“One of the most charismatic and electrifying performers in Britain today…tough and passionate” according to Tom Robinson on BBC 6 music. Martyn Joseph last played GTSF in 2014 and 5 albums later, he's coming back.
He's created his own style and reputation as a mesmerising live performer giving what thousands have described as the best live music experience of their lives. A unique talent driven by passion, social awareness and love for his trade, he’s a jaw dropping guitar player with a powerful show stopping voice, and has been called “The Welsh Springsteen”.
Ceilidhs 2023
Bringing the ceilidh's back into the Folk Stage marquee last year was such a joy. We've confirmed 3 great acts for you this year too.
The first of these is Lasair, one of the fastest rising bands on the folk circuit, who'll be kicking things off with a late night ceilidh of Friday. They boast a supercharged line-up of fiddle, mandolin and melodeon backed by a roasting rhythm section of drums, bass and guitars. Lasair have headlined many of the UK's biggest folk festivals including Sidmouth Folk Week, Shrewsbury and more.
They are: Jodie Highfield, queen of the ceilidh fiddle, Matt Crum, melodeon legend of Steamchicken fame, Alfie Gidley, bold and versatile mandolin and acoustic guitar chops, Ben Trott, distinguished prog rock electric guitarist of Albion Band notoriety, Ioan McAvoy, rock solid and funky on the bass, James Cook, high octane percussion/drums. The Saturday night ceilidh is with Juniper, a 6 piece band with Harry Thorpe, including Sean Morrison calling. Juniper has years of experience providing fun and high quality performances in a variety of settings across the UK, including providing the ceilidh for Purbeck Valley Folk Festival in 2019 and hosting an accessible ceilidh in Victoria Square, Birmingham as part of the Commonwealth Festival.
We've a lively ceilidh lined-up for Sunday morning with Bonfire Radicals: an electrifying sound of 6 piece (un)traditional folk band Bonfire Radicals is both intensely creative and irresistibly fun. More about them here.
Thorpe & Morrison will also be playing over the weekend on their own, and we'll be announcing another of Harry Thorpe's projects soon.
We've exciting things brewing for Sunday night too so keep an eye out for news.
Back in the International Groove...
This summer’s event will be the most international, entertaining and musically diverse event yet.
The highly-acclaimed and immensely danceable London Afrobeat Collective have joined the festival headliners; eight musicians who create politically-charged funk inspired by late Nigerian superstar Fela Kuti with his perfect blend of soulful jazz horns, hi-life and mighty Yoruban rhythms.
In total contrast, heading for Southwell from Wales, there’s the raving steampunk-style nu-metal-meets-traditional Welsh music of NoGood Boyo (appropriately taking their name from the bad boy character in Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood!).
They join an already global sounding line-up featuring The Raghu Dixit Project from India, Dog Show Sessions (combining English roots stars Show of Hands with Madrid-based Irish-American quartet Track Dogs, who are also playing separately), American singer-songwriter Tom Russell, bluegrass boys The Hoth Brothers from New Mexico, Italian ragtime and old time from Max de Bernardi & Veronica Sbergia and Irish traditional music stars Gatehouse. It's great to be showcasing these international stars again, after 2 festivals when travel restrictions limited the number of overseas acts that could get here.
Among others already booked, there’s top quality rhythm & blues from Nine Below Zero, English folk from Tarren and one of the UK’s finest singer-songwriter guitarists in John Smith, whose songs such as ‘Save My Life’ and ‘Far Too Good’ have been streamed many millions of times. There are loads more acts to see if you scroll down the home page here.
Ticket Alert!
And remember - tier 1 tickets are limited and it won't be long until they're gone and we release tier 2 tickets at higher prices. See the ticket page here.
Can't wait to see you all soon!
The GTSF Team
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