Music Artists 

The times and stages will be available to see in the festival program available from Bridport Tourist Information Centre. 

Programs with the music times for the stages are now available at Bridport Tourist Information

More artists coming to the website all the time. 
Program alterations for Sunday​


Sundays music schedule with the alteration of the End of Festival Ceilidh being at 17:00 - 18:15, at Millennium Green.


Helena Softley will be doing a singing workshop in Borough Gardens 14:00 - 16:00


The Survivors sessions starts at 20:00 until 23:00


Morris dancers will be around the town on Sunday too!


BearCat Collective will be up by the Tea and coffee window all day with their Swap Shop, doing crafts with the kids.


There are bands in The Tiger and The Lord Nelson and a session in The Ropemakers between 13:00 - 15:00 with Half of Murphy's.

Sundays music schedule with the alteration of the End of Festival Ceilidh being at 17:00 - 18:15, at Millennium Green.


Helena Softley will be doing a singing workshop in Borough Gardens 14:00 - 16:00


The Survivors sessions starts at 20:00 until 23:00


Morris dancers will be around the town on Sunday too!


BearCat Collective will be up by the Tea and coffee window all day with their Swap Shop, doing crafts with the kids.


There are bands in The Tiger and The Lord Nelson and a session in The Ropemakers between 13:00 - 15:00 with Half of Murphy's.
Merry Hell

​Multi-award winning Merry Hell offer joyful, uplifting folk-rock, with a message of hope for troubled times.  Native to the North-West of England, the 8-piece musical charabanc was built from the embers of the much-loved folk-punk band The Tansads, before developing a life and feel all of its own.  Their energy and passion is complimented by their love of what they do and desire to share hope and togetherness with as many people as are willing to listen.  Through 6 well-received albums and hundreds of gigs, they’ve offered voices of hope and beacons of light to anyone valuing both melody and positive humanity.  
Their live appearances have won many admirers, a recent review referred to 'every performance a celebration' and they are currently holders of Folking.com's Best Live Band Award.  The group performs as either a full electric 8-piece or a slimmed down, more acoustic 6-piece but offer all the song, all the spirit and all the energy, whichever format takes to the stage. 
Emergency Lullabies, their latest album, gained wonderful reviews, significant airplay and a place in the UK Official Folk Chart, with the 2021 single When We Meet Again hitting No.8 in the USA Folk Radio charts – all confirming that this is a band on the rise!
The captain's Beard

The Captain’s Beard play folk rock and shanty music from the British Isles. They've travelled from The Scottish Highlands to Germany, terrorising everyone with their close harmony singing. BEARD!
Reg Meuross
 
The breadth and depth of Reg Meuross’s material is unparalleled in contemporary folk: songs about forgotten heroes, famous names, folk legends, the climate emergency, tales from the kitchen sink and news from the world stage; if something needs to be sung about then Reg Meuross has a song for it.
 
Reg is touring with songs of history, protest, love, loss, and legend from 14 releases and some brand new songs from two forthcoming song cycles: Fire & Dust and Stolen From God.
 
Videos:
We Looked Away: https://youtu.be/fUZpr99X7dw
England Green & England Grey: https://youtu.be/KdewAuU3nMc
For Sophie (This Beautiful Day) https://youtu.be/O_OxFrdFVzQ
Shine On https://youtu.be/O_OxFrdFVzQ
Live at Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2019 https://youtu.be/_7bb7Iu1sAI
 
Links: 
Website:         http://www.regmeuross.com/
Store:              http://www.regmeuross.com/shop/
Facebook:      https://www.facebook.com/RegMeurossMusic
Twitter:           https://twitter.com/regmeuross
Instagram:      https://www.instagram.com/regmeurossmusic
Spotify:           https://open.spotify.com/artist/5eT26lr6CIj4cEuHwVyCFw?si=0RZX0n0CRiKjRpAyGVxpVg
Youtube:        https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjWCi838xdosaeI4_geoODQ/
​
Helena Softley

From Main Stage Glastonbury to TV presenter, from intimate concerts to her recent chart success with Billy Bragg, Helena Softley has moved audiences all over the world with her incredible voice, accomplished guitar, and energetic performances. 
A singer songwriter with a voice both rich and powerful, deep and mellow, she is passionate and lively onstage. She engages you with her bubbly personality and tongue in cheek audience control and sings every song as if it were just for you. Supremely professional in every aspect of her work, she will entrance you with her fearless mix of hard-driving rhythms, beautiful ballads, and soulful melodies. 
Expect a lively, passionate and entertaining set! 
 
www.helenasoftley.com 
@thehelenasoftley (FB link) 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrwTHngMNcsbjqNkHNiMvKQ
The Countrymen

The Countrymen are a Cornish Folk Rock Harmony Group from Launceston.Five seasoned musicians with tight four-part harmony vocals and a token Cornishman.With a relaxed and light-hearted presentation style they take the audience on a journeythrough the history and culture of Cornwall, featuring their own arrangements of traditional and contemporary songs, as well as original material. Interspersed with theoccasional pop cover to lighten the mood when required, thereis no mistaking thatto a man, they love their county with a passion.​
Facebook: www.facebook.com/countrymenband
Instagram: @thecountrymenbandcornwall
​Twitter: @thecountrymenband
Antione and Owena

Inspired by traditional and contemporary folk music, Antoine & Owena create their own original blend of folk music that provides a feast for the ears, the heart and the feet. Together they combine the interpretive folk violin styles of Owena Archer, with the folk-rock guitar and bouzouki rhythms of Antoine Architeuthis to create an eclectic mix of original and traditional material inspired by history, tragedy, love and hope. Their original songs focus on story-telling and have been described as “well-constructed and convincingly told” by Living Tradition, and simply “Brilliant” by Folking.com, whilst their own take on traditional folk songs are stylishly sympathetic to the originals but given new tunes with a contemporary twist.
They first burst onto the folk scene after winning the Purbeck Rising Competition at Purbeck Valley Folk Festival in 2017 and since then they have enjoyed headline performances at many of the county’s prominent folk and music clubs, arts centres and theatres, as well being regularly booked for folk and music festivals across the country.
They are scheduled to release their third studio album in May 2022, entitled ‘Clockwork Lens’.

https://antoineandowena.co.uk/
Mitchell and Vincent

Westcountry folk duo Mitchell and Vincent bring traditional and contemporary styles on fiddle and 
guitar to music from the British Isles with their own varied arrangements telling stories with their tunes 
as well as songs.
They have performed concerts around the UK, including festivals such as Glastonbury, Broadstairs, 
Oxford and Beverley.
Acoustic magazine praised their playing as, “Stunning”; FATEA said, “Music that is beautifully played”; 
while Bright Young Folk described their performance as, "Providing skilled arrangements and expert 
delivery of tunes and songs which showcase the vibrancy, and variety, of folk music across Britain. A 
thoroughly engaging and enjoyable experience.”
Web site: www.mitchellandvincent.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mitchellandvincent
Twitter: @mitchellandvin plus @mitchellandvinc
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/MitchellandVincent
Bandcamp: https://mitchellandvincent.bandcamp.com​
Confluence Duo

Confluence are an instrumental meeting of ‘cello and accordion based in the New Forest. They join traditional music from the UK with beautiful dance tunes from France, Belgium and the Nordic countries, as well as self-penned tunes inspired by those traditions.  They love improvising around tunes and finding new ways to interpret them, whether for dancing or for listening.
 
Gill and Alasdair founded the Eurobal Wessex dance club in the New Forest and Dorset to enable groups to play for French/balfolk dancing, and play frequently at other similar clubs in London, Brighton, Oxford, Reading, Exeter and Bristol.  They have played regularly at Chippenham festival and also at Bridport, Swanage and Sidmouth, as well as folk clubs around the south coast.
Amy Hopwood and Tobias Raven

Amy and Tobias will be playing songs from Amy’s new album “Into the Woods” – a mixture of original and traditional folk songs with a forest theme, and modern re-interpretations of old fairy tales. You can expect fun songs to join in with, pretty ones to send you a bit misty eyed and others with lyrics interesting enough to get your teeth into! “Gorgeous!” - Tom Robinson, BBC Radio 6 Music. “Good music makes you think, and this is good music” - Folking.com. Find out more: www.amyhopwood.co.uk
Spindle
​
Spindle are a local trio comprising Catherine Siddle (piano accordion), Ruth Jenkins (mandolin, guitar, whistles, vocals) and Margaret Lyons (guitar, vocals), playing traditional folk songs with lots of vocal harmony, and lively folk tunes.

 
SkuttleShake
If you have ever wanted a true taste of Americana, folk, and a bit of other randomness thrown in,  then the vibrancy of Megan and Ruth 'Scuttleshake' will not disappoint as they will be playing their inimitable style on the 'Trevett' Stage on Saturday afternoon.
​
Delphis 

Winner of Purbeck Rising 2016, Delphis have played at Bridport Folk Festival a few times now. They always go down well and it is always a pleasure to have them on. 
https://delphis.bandcamp.com
https://www.instagram.com/delphisband
https://twitter.com/delphisband
Half Of Murphy's

A Half of Murphy's is Noeleen and Alex who are literally half of the Bournemouth based Ceilidh band Murphys Lore. In the band, Noeleen and Alex are the rhythm section, providing a driving force behind the tune players and Noeleen's smooth, clear vocals provide the core of the band's songs.
They have been performing regularly as a duo for many years now. After a couple of appearances at some local folk clubs were well received, they decided to do some more and kept going.
Over the years they have appeared at Wessex, Wimborne, Trowbridge, Purbeck Valley and Bridport Folk Festivals. 
They are often seen at Milford Folk Club (their favourite local), Ringwood Folk Club and when able, do a stint at Wimborne Folk Club. 
During 2017 they became co- hosts with Mick Ryan, Kitty Vernon and Derek Burgess at The Branksome Folk Sessions, in Poole
which aims to run weekly sessions for singers and tunesmiths with once a month guest singers.
Website - www.murphyslore.co.uk/halfofmurphys.php
Facebook - www.facebook.com/murphysloreceilidh

Fiddleback

Guitar, Fiddle & Harmony Vocals. Popular songs, classic favourites, originals & foot stomping folk tunes. They have played more than 100 gigs together. Ollie Back sings smoky, stripped back versions with a soulful twist. Plus vocal harmonies, folk song and violin melodies from Sam on the fiddle. Ollie has been working as a solo artist and Sam has played with bands around the UK at festivals, theatres and arts centres.
​www.fiddleback.co.uk facebook.com/FiddleBackLive
Longdog

LONGDOG – One of the hardest working bands in Dorset & Somerset.
With a 6/7 piece line-up, this is a big sound!
As many as 4 Vocals & 3 Guitars, ably supported by Bass & Drums and a range of percussion!
They bring their skills to bear on songs by Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, Fleetwood Mac, Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix and many more, plus the odd original song too.
There is always a sense of fun at a Longdog gig and you will be expected to dance, sing and shake an egg or a tambourine, so –
Be prepared and expect the unexpected!

www.longdog-band.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/Longdog.Band
Wilswood Buoys

From Mersea Island in Essex, young new act Wilswood Buoys are currently cutting their name into the UK underground scene. Mixing trad folk, with modern acoustic pop, the band have a unique sound that’s also familiar and accessible. Formed in summer 2017, starting out as just a couple of mates having a jam, things quickly escalated into writing music. Both of the buoys had a completely different upbringing in terms of musical styles and this led them down a path of intertwining many genres into one, to form a raw and fresh alt/folk island sound, with catchy riffs and big choruses. 2021 was huge for the band, with highlights of supporting Frank Turner in Colchester and playing the Nick Alexander Stage at Lost Evenings IV at The Roundhouse in London. Frank Turner also produced their debut album, out September 2022, which guarantees some barnstorming sing-alongs.
The Bridport Broadsides

The Bridport Broadsides…..
are a 20 plus strong collective of spuriously titled ‘Gentlemen’ who have a common desire to enchant the world with their vocal excellence and sparkling wit through the rendition of Shanties and Nautical songs / stories. In doing so, they have raised funds for a variety of worthy, needy and local charitable causes. 
The ‘Broadsides’ popularity has seen them rebooked for events ( usually to apologise) and can usually field a Crew of between 9 and 15.
The Crew’s repertoire has expanded considerably since their formation in Sept 2019 and they now happily welcome more requests to perform their exalted talents at fundraising events across the Southwest. 
Du Glas

Smugglers and selkies, lovers and bal maidens all come alive in the colourful, evocative music of West Cornwall band Du Glas.
Firmly rooted in Americana and British folk, Du Glas weave together influences from rock, country and even punk to form their own unique, eclectic sound. At times haunting and lyrical, often lively and powerful, their high-energy performances have been wowing audiences in Cornwall and across the south of England.
The wild force of the sea is felt throughout their bold second album, The Edge of the World, which
features in their performances. Named one of Folk London's Albums of the Year for 2021, it offers a collection of spirited songs inspired by the bands West Cornwall homeland.
Amanda Lilac Music

Amanda is an independent folksy soul singer songwriter from the west country, formally signed to EMI in the Netherlands. Retro roots, add a contemporary twist, and stir in an emotionally powerful, soulful voice.
Acoustic Rooster

​Alan, Rob, Maurice and Chris are ‘Acoustic Rooster’, considered to be Bridport’s oldest and most successful 4 piece Folk band.
Formed some 12 years ago, they play an eclectic mix of folk music with a penchant for having fun. Many of their songs allude to bygone times of Irish Travellers, and Trades whilst oft times embracing ribald Maritime tales of infidelity. 
Cable Street

Cable Street came about during Lockdown 2020. We decided to meet up outside in our local churchyard, when it was allowed. We realised that we had something unique and special, so Cable Street began. With a mix of acoustic, easy-listening folk and folk-style covers, we have something for everyone. 

https://www.facebook.com/CableStreetBand/
Folklincs

Folklincs are a group of musicians who sing and play traditional music mostly from their native North Lincolnshire. The band create beautiful harmonies in their original interpretations of this region’s songs, accompanied by subtle arrangements on fiddle, guitar, harp and double bass. 
Spinnaker Shanty

​We originally formed in 2014 for a performance on HMS 
​Victory, and after a couple of line-up changes we are now band of 3. Andy, Ted and Bernice,  we have been together since 2019 and enjoy performing  shanties and sea songs .We meet weekly and work hard to  ensure our audiences have a good time. We even have a  monthly venue where everyone enjoys singing along.
Margaret Lyons

Margaret Lyons is a local singer/ songwriter and guitarist. She has been writing and singing for many years. A good story put into song, with the odd traditional song thrown into the mix.  
Wareham Whalers
 
Wareham Whalers have been together now for over 17 years. We enjoy singing a wide range of shanties, songs of the sea as well as a number of songs composed by members of our crew. We adopt the style that sailors would have used nearly 200 hundred years ago when working. So we sing with no accompaniment and where appropriate put in the stresses that would have signalled a pull on the heavy ropes.
Whilst singing we raise money for local charities including the RNLI, regularly singing for their lifeboat naming ceremonies at their headquarters in Poole.
We enjoy performing our own concerts and singing at festivals both in this country and in France. We also enjoy putting on workshops to explain the origins and practical uses of shanties and simply getting other people involved and interested.
Now the summer is here we are looking forward to singing at many festivals
Cheese and Weasels

You never know what you are going to get with Cheese & Weasels ..........a bit of Folk, a bit of Blues, a bit of Modern stuff and if you're really lucky.....a bit of Music Hall. Come. Watch. Enjoy!
Milton Hide

From under the gaze of the East Sussex Wilmington Giant,  Milton Hide (Jim and Josie Tipler) tell stories through originalsong. The duo blend Jim’s guitar and Josie’s pure vocal  delivery with arrangements including percussion and            clarinet.

Whilst transporting you from the Sussex Downs across the  Atlantic to the Appalachian Mountains, Milton Hide will  introduce intriguing and memorable characters. Witty,  surprising, insightful and uplifting music that will stay with you all the way home.

“…so subtle and easy is the music that you don’t realise the stiletto has arrived until it’s slid in” 
RnR Magazine
Banned From The Moor

Banned from the Moor are a lively foot-stompin’ electric folk band from Dartmoor. Fiddles, keyboard, guitar, concertina, bass guitar, accordion and drums with general mayhem wherever they go.
Jigs and reels with driving rhythms, complex harmonies and random other stuff they fancy on the day with a strong Celtic flavour.
Tony Cooke

Tony Cooke, from Lancashire, started playing folk (etc.) music in the pubs, clubs and sessions in the
1970s and was a founder-member of the legendary Lancaster ceilidh band Free Reed Band in 1981,
playing until its demise in 2013. During this time he also spent 20 years as guitarist with Shake A Leg
dance band; 10 years as singer and guitarist with 60s band The Hop; and been the instigator of a whole
host of other (blues, rock, folk) outfits formed from time to time for specific projects.
He has played at sessions and festivals from Orkney to Auckland, been a festival-organiser and a sound
engineer for WOMAD, Lancaster City Council and a host of folk festivals and bands.
He says “I am still part of the First Eleven with Moorgate ceilidh band and The Duo - from folk to Floyd
and occasionally play with Welsh band Mooncoin and also Union Street in East Lancashire”.
Solo gigs from Tony are few and far between and so we are very pleased he can be with us for this year's
BFF. Expect traditional songs and tunes, some of his own compositions and other songs written in folk
idiom (and perhaps even an occasional bit of ragtime, blues or rock'n'roll).
Greg Hancock

​Greg Hancock has, over the last deade, built up a reputation as one of the UK’s most original and
stylish songwriters and performers. He uses wit and humour with topics that cover the full range of
human experience, from tragedy to comedy, seriousness to farce – but always in a way that is
relatable and engaging. Greg ‘s guitar playing is also unusual and widely admired. His fingerpicking
technique has developed over many years from early roots in the folk world, but has picked up
elements of jazz and world music alng the way.
 “This is song writing at its absolute best” Spiral Earth 2021
 “This is classic modern folk music at its very best, strong themes, insightful and topical writing with superb storytelling, instrumental excellence and one song had this reviewer in tears. ... A303 is the finest folk album I have had the pleasure of listening to in years.” Blues and Roots Radio
 “An intoxicating musical and lyrical cocktail of Al Stewart and Ray Davies, infused with his own unique brilliance as a guitarist and songwriter” Mike Davies, FOLKING .COM
Emilie Grey

 
Emilie is 20 and grew up in Bridport. Having only recently begun writing her own music, she regularly busks on the streets of London singing covers crossing many different genres. After recently playing at a cider festival in Somerset, she is keen to begin playing frequently.
 
The Bere Essentials

The Bere Essentials are a band playing mostly old Americana tunes, Western Swing, country and the odd pop cover with a smile.  
Eve Appleton

Eve is a 20yr old songwriter and poet of modern progressive folk music. Now based in Bristol, Eve was born, raised and steeped in the waters woods and hills of West Dorset. Her songs give voice to the stories of betrayed lovers, tragic heroines and the lost children of the past. Bible-black parables, nursery rhymes and ballads, played against an avant-garde acoustic.
Boodle

Boodle offer you a bit of everything! Humour, blues, harmonica, folk, country, foot-tapping, gut-wrenching - if it's a good song, it's worth singing, and Kit, Pauline & John will do it in their own style!
Polly Morris

Performing laugh-out-loud funny songs, parody songs and also heartbreakingly poignant songs, Polly Morris is a whirlwind of entertainment. Her songs have clever lyrics and catchy melodies and with her seventh album of original songs in the pipeline she is never short of something new to make you smile. As well as performing solo, Polly can often be seen with the Polly Morris Band, which combines fun with musicality and has become synonymous with the phrase "Expect the Unexpected”. Prepare to be engaged from start to finish, or as one audience member put it “I felt as if I was on the stage with the band even though I was still in my seat!”  
​Facebook:     https://www.facebook.com/pollymorrismusic
Website:       http://www.pollymorris.co.uk
Soundcloud:  https://soundcloud.com/user-219578714-853225675
Twitter:         https://twitter.com/pollymorrisband
Enquiries:      Brian Harries on 07850 825645
Pergin

 
Both Pauline and John are respected performers in their own right, but when you get them together, you get proof that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts!  Expect an eclectic mix of folk and blues with jazzy overtones, all served with a dash of sauce!
Pete Burns
 
Singer/songwriter resident to Bridport area for 10 years, released 16 albums in the last twenty years, country, folk and roots music delivered with a fingerpicking style and soulful vocal.
Dorset Red Choir
 
Dorset Red are a group of socialist and progressive-inspired people from Bridport and Weymouth, who sing a repertoire of songs expressive of social and political protest.
Con Sessions
 
This trio of local Bridport musicians - of an uncertain age - will entertain you with a wide variety of acoustic music, from 60's standards to more recent well known popular songs. Blending gentle thoughtful ballads with upbeat modern folk inspired songs the ConSessions will always leave you with a smile!
Ribble

Ribble are a fiddle and guitar duo playing unique versions of traditional and contemporary acoustic tunes. Some will move you with their beauty, some will move you with their driving beats! Ribble are Adam and Pete, both now based in Salisbury but born and raised in Lancashire, hence the band is named after the River Ribble that flows between their childhood home towns.
Mitch Norman

'Since partly retiring from public performing some time ago Mitch can still be seen busking on market days in various towns performing excellent instrumental versions of familiar and well-loved songs on a classical guitar. Catch him somewhere at this year's Folk Festival and hear a few self-written songs if there is a microphone at hand. Mitch has been integral in the local music scene over many years having been in popular acoustic bands such as Roots Quartet, Tripping Upstairs, Rhymers and Acoustica and has released many CDs. He can now, as a busker, just play anywhere at any time so be prepared to see him and hear his music anywhere at any time soon in a town near you.
Last Gasp

Last Gasp are a four piece group consisting of John Johnston (Guitar, Mandolin and Vocals), Malcolm Harris (Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin and Vocals), Mike Cox (Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin and Vocals) and Phil Evans (Bass and Vocals) who play a mix of Irish, British and American traditional and contemporary folk songs, ranging from foot-stomping sing-a-longs to poignant ballads – frankly, anything that doesn’t involve learning too many new chords!
 
Although having played in various line ups since time immemorial they only came together some 7 years ago in response to a plea from an old friend to play at a charity gig to help raise money for a worthy local cause. It went so well that they chose not to go back to their respective care homes but to continue playing a wide range of music clubs and other venues throughout Dorset and Somerset - where they have been received to great critical acclaim by people who really ought to get out more.
Bridport Folk Dance Club band

Bridport Folk Dance Club Band provide toe tapping dance  music for Bridport Folk Dance Club.
Martin and Vera Jardine

Martin and Vera will be appearing as a duo at the festival. You will also be able to catch them running a sing-around session in the festival marquee on Saturday and Sunday morning, and playing for the Sunday afternoon ceilidh. 
The Casterbridge Band with caller Ruth Thompson
​
The Casterbridge Band have been playing for ceilidhs in Dorset for many years and have developed a driving sound with fiddles and keyboard/guitar. We play mostly English music but really just enjoy good tunes!  



Tickets for the 3 concerts above are for sale in advance via Bridport Tourist Information