With just an upright bass, two old guitars and a bucketful of aching harmony, THE GOAT ROPER RODEO BAND are preaching ‘Country Blues’ like you never heard… It’s up, it’s down, it’s soft and loud, it’s dark and lonesome too, there’s hurt and shame and some mean old pain but there’s love in what they do! There’s a hint of Gram, a sniff of Dylan and a twist of Waylon’s blues … Simply put, it’s exactly what it says on the tin.

Since the early 1970s Roy has had a deep-rooted commitment to folk and traditional music its legacy and performance. In addition to his solo performances Roy has also worked in collaboration with other artists (most recently with Mick Ryan on his folk operas 'The Navvy's Wife' and 'The Pauper's Path').

He performs at venues all over the country and his commitment to placing traditional music firmly in the heart of the contemporary sees him often working in partnership with regional and local organisations and groups on a variety of projects from festivals, education and heritage, to social care settings.

He has recorded four folk albums:

'Cheshire born',

'An Honest Working Man',

'Another Round' (with fiddle player Neil Brookes),

'When This Old Hat Was New',

and has performed on the original cast recording of 'The Pauper's Path'.

He has also compiled and edited 'Cheshire Folk Songs and associated traditions.'

Born in Yorkshire but having lived in Spain and Gibraltar, Kate now studies music at the University of Chester. Over the past year she has gained an increasing following having played a wide range of live venues, supporting Wet The Tea,  Mera Royle, and recording at The Narrowboat Sessions. Currently performing an array of traditional and recent folk and acoustic music, she has started to write, perform, and record her own material which has been well received by audiences across the North West.

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Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer have developed a strong reputation for a delivering great performances time and time again. Once known mainly for for their instrumental skills with Scottish smallpipes, accordion and Swedish nyckelharpa, they are now being accepted as impressive song arrangers and writers.Vicki & Jonny effortlessly blend traditional material with contemporary interpretations whilst equally creating original self penned tunes and songs that are entirely at home in the tradition. Out of this combination they have developed a sound that is both familiar and fresh.

​Graham Bellinger is a Chester-based singer, songwriter, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. In the past he has been involved in very popular collaborations with Staffordshire band The Deacons, in a duo with Steve Goodchild, and with the very talented Adrian Dear, Mick Green and Ian Southerton in Deportees. In solo mode, he is well-known for his laid-back ‘trademark’ mix of Folk, Blues, Ragtime and original compositions.

​Chester’s popular French and European Music and Dance group – bring instruments and/or dancing shoes.  You don’t even need a partner.

​Full House, a Chester band with a long and storied history, combine playing festivals, clubs and other venues with their role as the resident band at The Raven Folk Club, these days located in The Bear & Billet pub in Chester. Founded some thirty-odd years ago, Full House now comprises Chris Lee (mandolin, guitar, bass, vocals), Ian Jones (melodeon, flute, whistle, vocals), Nick Mitchell (vocals, guitar, mandola), Dave Russell (vocals, bouzouki, guitar, bass), Fluff Smith (vocals, fiddle, whistle) and Mark Woolley (bodhran, cajon, low whistle). This sensitive and original acoustic 6-piece line-up uses dazzling mandolins, pulsating melodeons, breathtaking whistles and subtle strings to present a varied repertoire of traditional, contemporary and self-penned material.

In the time since An Croenen’s first visit to Chester Folk Festival in 2012 she has become an integral part of the Chester Folk community. A superb singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, she is a vibrant, charming and distinctive performer with a winning way with both a song and an audience! As well as her solo work, An was lead singer with The Time Bandits for five years. Recently she has been singing with the renowned Early Music group Piva.

Folk Club MC