Some fantastic additions to the bill below, and a short note on stewarding.
Le Vent du Nord
One of our most popular acts on their two previous visits (2012 & 2017) Le Vent du Nord are celebrating 20 years on the road in 2022 and are now a five piece (rather than 4).
The award winning and highly acclaimed band is a leading force in Quebec’s progressive francophone folk movement. The group’s vast repertoire draws from both traditional sources and original compositions, while enhancing it’s hard-driving soulful music (rooted in the Celtic diaspora) with a broad range of global influences.
Featuring button accordion, guitar and fiddle, the band’s sound is defined by the hurdy-gurdy, which adds an earthy, rough-hewn flavour to even the most buoyant dance tunes.
Truckstop Honeymoon
They went down so well at GTSF 2018 that we had them back in 2019 and we know they'll be welcomed with open arms again this year, playing on Saturday and Sunday.
Hollering with all their hearts over a five string banjo and a doghouse bass, Truckstop Honeymoon live the life they sing about. Touring across three continents with four kids and a truck load of songs, Katie and Mike West tell stories about the strangeness of everyday life. Their music combines elements of bluegrass, music hall jazz, and straight up rock’n’roll. They have released nine albums and a full length documentary film, produced over two hundred albums for other artist, and received awards for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts.
Fellow Pynins
Fellow Pynins is an award winning contemporary folk duo from Oregon, USA, making a quick visit to the UK and stopping by GTSF on Friday and Saturday...excellent for us!
Dani Aubert and Ian Van Ornum have a keen and bucolic sense of vocal harmony and song craft. The live performance is a whimsically emotional escapade through the chasms of our, yes, feelings.. Dashed with spontaneous and clever banter, mirth and woe, you will probably cry and laugh, a lot. Wielding claw-hammer banjo, Irish bouzouki, mandolin, and acoustic guitar the duo sings predominantly original music as well as reworked traditional ballads gathered from their travels.
Katie Spencer
Katie is becoming a regular now at GTSF, having played in 2017 and 2019 - and it's great she's here again in 2022.
Raised on the fringes of Hull, Katie Spencer’s landscape has always been that of open skies and widening rivers, and this sense of space and movement flows through her music.
The song writing, and most notably her guitar playing stems from a time when the steel-stringed instrument was truly finding its voice. Artists like Joni Mitchell, James Taylor and perhaps most evidently Michael Chapman, flow into her sound, carrying with them the warmth and idealism of the early 70s folk and songwriter movements.
Pete Morton
Pete Morton began his musical journey after he came across a Buffy St Marie record. It was from that moment on he decided to become a folk singer. Discovering the songs of the early sixties protest movement, it inspired him to write and take his songs into folk clubs and beyond.
For thirty years, Pete has been performing to audiences all over the world. Throughout that time he has been regarded as one the best on the contemporary roots music scene. His latest album 'A Golden Thread' has received rave reviews with eight newly self penned songs, a Pete Seeger classic 'Oh Had I A Golden Thread', and versions of the traditional gems, 'Barbry Allen' and 'The Farmers Boy'.
Fritillaries
Fritillaries are a folk/Americana pop duo made up of Hannah Pawson (vocals, guitar, banjo) and Gabriel Wynne (guitar, mandolin). Musically, they incorporate elements of the English folk tradition, Appalachian string band and Americana. Hannah writes from a queer female perspective, with many songs about refugee and human rights issues from her background as a social worker and activist. As 'Rainy Day Woman' they played GTSF 2021.
Also announced:
Helian: New 5-piece coming out of the Leeds Conservatoire. Expect folk influences from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Scandinavia.
Huson-Whyte: Local duo who won the open-mic back in 2018.
And previously announced:
Dervish: one of the biggest names in Irish music internationally. They’re renowned for live performances, which match dazzling sets of tunes with stunning interpretations of traditional songs.
Peat & Diesel: Stornoway 3-piece confirmed for Friday! This band are on a supersonic trajectory, selling out everywhere they play in hours. Tongue-in-cheek stories of island life belted out with riotous joy.
Ian Siegal: “Awash with wit, lust and distraction…..the cleverest writer and most magnetic performer of Blues in the UK ” MOJO
The Spooky Men's Chorale
Australia's Spooky Men can be uproariously funny. They can also move you to tears. Such is the power of these 17 sublime voices and stunning a cappella arrangements.
Noble Jacks
With the fiddle leading the charge, Noble Jacks are out to take no prisoners with their high-energy footstompin’ rhythms, which have taken crowds by storm across the UK. “An Explosion of insurmountable energy and brilliantly catchy riffs”
Steve Tilston & Jez Lowe: Two of the UK's finest songwriters. "These two well-travelled veterans of the folk music scene have still got a great deal to say and can still say it with style"
Chris While & Julie Matthews: with more than 25 years of unrivalled musical partnership and gathering numerous nominations, awards and critical acclaim along the way.
Blackbeard's Tea Party: will ramp up the festivities on Saturday, fantastic musicianship, playful choreography and an unstoppable urge to move your body!
Honey & the Bear: Mellow folk-tinged melodies to fast pounding Americana, Honey & The Bear write clever songs about love, life and the planet! Appearing as a 4-piece this year.
Daniel Smith Blues Band: 'A serious challenger to Jools Holland as the UK's Number One boogie pianist.' Blues In Britain. 'Dazzlingly accomplished boogie woogie and blues piano.' The Guardian.
Kyla Brox: One of the UK's greatest blues vocalists and a fine flautist, with Danny Blomeley on guitar. Joining the Thursday blues concert with Ian Siegal and Daniel Smith Blues Band.
Filkin's Ensemble: Birmingham’s new young supergroup, brings together 15 of the UK’s finest young folk musicians in an adventurous collaboration producing contemporary arrangements of a traditional folk repertoire.
Field & Dyke: Greg Russell and Danny Pedler, bring their Field & Dyke project to GTSF - it should have been here in 2020: a cracking project combining traditional music with the sounds of industry.
Keith Donnelly, stalwart of GTSF, brings his multiple talents to delight young and young-at-heart alike: comedian, singer-songwriter and all-round entertainer.
Stewarding
We now have our full complement of set-up stewards (thank you) but have some spaces for weekend and take-down if you want to apply here. If you have applied more than a couple of weeks ago, then please check your emails as you have been sent confirmations. If you have not heard anything please email gtsfstewarding@gmail.com.
Until next time!
The GTSF team.