self-penned tunes and songs originating and influenced mainly from the Irish tradition. Shona and Damien make a sound which is exhilirating, passionate, skilful and unique and in 2007 they were nominated for the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in the 'Horizon' category.

Steve Turner (Sunday) Steve Turner comes from a family of singers and concertina players. His grandfather was known to have sung and played the instrument in the 1890's. Steve began his career on the Manchester folk scene at the end of the 1960s with the Geordie band "Canny Fettle". In 1979, he won the Melody Maker "Stars of the 80" National competition, which persuaded him to turn professional for 12 years until 1991, during which time he made 4 solo albums and toured internationally. A period of 13 years away from the folk scene followed with Steve building a violin retailing business and diversifying musically into a more classical mode. But folk music has a habit of getting into your blood, so 2004 saw Steve make a somwhat nervous return to the folk scene where he has been warmly welcomed.

Conservatoire Folk Ensemble (Monday) The Conservatoire Folk Ensemble is a group of up to 50 students from Birmingham Conservatoire. Led by Joe Broughton, their repertoire includes music from the English, Celtic and European folk traditions. We are very pleased that they are including the festival in their Spring tour this year. Don't miss their concert performance on Monday afternoon.

Fir Play (Saturday)

Fir Play are a new line-up to rise from the ashes of the legendary Liverpool Irish band 'Garva'. Tony Gibbons (vocals, cittern), Garva front man and founder member, is joined by three outstanding musicians: Matt Fahey (vocals, guitar); Liam Murphy (uillean pipes) and Danny Cameron (button accordion). Liam is the son of John Murphy, another Garva founder member while Matt and Danny are both well-known on the Manchester Irish music scene. Expect an entertaining mixture of tunes, songs and banter.
 

Monsieur Pantin (Saturday & Sunday) Monsieur Pantin are an exciting and relatively new trio comprising the world-renowned piper Jean-Pierre Rasle (previously with the Albion Band and currently with Jah Wobble), along with fellow Cock and Bull Band members Steve Cobham on acoustic guitar and Paul Martin on mandocello. Their music combines original compositions with traditional melodies to produce music to stir the feet and lift the spirits, taking in influences from around the world to create soundscapes for every mood.

Mary Humphreys & Anahata (Saturday & Sunday) Since 2001 Mary and Anahata have together been unearthing and bringing to vivid life the best of England's traditional song and music. Their musicianship and enthusiasm has won them a steadily growing reputation for their singing and playing in folk clubs and festivals. Mary sings traditional songs, mostly in English and a few in her native Welsh, and plays banjo and concertina. Anahata accompanies with melodeons, concertina and cello, and they play instrumental arrangements, mostly of English traditional music.

Bill Whaley & Dave Fletcher (Sunday & Monday) Well known throughout their native county, Lincolnshire, both for their work as a duo and as members of the Higgledy Piggledy band, Bill and Dave present a fine blend of voices mellowed by nearly thirty years of singing together. Their selection of songs encompasses both ancient and modern accompanied in traditional style on English and duet concertina, harmonium, and melodeon, with enough choruses to satisfy any audience. The pleasure they get from singing is obvious and since the release of their debut album "Their Fine Array" they have taken their music further afield to clubs and festivals countrywide.

The Askew Sisters (Monday) The Askew Sisters are a young fiddle and melodeon duo, playing and singing traditional English music in a dynamic and exciting style. Their sheer energy and musicality is quickly leading them to become one of the up and coming stars of the new English music revival. From their rhythmic, foot stomping tunes, to Hazel’s powerful songs and ballads, they win fans wherever they play. They have been Semi-Finalists in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award and won the New Roots competition in 2005.

FYRISH (All weekend) Fyrish are Marjorie Paterson and Dave Cowan. Marjorie is a cello player, originally from the Black Isle, who grew up in a musical family. She has a natural gift for music and harmony and loves to play a wide range of styles. Dave is a singer and guitar player from Glasgow who has been singing traditional and contemporary folk songs for many years. He has a relaxed, easy style and a mellow voice. Fyrish have a wide repertoire of folk songs from all over the world, with lyrics which will grab your attention, and melodies to warm the heart.

The Time Bandits (Sunday) The Time Bandits is a Chester-based band, which performs Anglo-European folk music and early renaissance dance music. They were formed in 2003 and have appeared at Chester Folk Festival (in 2003 and 2004), Chester Fringe Festival, Rhuddlan Folk Festival, Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival and are regular participants at the annual Audlem Bagpipe and Hurdy Gurdy day. In 2005 the band won the Bridgnorth Folk Festival 'open mic' club tent competition.

Breeze & Wilson (Friday) Graham Breeze and Toby Wilson are an acoustic duo based in North Staffordshire. They perform a blend of original compositions and country/roots/blues covers - some well known plus some obscure gems - played on lap steel dobro and acoustic guitar with impressive close harmony vocals. They made their first appearance at Chester Folk Festival in 2005 and we have been trying to get them back ever since. Unfortunately, they can only be with us on Friday evening, so don't miss their Folk Club spot.

Full House (All weekend) Our own Chester-based supergroup and hosts of the Raven Folk Club which takes place every Sunday night in Chester, Full House are Nick Mitchell (vocals, guitar mandola), Chris Lee (mandolin, bass, vocals), Dave Russell (vocals, fiddle, bouzouki, guitar, bass), Mark Woolley (percussion, whistles) and Ian Jones (melodeon, flute, whistles). All sensitive singers and talented multi-instrumentalists - we couldn't imagine a Chester Folk Festival without them.

The Waite Collective (All weekend) When you have three remarkable voices singing in harmony you can expect something special. When those voices belong to members of the same family then there’s an extra touch of magic! Switching musical styles with ease, a feature of their relaxed performance is the contrast and variety apparent in their choice of songs. This is enhanced by the varying textures of the blended voices as they exchange the melody and harmony roles.

Roy Clinging & Neil Brookes (All weekend) A relatively new partnership between two seasoned campaigners of the local folk scene. Roy is an experienced singer, both solo and with various harmony groups, and Neil is an outstanding dance musician. Roy's singing and concertina (and occasional guitar) playing are enhanced by Neil's musicianship as he compliments the songs and inspires the tunes on fiddle and octave fiddle.

Graham Bellinger (All weekend) Originally from Staffordshire, Graham is a Chester based singer, multi-instrumentalist and front-man of the country/blues band Root Chords. With fellow Root Chords member Mick Green, he hosts the very popular open mic. nights at Alexander's in Chester. His style is a laid back mixture of folk, blues and his own compositions.

The Doghouse Roses (All Weekend) This is a fairly new collaboration between Graham Bellinger, Mick Green (both of Root Chords) and Adrian Dear (of Dear Gregory). They describe their material as 'Americana - a bit folky, a bit country...'.

Charlotte Peters Rock (All weekend) Charlotte is an honest performer of song and poem, who writes her own material. Her work is based firmly on research of world-ranging and local history; and on her own experience. She has an eclectic mix of songs about the Lifeboat Service of North Wales, Russian woman fliers, The Royal Charter; the ill-fated Franklin expedition, Voyager. etc Her poetry subjects include the Chinchorro, the Lady of the Lord of Household Tai, Childhood, Celts Romans and Vikings, Inkas, Living in the World, lapis lazuli. etc. She also performs both thoughtful and protest songs and poems.

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