Sheffield City Morris formed in 1975 with an aim to make Morris dancing an entertaining spectacle in an urban environment and keep it going as a living tradition. Known for its green trousers and blue braces, the team also has a strong vocal and instrumental expertise. We have recently started a women’s side to complement the men’s side, both dancing our own Medup dances.

Steve Roud is a retired local studies librarian and now a freelance writer, researcher and organiser in the traditional song field. He is chair of the Traditional Song Forum and has written a number of books on folklore topics, including The New Penguin Book of English Folk Songs and Folk Song in England. He is also the compiler of the online Roud Index databases.

One of the most shamelessly exuberant ceilidh bands on the scene, Steamchicken has roared from its humble beginnings in the early 90s to fame and popularity over a career spanning three decades.

Regularly delighting dancers across the nation, the combination of a solid rhythm section, horns everywhere and the odd nod to tradition brings a virtuosic cacophony to any event.

2024 will be Steamchicken’s last year of performing together – so don’t miss their ceilidh on Tuesday evening, and for musicians, their ‘Play like a Chicken’ workshop where you can learn their secrets of how they make their musical magic!

The Fraser Sisters, Jo Freya and Fi Fraser, were once described as ‘better than a bus’, when a print run removed the rest of the sentence ‘load of musicians’. A fitting description as they are multi instrumentalists and singers with a history of performing that spans the best part of 50 years. They have collected and interpreted music from the Uk and beyond in a way that only siblings can. The music is diverse and captivating often delivered in what appears to be, a deceptively easy way, e.g. acaplella, accompanied, driving tunes…but frankly they are worth seeing for the banter alone. Expect great music with tales of their experiences as musicians and sisters, far and wide.

You will have seen then individually or collectively with Blowzabella, Narthen, Polka works, Sir Michale Morpurgo and more and Jo is now the Artistic director of the National Youth Folk Ensemble.

Roger Digby has been playing Anglo Concertina for 50 years. A founder member of Flowers and Frolics, he was at the forefront of the resurgence of interest in Traditional English Dance Music in the 1970s, before playing in a duo with fiddle player, Liz Giddings. Throughout this he also maintained a busy role accompanying Bob Davenport, a singer widely considered the best in the field. Recently he has been playing Sliabh Luchra music in The Michael Sheehy Band. He believes passionately in the integrity and quality of Traditional Music and is very outspoken in championing it. In his concertina workshops he combines his knowledge of music and the concertina with his many years of teaching experience.

Katie Howson is best known as a driving force in a number of significant English ceilidh bands, playing melodeon and harmonica in the Old Hat Dance Band, PolkaWorks and the Valiant Dance Band, alongside Roger Digby. Back in the 1980s, she and her late husband John formed the Old Hat Concert Party: a much-loved multi-generational group of singers, musicians and stepdancers from Suffolk and Norfolk. Alongside that has always been a deep love for the music of south west Ireland, inspired by fiddle-player Julia Clifford, who lived nearby. This was re-ignited in more recent years by meeting and playing with Michael Sheehy, so this year she is again playing for the Hoolie rather than English ceilidhs! Katie is also a respected researcher, writer and speaker and will be presenting All Aboard the Charabanc – a fun virtual tour around the musical pubs of mid Suffolk based on John Howson’s field recordings.

Mother and daughter duo, singing songs from their native county of Essex. Belinda began singing traditional songs in the 1960s, she met her husband in a folk club, and Fran grew up immersed in the local folk scene, learning songs from her parents from a very young age. Many of their songs were learned from Belinda’s great uncle and farm labourer Ernie Austin, who was recorded for Topic’s ‘Voice of the People’ release ‘Flash Company’ in 1974. Singing mainly unaccompanied and without frills or fuss, Fran and Belinda are now continuing this tradition.

“Unaccompanied folk singing at its timeless and uncompromising best” – Uncut

Whether it’s a village hall or the Albert Hall, Reg brings to the stage a collection of extremely beautiful songs, performed with humour and depth, and sung with the voice of an angel. Reg has that rare gift of being able to touch people, through his songs and performance, on a really human level. His words and music paint pictures that remain with the listener long after the song has been sung.

Ken lives in Teesside, North–East England and started singing in the early seventies. Finding his own voice and repertoire of songs with a preference to the tradition, he names the likes of Fred Jordan, the Copper family and The Watersons as some of his main influences at that time, but the singing of one Tony Rose, having the greatest impression on him. He shares his love of ‘Folk Songs’ with his other siblings, The Wilson Family who he sang with since the 1970’s until recently in 2020!

Ian and Dave have been singing and playing together for more years than either will readily admit to. They are two of the most recognizable (and hairy) faces on the Oxfordshire folk scene, who bring to the stage a wealth of experience performing, touring and researching traditional songs & music. With voices, concertina and melodeon, they offer a delightful repertoire of unusual songs and tunes. Their comfortable and relaxed style of presentation makes the perfect setting for their commitment to the material and their consummate musicianship. Their first album Rogues & Rovers appeared in 2018.

This duo specialises in lively Irish music and songs, with enjoyment in mind. Both with strong Whitby connections, they have taken their music around the world many times!

Alistair Russell (guitar, vocals) is from North-East England of Scottish parentage. Over 50 years playing Scottish and Irish music and his own songs, including with Scotland’s legendary Battlefield Band. With 18 album and video/DVD releases, his career includes performance, live sound, recording, and management. His humorous autobiography recently sold very well indeed.

Chris Parkinson (melodeon, piano accordion, harmonica) comes from Lancashire, of Irish extraction. A session player on countless albums, as well as 2 solo and 8 CD releases with The House Band, and several tuition DVDs. Currently dividing his time between his duo with Alistair, and studio and live performances with all and sundry!

Mat and Andy both play with Oxfordshire band Magpie Lane.

A Bampton Morris dancer for 50 years, Mat has played for country dancing for very nearly as long, principally with the Woodpecker Band. His instantly recognisable fiddle style is utterly danceable, and quintessentially English.

Andy is also an experienced dance musician, playing anglo-concertina with bands such as Polkabilly, Geckoes and Oxford NAGS, and more recently as musician for Headington Quarry Morris Dancers. He has a punchy, rhythmic concertina style, but can also play in a slower, smoother style to accompany his own fine singing.

Together, they play mainly traditional English dance tunes, specialising in little-known tunes from eighteenth and nineteenth century village musicians’ tunebooks. The tunes are interspersed with songs – again, mostly from English traditional sources.

Their first album as a duo, ‘Time for a Stottycake’ was released at the start of 2024.

 

 

Relentless Ceilidh Band blur the line between traditional and contemporary dance music. Unceasing in enthusiasm, musical adrenaline and fun we try to inject as much of our personal energy into the music we create. We create this atmosphere by bouncing off ourselves to create mesmerising sounds and sights. We are: Will Pound – Melodeon & Harmonicas, Nick Haynes – Cajon & Drums, Rosie Butler-Hall – Five string fiddle, Dan Bones – Guitars & Bass, Manny Grimsley – Fiddle, with a weird bow.

 

Martyn is recognised as a first rate national caller with too many festival appearances to list. He brings clear calling and an obvious enthusiasm for ceilidhs, plus a massive repertoire of dances. This is coupled with a rapport with bands that helps ensure many a lively night. His most fervent wish is that the dancers simply have the most brilliant time.

Banter are Nina Zella, Simon Care, Tim Walker and Mark Jolley. Four fine musicians whose roots are firmly in the traditional English genre, but who enjoy stretching the limits – in what a lot of people refer to as ‘the quirky Banter twist”. Formed in 2015, due to a happy accident, they immediately realised their common love for traditional English song and dance and began to mess around with it.

They gained popularity, or should it be notoriety, very quickly and were soon performing at many of the country’s largest festivals, including Glastonbury, Cambridge, Sidmouth and Towersey.

With the release of three albums, Yes, Dare and Three, between 2017 and 2021, they received more plaudits in the music press including a Valentines day session on Mark Radcliffe’s Radio 2 Folk Show.

Now firmly established as one of the UK’s finest bands they have recorded their fourth studio album “Heroes”. Their second album of traditional material ….. but with that “twist”

Rhodri Davies is a caller with over 30 years experience of calling dances for dance clubs, private events and festivals. He works in a variety of styles including contras, squares, ceilidh, English country dance and Playford. He also runs workshops and attempts to encourage less experienced callers. At Whitby this year he will be teaching American Dance workshops and calling for evening contra dances.

This brother and sister duo are resident singers at Grimsby Folk Club where they started performing in the 1960s when they were teenagers. In the 1970s and ‘80s they were both members of two popular harmony folk groups, Galley and Force Four. Paul spent many years playing fiddle with the Broadside Ceilidh Band and played fiddle on the televised version of Ewan MacColl’s radio ballad ‘Singing the Fishing’. He now plays for ceilidhs with The Little Band. Paul and Lynn perform a mixture of traditional, contemporary and self penned songs sung in harmony and accompany themselves on guitar, fiddle and whistle. Paul and Lynn are looking forward to performing at Whitby again this year. They were last here in 2022 and also appeared online for Whitby@home in 2021.

Yorkshire stonemason and dry stone waller Will Noble learnt his first song whilst on the family farm as a boy. He later attended shepherds’ meets, after-hunt sings and traditional local pub carol sessions. His music which is drawn from the Pennine area of SW Yorkshire has taken him around the UK and North America. Over 40 years of performance, Will added many fine songs from elsewhere to his repertoire and is acknowledged as a true representative of the English singing tradition. He is joined by Pippa, whose singing reflects her native County Durham as well as France, Ireland and further afield. Sometimes accompanied, sometimes contemporary and very occasional singer songwriter, she provides the nomadic counterpoint to Will’s grounded Yorkshire heritage.