Leonardo Biciunas - US performer, singer-songwriter & raconteur. " ... Leonardo's own a voice is like new flannel sheets -- textured and thick, yet almost unbearably smooth and sensual ... " Leonardo At Mother Earth's Cafe in Albany, NY Live Review by Jen Nathan

Iris Bishop - one of the finest Duet Concertina players you'll ever see. Regared in some awe by all the duet players we know!

Bjorn in the Beer Break - JK & AY in impromptu mode.

Ray Bradfield - long ago when the world was young ... Ray was a regular StortFolkie. A writer of fine songs like "The Iron Road", recorded by Artisan, and a rather fine guitarist. Not seen too often in the Herts & Essex hinterland nowadays, so catch him if you can!

John Breeze - A hairy old folkie of the best sort, John is catholic in his repertoire and flexible in delivery - that's to say he knows enough songs to keep most people singing all night and he's an intelligent audience-reader. You'd have to be real sour not to enjoy one of his gigs. As seen and feted from St Albans to Padstow. Don't expect High Art - just come prepared to sing yer tonsils off.

Tom & Barbara Brown - Strings & free Reed, with a West Country Trad bias. If you think these are the same Tom & Barbara who gave the first Folk revival the shanty "Rosabella" you would be about right. Expect expert close harmonies, accompanied (or not as the song demands) by guitar, concertina, or melodeon and enhanced by experience and skill. Bring best chorus voice and be prepared to be entertained.

Ben Campbell - Ben Campbell is a singer who has been performing in Folk Clubs since the 60's. The first club he sang in was run by Johnny Collins out in Singapore whilst he was serving with the Royal Marines! He is Tyneside bom and bred, but for the last 25 years has lived in South
He is genuinely interested in the traditional side of our musical heritage and performs a wealth of material from his home county, including stories that are wryly evocative of the North. Ben has been resident singer and bookings organiser for many years with Folk on the Moor (Formerly the Who'd Have Thought It Folk Club) on the edge of South Dartmoor. He regularly performs at South West festivals and Folk Clubs.
On Ben's album - Songs of Lost Skies - many of the lyrics are written in conjunction with Graham Searle the South Hams Poet. The album features many local musicians, including the Lakeman Brothers (Equation & Cara Dillon Trio) with Val Lobb and also Geoffrey Lakeman providing some fine local backing. The songs are all original and cover a variety of topics - from Dartmoor legends to Lighthouses. Ben has a quiet, yet compelling stage presence and with his strong guitar playing and earthy voice - he is a performer you simply should not miss.

Pete Castle No stranger to The Vestry, Pete brings a trad-based approach, easy performing style and friendly manner - evenings in his company always leave a warm sort of glow. One to join in with and enjoy.

Karen & Colin Cater - A welcome visit from the well known Trad.duo - Warranted Good Value for real folkies. Any traddie in the South East worth their salt will already know them. Harmonies, standards, ballads & chorusses - excercise your tonsils & enjoy.

Andy Caven - Live-wire guitar and rocking vocals always make for a fun evening when contemporary writer & singer Andy visits. Well capable of rocking the joint just a little .....

Anthony John Clarke - Irish singer-songwriter, presenting a collection of his reflections on his experiences from 1976 to the the present day. A powerful performer who sidesteps nostalgia, pessimism and professional Irishness. A coup for the club - don't miss him if he returns!

Charrington & Ward - Modern & Trad duo, very good at encouraging the club to sing - very good performers - do lots of standards, bits of Bessie Smith (including the rude bits) - not above having fun. Catch them for a pleasant, friendly evening - like folk clubs used to be like !

Rick Christian - Reasonably famous in Essex and beyond, not just because of his occasional broadcasting exploits. Another performer who likes rocking the joint a little - infectious sense of fun generally guarantees a decent night out. Joined on his 2000 trip by Julia Pascoe.

Roy Clinging - part of the warp & weft of English Folk - those who know him won't want to miss this gig. Trad, English concertina and a good repertoire including collected songs from Cheshire. Proper Folk !

The indefatigable and versatile Pete Coe "A One-Man Folk Industry!" was how Jim Lloyd described Pete Coe on Folk on 2. With a vast repertoire of traditional & original songs, dance tunes & dances playing bouzouki, melodeon, dulcimer, banjo & step percussion, he's been a professional musician since 1971. Pete looks to the tradition, but doesn't shrink from adapting and reinventing in order to move forward. He is essentially a storyteller, equally at home with lengthy traditional ballads as with pithy self-penned songs.

John Conolly - The "Fisherman's Green" Man! Trad-based, own work & shanties. John's from Grimsby and brings a wealth of experience - come with best Chorus Voice well - primed. 'Catters will know all about him, as will festival-goers, so 'nuff said.

Craig, Morgan and Robson - Featuring the lovely Carolyn Robson, Sarah Morgan andMoira Craig. Carolyn is well-known to Woodworks devotees as a popular workshop leader, and each of the trio are kinda famous amongst folkies around the nation as rather special individuals. Being ladies of a certain age, they don't exactly look like a supergroup .. but don't let that fool you!

Hamish Currie - energetic perveyor of chorusses and folk standards. To quote his site: " Versatile singer/guitarist/MC from the Tudor Folk Club, Chesham, Hamish selects his songs and tunes against two criteria: that he likes 'em and that the audience likes 'em. And song, ballad or air, traditional or modern, funny, sad or melodramatic, wistful or angry, they're delivered with pizzazz. But no anchovies. "I don't even own a moped" he adds.

Martin Curtis - from NZ, which makes him a Trev. Contemporary singer-songwriter ".... & Bush Poet". Wrote "The Gin & The Raspberry" amongst others. knows Paul Metsers (it is alleged .... ) - also a really grat guy & a bit fond of mountain climbing .... your opportunity not to miss something real good !

Jim Couza - Hammer dulcimer expert, with an engaging style and no stranger to the club. Always entertaining, with a gentle but mischevious wit and fingers that are frequently moving too fast to see. Also plays gee-tar real good.

Dan Coyle (Singer/songwriter from USA)
It's been a transatlantic autumn so far, and Dan adds to the magic - contemporary writing in the American style. He's cute too (so the girls tell us) and very much part of the Acoustic Revival.
Reviews, pictures and samples - http://www.myspace.com/Dan_Coyle

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Heather Dale & Ben Deschamps - Powerful, beautiful Canadian Folk. A lovely weave of trad and influences and a great night!

Gillian Darbey - A fabulous voice and an excellent entertainer, Gillian has more than held her own in some impressively good company during her career, and continues to do so with good cause.  PR quote "Gilly has been a name on the English music scene for over 20 years, and in that time has thrilled audiences wherever she has appeared with the quality and range of her "hauntingly beautiful" voice, and her ability to move with ease through a wide range of differing genres. Her repertoire covers everything from traditional and contemporary folk, through blues, gospel and jazz, with the odd Doris Day song thrown in (don't ask!)"

Jan Davis - Lovely lady - lovely voice. Accordion, guitar. Australian / contemporary / trad songs done with verve. Last visit the audience was way too small but the closing medley still loosened the plaster, with a little assistance from the Chorus. Good job Courier's Delay were elsewhere, as their favourite Gerry Garcia song featured, along with "My Old Man  ... (can't seem to lay off the bottle)" - also good at jigs, reels & French musette.

Keith Davis - a smokey blues voice, dazzling slide guitar and a dobro to die for.

Deadly Lampshade - Penni McLaren Walker and chums (being John & Ginny from The Fetch - remember Woodmanstock?). First Class craic! and first class fiddle & melodeon to boot.

Mike Deavin - Singer - songwriter and no stranger to The Hallowed Lino of the Vestry. Lovely bloke, with a gentle performing style, warm and distinctive voice and some real good songs, performed with panache and a neat guitar style. Never fails to please.

Delta Echoes - a duo who re-create the country blues of the 1920s and 30s, played on acoustic and National steel guitars (most of them older than their players!), harmonica and kazoo. They are: Richard Scruton, of Rich Pickings fame, well-known on the local folk and blues scene and an authentic interpreter of the guitar picking of the great Delta bluesmen, and Stuart Cumberpatch, who has been playing lap style and bottleneck blues slide on National guitars for most of the last 20 years - ten of them with the legendary Kennet Sheiks.

Martin Dent - Contemporary - nay downright mainstream modern. Excellent guitar & vocals with an eclectic mix of his own work. Interesting - don't miss him!

Paul Downes - Paul's sensitive and yet fun approach to his live performances puts him among the most respected artists on the British acoustic music scene today. He has been introduced (much to his embarrassment) as one of the greatest acoustic guitarists in the world. It is easy to see why when you see the dazzling array of styles he performs with effortless brilliance, but at the same time he considers himself as a singer of songs, rather than a guitar technician. Paul has a rich musical background that has progressed through working with Phil Beer, The Arizona Smoke Revue, Pete Seeger and, currently, The Joyce Gang.

Dave Ellis & Boo Howard Superb Jansch type guitar & powerful vocals with a touch of expert banjo, seasoned with the blues and just a dash of ragtime. They don't rock the joint, show off or try to overpower the audience - Dave & Boo are just really really good musicians. They combine a repertoire of Dave's songs with a bit of older material, a gentle sense of fun and sensitive variations of pace & style. Jacqui says they have never failed to entertain her, which for a "quiet" act is a bit more than just a compliment. Not your average folkies. I'd rather like to catch them in a jam with Jay & Cath, or maybe Opland & Freeman.

Les Elvin - renowned folksinger and no stranger to The Hallowed Lino. Good mix of material with a sprinkling of ragtime & blues. Nice guitar style. The only visitor we've had who wears his shirts for a bet.

Julie Ellison - a few seconds listening to Julie's demo was enough to make us want to book this lady - wonderful songs with a blues feel - great guitar work - ... Don't Miss !! ... A couple of hours with Julie was even better than the CD - definitely Cambridge Folk Festival Main Stage quality - engaging personality, sings good, plays guitar like she's posessed by angels, writes really heartrending songs about broken love. Ought to be really famous - maybe will ....................

Dan Evans - Appearing in 2002 with Sylvia Seaton as "Eclipse".
Suggers review in 2000 -- "Not easy to categorise; trad material presented with considerable classical skill on guitar and mountain dulcimer, but gently enhanced with technology. One of his best tricks is to use a long echo and then play a duet with himself. In other hands this would come over as an amusing gimmick - the effect from Dan is seriously musical. In demand in the USA for workshops as well as performances, which may give you a hint of what to expect.
CAUTION: doesn't show off. You only realise how good this man is after you've been listening a while and you realise you've been from trad to world to pop, through a bit of techno and home again in a sort of warm flowing stream. CD's good, too."

Earem & Greive - In remission at present, due to trips abroad, Shakespeare & Sex. Look out for their return. Avoid it if at all possible. Get drunk if not... (Beerfordbury Bugle 1999).

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Galliard - David and Gay Reay .. "Acoustic duo blending trad. songs with blues / jazz influences - all delivered with a warm, clear voice and some rather unusual acoustic guitar." Decent list of good reviews from Rock'n'reel, Robb Johnson, Folk On, and from Broadstairs & Chester festivals. To which we can add a Stortfolk endorsement - folk based songs,  interwoven with inventive guitar structure - plus a bit of blues & ragtime. All presented in audience friendly style (jokes excepted - puns are more tortured than Suggers- Brain). A very relaxing night - we always seem to go home happy !

Dave Gibb - With a style of guitar playing that is best described as being as distinctive as it is effective, a voice that can carry traditional and contemporary songs and a songwriting ability that produces songs ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous Dave has now established himself as a talent to watch on the folk scene.

Dereck Gifford - Trad. Carol likes him a lot, so expect good songs and decent chorusses in a fine voice. Definitely one for the Stortfolk Chorale.

A rising star - Dave Goldblum is an extremely talented singer/songwriter and guitarist from South Africa. His five albums to date are all his own compositions full of spirit with combined jazz and african rhythms.

Richard Grainger ..A well respected Trad and trad-based singer from the North East, Richard has a wealth of traditional song and a fine collection of his own writing, which he delivers with power, passion and a touch of self-deprecating northern humour. A very fine folk singer indeed, and well able to lead a rafter-raising chorus.- see also a very accurate crit at http://www.tradmusic.com/artistinfo.asp?artistID=1000

Gerry Hallom - from South Oz via York, or vice-versa. Trad & self-penned, Guitar & banjo. Monologues done. Always good value; see his website for a better description than I could ever write.

Phil Hare -With his excellent guitar style and powerful voice, Phil is much in demand on the folk circuit. An entertaining performer with charisma.

Jon Harvison . Jon will be familiar to many as a festival circuit regular - writes excellent songs and perfoms them in a friendly style. A very likeable performer - someone you can listen to again and again and always find something new. Like many real experts he makes it all appear horribly straightforward. Appeared in 1998 with James Moss, and "loaned" us a Wassail.

Geoff Higginbottom - Well known around the festivals and clubs. A powerful singer of shanties and a versatile entertainer. Expect a good sprinkling of trad. songs and some cracking chorus opportunities. Was at school with Dave Albinson (who was a prefect), despite the which he appears surprisingly well-balanced. Went through a stage where he was very fond of anagrams. That's why Tony Clark still gets referred to occasionally as Tory Clank. No website as he's a paid-up luddite.

His Worship & The Pig - A couple of funny old buggers from Stoke-on-Trent.
Witty, entertaining and all-round good value. Actually rather good musicians and very knowledgeable folkies. Whoever you are, I defy you not to enjoy their company.

Bernard Hoskin & Myke Clifford - Bernard's already something of a legend in the Cambridge Folk annals. "... There is a diverse range of styles in his music from Irish and English traditional folk to blues, new country, jazz and African. People such as Paul Simon, Shawn Colvin, Marc Cohn, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Bert Jansch and Papa Wemba are among the many influences that make up his distinctive and original sound ... ".

Howden, Jones and Taffinder - as seen and enjoyed at Alcester, 2002. Kate, Paul & Tony respectively, a dynamic young trio from the North West with a mix of contemporary folk, largely self-penned.

Mary Humphreys & Anahata - See the calling card on our homepage, or their sites - exceptional musicanship and fine trad-based material - we're in awe of this couple ! Expect expert melodeon, concertina & cello, banjo and properly sung ballads to festival standard.

Heather Innes - with Ciaran Dorris (ex-Firefrost singer/guitarist). Trad. Very good and very good company.

The Hot Tamales - South Coast   trio with a friendly blend of blues, swing & roots - based compositions. Double Bass, washboards & guitars, including a very nice replica National played with style. Easy to listen to, impossible not to join in with - very good fun. Catch them also at Broadstairs and supporting Martin Carthy at Glastonbury 2000. Spencer splashed out on the CD, (always a good recommendation)

Robb Johnson - an uncompromising singer - songwriter who takes no prisoners. Strong songs reflecting strong views, with a bit of blues & Dillon for good measure. Writes contemporary songs about contemporary situations - very much in the vein of Billy Bragg, Ewan McColl and the Protest Song movement of the sixties, but with flashes of dark humour. Can be uncomfortable listening if he's on form - what he has to say is not only relevant to society today, but usually something "polite" society would very much prefer to ignore. Thought for the day: "In Buttercup Class we Smile ........ "