The Breath is guitarist Stuart McCallum and singer/flautist Ríoghnach Connolly. Ríoghnach (pron. Rea-nuh) is Armagh-born and Manchester based. Known for her work with Afro Celt Sound System and Honeyfeet, she met Stuart on the city’s gig circuit several years ago. An unlikely pairing though it was - she a folk singer, loud, brash and mischievous, he an acclaimed jazz guitarist, member of Cinematic Orchestra and a softly spoken Manchester urbanite. Their connection was immediate; they formed The Breath, a duo…

Devon duo Harbottle & Jonas have established themselves as one of the most exciting prospects on the folk circuit today, combining a love of the richness of traditional folk with their own original and powerful songwriting. Dave Harbottle and Freya Jonas have evolved a compelling live signature sound blending concertina, harmonium, banjo, stomp box, acoustic guitar and cittern with their powerful close vocal harmonies. Touring now with latest album, The Beacon, Cornish fiddle player Annie Baylis joins them, weaving in…

In the eleven years since winning Best Newcomer at the 2010 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Sam Carter has earned a reputation for vivid, narrative-driven songwriting and captivating live performances. Having made a spell-binding appearance on ​Later... with Jools Holland ​in 2012, Sam has gone on to tour the world, sharing stages with some of the finest guitarists and songwriters, including Nic Jones, Martin Simpson, Richard Thompson, and Chris Wood. This Autumn Sam Carter embarks on a national tour to…

Sheelanagig, for over a decade have brought their array of foot-stomping folk tunes to audiences across the globe. A quintet with a well-stocked armoury of stringed instruments – guitar, fiddle, double bass - added with the rhythmic energy of flute and drums and a bagful of joint-jumping tunes, these boys from the South-West England create a real dynamic which is inherent in both their furious dance medleys as well as their interestingly arranged original pieces. Putting the groove into a…

Friday Festival Club at Manchester Folk Festival 2021: This ticket is only available for purchase when purchased in conjunction with another Friday Manchester Folk Festival event ticket. It is also available to purchase if you are an EFEx Digital subscriber (log into your account to buy). See three of the best emerging English folk acts in HOME, the vibrant hub venue of Manchester Folk Festival. Friday’s line-up features: Described by Bright Young Folk as ‘experienced storytellers’ who bring ‘timeless quality’ to…

"With the Gigspanner Big Band, Peter Knight has assembled a group of musicians intent on making some of the most important and exhilarating art ever to sit under the banner of folk music" FRUK "Amazing...a force to be reckoned with - they storm every stage they walk on" Mike Harding The Gigspanner Big Band are a unique force in British folk music... Their high-energy, virtuosic performances appeal equally to traditionalists and to those looking for something more experimental, and they…

Sam Lee plays a unique role in the British music scene. He’s an acclaimed, award-winning inventive singer, a folksong collector, conservationist and founder/director of The Nest Collective who’ve helped shake up the music scene and injected life back into the folk trad and world acoustic scenes. With his critically acclaimed new album, ‘Old Wow’, he takes the listener on a truly compelling and emotional journey that takes his work to yet another level. His 1st release, ‘Ground Of Its Own’ in…

Formed in Beirut, the band returned to the UK in 2016 and set to performing tirelessly up and down the country, leading to BBC Radio 2’s Mark Radcliffe hailing them as “one of the real discoveries on the folk circuit in recent times.” Their debut album, Hide and Hair, gained attention in national publications, receives repeated national airplay on BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music, and won Best Album at the 2019 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Following a…