From this duo expect to hear haunting harmonies, soaring tunes and melodies, charming anecdotes and instrumental performances of the highest calibre, all led by Sam’s unmistakable vocals. This is not a show to be missed.

Sam Kelly is a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winning Cornwall-based singer, song-writer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist.

Sam writes and arranges most of his material with his main musical collaborator and flat-mate - Jamie Francis. Sam and Jamie have gained a reputation for an incredibly high class and dynamic live show, and the guys are rapidly becoming firm favourites at venues and festivals in all parts of the country

Many who attend Chester Folk Festival and other folk and related music events in the area will be well aware of Early Music maestro Elizabeth Armstrong from her membership of that merry band of medieval minstrels Maranella. Now Elizabeth is combining her impressive virtuosity on bagpipes and recorders with the mellifluous Viola playing of Jerome McGuinness, a superb classically-trained musician who began his musical career as a pupil of Clare ‘Fluff’ Smith while still at junior school which lead him ultimately to a place at The Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. 

“ We got together over a shared passion for medieval, French and particularly, Breton  music”, says Elizabeth, “Jerome plays Viola, Fiddle and Whistle and I’ll be playing English bagpipes and recorders. We’ll be playing an eclectic mix of music from the thirteenth century to modern day and may even sing a medieval song!” Satisfaction guaranteed then! 

A powerful new duo is emerging from the chaos of the last 12 months - and the folk world has been waiting! As established solo artists, Bryony Griffith & Alice Jones are no strangers to the folk scene, however the force of this phenomenal “new” duo is sure to turn some heads, and for very good reason.

Hailing from the close knit communities of West Yorkshire, both are long-time purveyors and performers of traditional English folk music, united by a mutual fascination with folk song and tune collections from their native county. Bryony and Alice draw on a wealth of stories inspired by the landscape and language of their surroundings, not to mention the local characters they have both grown up with and still live amongst today.

​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), Fluff Smith (vocals, fiddle, whistle) and Mark Woolley (bodhran, cajon, low whistle). This sensitive and original acoustic 5-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.