ELLIE GOWERS has been making an impression wherever she lands. Her music embeds a fierce energy that echoes the 60’s folk revival scene and she is known to hold pride of place on stage with her strong and lucent vocals. Her songs are built from a childhood love of literature and traditional folk song, but also discuss the more modern narratives of the present day. These influences fuse together to create a sound that has been deemed unique and incomparable.

After the unpredictable circumstances that 2020 brought with it, Ellie found herself making good use of her time, beginning to work on projects she had only ever thought about. Collaborations were done with friends new and old, songs were written, a festival was played, and she was also included in the line up of the Filkin’s Drift Ensemble, covering Arthur McBride. Ellie’s latest EP, Parting Breath, was released in 2021, accompanied by a first UK tour, and her debut album, Dwelling by the Weir, is set for a Spring 2022 release date.

JANICE BURNS & JON DORAN are an Anglo-Scottish duo who formed in 2017, after discovering a shared love of traditional music. They find their songs in archives that span the depths of our history; songs that, regardless of age, tell vivid stories about the nature of life, from the ethereal landscapes of ancient ballads to the urban rhythms of work songs. Their compelling storytelling comes alive through tight vocal harmonies and sensitive interplay between mandolin and bouzouki, with arrangements that balance intricacy with energy. Their dynamic performances are a celebration of their own musical and geographic backgrounds, embracing the differences that connect them.

The duo met whilst studying folk and traditional music at Newcastle University, spending one year at the University of South-East Norway together. These experiences allowed them to hone their craft whilst expanding their audiences further beyond the UK. After three years of working together and performing in notable venues such as Sage Gateshead and Folklub Newcastle, they decided to record their debut EP. It was released in September 2020 to overwhelmingly positive feedback.

Hailed by BBC Radio 2 as “two of the most extraordinary musicians, a phenomenal duo”, INDIA ELECTRIC CO. are perhaps best described as “a veritable musical magpie’s nest” (BBC Radio 3). Blending traditional instruments, folk melodies and subtle electronic influences their sound has been described as “busy as rush hour but full of light, describing a life alive with motion” (The Independent) and “bursting with invention and full of surprises” (The Telegraph). They have extensively toured throughout Europe, Australia and New Zealand, including UK shows at The London Palladium and Hammersmith Apollo.

After live sessions with BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music, Glastonbury Festival appearances and BBC Introducing’s backing they released The Gap in 2020, with Folk Radio UK declaring them “one of the truly pioneering acts in folk music”; BBC Radio 1 calling the record “a full musical odyssey” and The Scotsman “classy pop”. They will be releasing their third studio album in 2022. 

THE LAST INKLINGS are Leonardo MacKenzie and David Hoyland, both accomplished multi-instrumentalists with a solid folk background. The band's innovative sound crosses genres, centred around cello, mandolin and vocal harmony, layered with guitar, piano, strings, synths and percussion. With vibrant backstories and creative musicianship, their songs have a modern flavour that is rich with imagery and narrative, exploring at their core what it is to be human. 

Their name is a nod to the mid 20th century literary group which included Tolkein and CS Lewis, although their inspiration is drawn from wider sources than just these authors, ranging from Carl Jung to Terry Pratchett. Thoughtful depth is handled with a light touch, balanced with playfulness, metaphor and humour. They released their debut album The Impossible Wild in October 2021 to rave reviews, with Folk Radio UK praising their “exceptional vocal harmonies” and proclaiming it’s "hard to believe there will be a better debut album this year".

SAM CARTER has earned a reputation for vivid, narrative-driven songwriting and captivating live performances. He is a highly-regarded instrumentalist, renowned by many as 'the finest English-style fingerpicking guitarist of his generation' (Jon Boden). Over the past fifteen years, Sam has toured the world, won a BBC Folk Award and recorded and performed with some of folk’s leading lights, including Richard Thompson, Eliza Carthy, Martin Simpson and Nancy Kerr.

When Sam envisioned his fourth album Home Waters as "a search for a sense of belonging and stability in unfamiliar territory", he couldn't have known how prescient that would turn out to be. Recorded pre-pandemic in a converted church in rural Northumberland, Sam’s live acoustic guitar and vocals sit at the heart of the album. Many of his performances were left unadorned, while producer Ian Stephenson’s cinematic string arrangements created the rich emotional landscapes on other tracks. Released during lockdown in May 2020, Home Waters brought solace to many and was heralded as "an album full of quiet pleasures by a musician at the top of his game" (R2 Magazine).

With exceptional musicianship and boundless energy, GRANNY'S ATTIC are going from strength to strength. Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne (melodeon, anglo concertina, vocals), George Sansome (guitar, vocals) and Lewis Wood (violin, vocals) have honed their skills touring the UK and Europe since 2009. They are much loved by audiences up and down the country, with bookings everywhere from Cambridge Folk Festival to Cecil Sharp House.

The trio have been heralded for their lively performances and skilled delivery of traditional material, playing with verve, energy and their own inimitable style. Though grounded in tradition, they are keen to push new boundaries by exploring fresh approaches and writing their own compositions. In October 2021, they released their latest album, The Brickfields, an instrumental collection that sees them reach new heights both as performers and composers. Described by Folk Radio as “one of the most exciting and accomplished English folk acts on the scene right now”, this outstanding trio can hold audiences in the palm of their hand.