WHAT’S ON

Matt Backer has played with ABC, Rumer, Julian Lennon, Sly and Robbie, Steve Earle, Sarah Jane Morris to name a few. Les Davidson has played with Laura Mvula, Paul Rodgers, Joan Armatrading, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, Tina Turner, Eric Bibb etc. Matt & Les will be performing their take on some of their influences, including, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Mose Allison, Albert King, Blind Willie Johnson, Jesse Ed Davis, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee.

Born in the East End of London, Kathleen O’Sullivan learned to sing from her mother and all her family sang and played traditional Irish music. She toured with The London Lasses for many years before returning to her unaccompanied singing roots.  Jacquelyn Hynes is a highly regarded flautist and composer, rooted in Irish and English traditional music who has played alongside and supported many of Irelands leading artists including Martin Hayes, Michael McGoldrick, Mary Coughlan and Lunasa and toured with Liam Ó Maonlaí.  As a multi instrumentalist and songwriter, Andrew Warminger’s music reflects the rich and varied canopy of influences he was raised under: trad Irish, folk, country, pop, rock, soul, classical and everything in between.

Dave is a true legend of British Blues having been a leading light on the scene since becoming lead singer and guitarist with the John Dummer Blues Band in the late Sixties.  He accompanied no less than John Lee Hooker, Howlin Wolf and Son House.  He formed the Blues Band with Paul Jones and Tom McGuinness in the late Seventies and they rapidly became one of the UKs most respected and popular blues acts.

Steve Ashley has long been regarded as one of British folk’s finest singer-songwriters. His reputation for writing contemporary songs inspired by the English Tradition was established in 1974 with his innovative debut album, Stroll On. Since then his songs have been recorded by many leading folk artists including Fairport Convention, Anne Briggs, Ralph McTell and Wizz Jones, Show of Hands, O’Hooley & Tidow, Dave Pegg and PJ Wright, The Arizona Smoke Review, Martin and Jessica Simpson, Grace Notes, Phil Beer, Maggie Boyle, The Bushwackers, The Owl Service, Sproatly Smith and Hannah Sanders and Liz Simmons.  He has also played a significant role in the development of British folk-rock, performing as a lead singer with the first Albion Country Band, then with his own Ragged Robin and various line-ups of The Steve Ashley Band. He has also performed occasionally with members of Fairport Convention.

Ross and the Hailstones are a South East London based trio playing a blend of original and traditional material, steeped in the folk tradition but with their own signature twist. They consist of fiddle, cello and guitar with plenty of three-part vocal harmonies and foot-stomping tune sets.