Rising from the cider soaked floors of Dorset’s back street boozers, the Skimmity Hitchers now roam the full girth of the West Country and beyond. Bringing their dry and fruity blend of Scrumpy & Western music to venues, festivals and fairs, these scrumpy swillin’ reprobates appeal to young and old, and everyone from folkies to cider punks, beardy badgers to shifty blaggers. The ‘Hitchers blend razor sharp parodies and original material with a raucous stage show, spontaneous audience interaction, cheeky banter and general cider shenanigans… In their quest to bring proper job drinkin’ music to the masses the band have stolen the show at events of all types and sizes. Highlights include Camp Bestival, Boomtown Fair, Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival and headline slots at the Great Dorset Steam Fair and OutCider Festival, but there’s simply nowhere these four fruity fellas can’t instigate a good time. They have Christened children, tamed hordes of hairy bikers and even serenaded Tony Benn with his own personal number. Oh, and believe it or not they’re the first Scrumpy & Western band EVER to play the USA having toured Oregon, Washington and Vancouver BC in February 2016.
TwoManTing was formed in 2004, when Jon Lewis and Jah-man Aggrey were working together in world/dance band Le Cod Afrique, performing at the likes of WOMAD, Montreux Jazz Festival and Glastonbury. Since then, the duo has been performing regularly throughout the UK, and particularly on the Festival circuit. Festie shows have included Glastonbury, the Secret Garden Party, Musicport, Green Man, Whychwood, Big Green Gathering, Off the Tracks, Sunrise Celebration, Broadstairs Folk Week, Small World, Waveform....to name but a few. Recent arts centre shows have incuded support slots for Mali desert-blues legends, Tinariwen, and Muntu Valdo. TwoManTing are regularly featured on UK and US radio stations. The album “Legacy” is a collection of 12 songs, some old, some new, all recorded in the Autumn of 2010. We feel it captures the essence of the live TwoManTing show, with Jon’s bouncy African guitar licks, live looped to create a full band sound. This is complemented by Jah’s djembe beats, and meaningful and witty lyrics, sung in Krio - his native tongue from Sierra Leone
South-West England-based James Hollingsworth has a passionate voice and a unique, complex acoustic guitar finger-style, reminiscent of Andalusian guitar, fusing elements of folk, blues, trance, metal and psychedelic rock. Since turning professional in 2006 he's played numerous festivals, private bookings, folk, acoustic and rock venues nationally, supported Nick Harper (twice), Cara Dillon, Hazel O'Connor, 60's legends It's a Beautiful Day and Barry 'The Fish' Melton (of Country Joe and The Fish), who said: "It was truly a phenomenal experience hearing James Hollingsworth's music, I know now that the tradition of ground-breaking music is in good hands. Thank you, James – Barry Melton." A former long-time resident of Bristol's Tantric Jazz Cafe, James is adaptable and spontaneous, picking material with his mood and that of the audience. As well as being a critically acclaimed songwriter, he performs soulful interpretations from his repertoire of 300+ covers, including solo acoustic Pink Floyd
Imprints – 9:15pm – Imprints are a folk, shanty, gypsy, rock band based in Bristol. Described as a knees-up explosion with an unforgettable energy on stage they deliver their unique high-octane spin on the folk-rock genre and ensure every performance is a memorable foot-stomping occasion! Founded in 2011 in Falmouth by Andy Truckle (lead vocals & guitar) and Vince Martin (violin & vocals), Imprints moved to Bristol in 2014 and have been gigging as a five piece with band members and long-time friends Annie Wright (vocals), Tom Cornwall (drums & vocals) and Tom Bangham (bass).
Harpin On are a unique Blues Harp led, Swamp Rockin’ band playing the live circuit and receiving radio play. The band is a four-piece tight little outfit generating a big sound. Their original songs take influences from blues harp legends such as Little Walter, Slim Harpo along with Elvis and Bo Diddley and Tony Joe White. They play original songs with a few covers thrown in for good measure. Little Dave being described as a dynamic experienced front man, with multi range vocals, exceptional vintage harp skills. His song-writing skills craft impossible catchy riffs, hypnotic melodies and songs you feel you have always known blending genres from 50sRock n Roll, Blues and RnB of the Deep South.
Tony and Marc from the Glass Spiders perform a more intimate collection of tunes from that time.
Pack your talent and leave the safety of the bedroom and come on down and strut your inner rock star so that all can enjoy. All types of musician and poet welcomed. Better come early to book yer space. Hosted by the talented Nick and Si from Behind Closed Doors
You all know what to expect – A brilliant fun night with the local chaps ripping their shirts off in support of this popular local duo.
New band fronted by Elijah Wolf brining you lots of favourite tunes for you to howl along to!
The Velvet Doonicans were formed when the Velvet Underground replaced Lou Reed with Val Doonican in the early 70s. It was a whole new direction for the band and, sadly, soon led to the demise of the band that had come to represent the complete anarchic anti-music antithesis to the summer of love and to middle of the road cartoon Irish folk music.
Six superb cheeses all served with a selection of crackers and accompaniments. Tickets are available from the bar at £6.50 each. Get your tickets early for this popular night as we have limited spaces. Booking for this event is essential.
Showing their love of country music, NC4OM cover a wide range of tracks the ‘train beat’ style of Johnny Cash, the alt stylings of Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams to the more laid back style of Freedy Johnson all mixed with punk attitude.
The Sweetchunks Band are a Southampton based eccentric comedy outfit, performing bastardised versions of songs that you know and brilliant versions of songs that you don’t. They are known for their ability to entertain any audience with a fun, engaging performance that leave people smiling, dancing and humming the tunes for hours afterwards. The Sweetchunks Band create a memorable evening of fun and dancing. The festivals they have played so far in the UK include, Isle of Wight Festival, Beautiful Days, Mudfest, Watchet, Bearded Theory, Something to Smile About and many more. They have supported acts including Chas and Dave, The Wurzels, Hobo Jones & the Junkyard Dogs, Professor Elemental, Ferocious Dog and The Beards.
JINDER is a 36yr old songwriter, storyteller and international touring musician based in the UK's pastoral Westcountry. Following the lo-fi folk noir of 2015's critically acclaimed LP 'Traditional Dark', his tenth album 'Presents...KINGSIZE BLACKFOOT' (released on 17th July 2017) is an intense and joyful exploration of American blues and roots music, drenched in gutbucket Delta blues slide guitar, Bluegrass from the heart of Appalachia, Louisiana murder ballads, Country Blues and even an impassioned update of Yip Harburg and Jay Gorney's Depression-era anthem 'Brother Can You Spare A Dime', released in May as the first single from the album.
The Sunset Cafe was a top night-spot on Chicago’s infamous South Side. Al Capone owned it, Louis Armstrong starred there. The Sunset Cafe Stompers do play the music of that period... great tunes from Scott Joplin, Irving Berlin, Jelly Roll Morton, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller... but the band’s wide repertoire also features songs made famous by artists as diverse as Patsy Cline, Marilyn Monroe, the Inkspots, Fats Domino... even Elvis. Beneath it all, one can sense the elusive, shifting, pulse which defines the sound of New Orleans. In that city, ever since the 1900s, bands have been hired to attract a crowd, or to add spirit and generate excitement for all kinds of occasion. Throughout the last twenty years we have followed in that tradition: playing jazz clubs, concerts for churches, arts centres, village dances, weddings, festivals, funerals, garden parties... from our Dorset/Somerset base, down to Cornwall and up to Cumbria.
A couple of local yokels who decided it would be fun to play covers in a metal style with some humour attached and suddenly found that people liked it! Expect very special versions of those favourite songs you know.
Sometimes an angel choir, Sometimes a silent screaming maelstrom, The Clash mating with Johnny Cash. Lady Winwoods Maggot have been storming the south for many years with their unique style of Death Western. Fusing traditional American and Irish music with self-written songs and presenting them with an old-school punk attitude. Banjo, Mandolin and Acoustic Guitar are backed with thunderous Drums and Bass. This is a band who believes in putting on a show, with their own full scale lighting rig, stage attire and presence they bring to the audience an energetic and absorbing performance that exudes an incredible atmosphere guaranteed to liven the crowd at any venue, festival or event
Andy Twyman – When Andy released the first ever naked Christmas music video it hit the national headlines, leading The Mirror newspaper to ask “Is this the best Christmas music video ever?” With the topics of his songs ranging from chickens to Luxembourg via Pot Noodle, Andy Twyman blends blues with humour and rock and roll to titillate your ears, mind and toes. Having already performed at Glastonbury Festival, on BBC Three and on Channel 4, Andy’s reputation is growing as a highly original emerging artist.
Dana Immanuel is a banjo-toting, whiskey-drinking, poker-playing singer-songwriter currently operating from a north London hideout from which emerges a sound more usually associated with the bayou, triple filtered through bourbon and distortion pedals, with a dusting of fiddle and a touch of alt-country eccentricity. With the five-piece, all-female Stolen Band, Dana has been getting feet stomping across the UK folk, blues, Americana and rock scenes since 2015, winning over crowds from Glastonbury to Boomtown, the Barfly to Union Chapel. The Stolen Band’s sound reflects its members’ eclectic influences, from Alice Cooper to Hank Williams, Led Zeppelin to Crosby, Stills & Nash, routed via the bluegrass turnpike around the oldtime township of alt-country. Whether in front of intimate club audiences or huge festival crowds, their high-energy genre-defying live show is not to be missed.
Lost Revellers play an original fusion of swinging Gypsy jazz, fiery tangos, wild dance beats and stomping folk… Lost Revellers are a London based folk-fusion band playing daringly arranged traditional tunes, alongside their own imaginative compositions. Performed on violin, accordion, drums/percussion and bass, their bold and creative sound draws from Gypsy jazz, swing, tango, folk and more....
Rev Hammer is a maverick English Singer-Songwriter and veteran touring musician. He has released 8 studio albums: Industrial Sound and Magic (1991) recorded with the Levellers in an Essex Cow shed Bishop of Buffalo (1993), Freeborn John (1996) – The Story of John Lilburne, England’s First Radical, The Green Fool Recordings (1996), Spitting Feathers (1998), Down the Alley (2008) and Skald (2016) Although primarily a solo singer songwriter it is in recording and live performance collaborations that Rev has made his name. In 1986, he formed the Red Sky Coven Travelling Folk Club with the poet/Novelist Joolz Denby, New Model Army lead singer Justin Sullivan and bassist Brett Selby. They have recorded 5 live albums. Rev is also a founding member of Drunk in Public the irreverent acoustic touring group along with Mark Chadwick, Simon Friend and Jon Sevink from the Levellers. They have recorded six live albums. The Fabulous Goodtime Part Boys or Fabbies, a ten-piece soul and New Orleans festival ensemble saw Rev work again with his long-term friend and producer Phil Johnstone with whom he had recorded the epic Freeborn John, Spitting Feathers and the Green Fool recordings. The Fabbies have recorded one studio album Let’s hear it for the little fella (2008) and one live album Carbon Jackboot (2010). Rev’s songs have been recorded by a varied list of performers over the years : Eddi Reader, Rory McCleod, Maddy Prior, Rose Kemp, The Oyster Band, Justin Sullivan , the Levellers, Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman. In 2008 Rev received a gold record for 100,000 sales of the song Maid of the River recorded by the Levellers for their album Zeitgeist. His song Searchlights was featured on the record breaking, charity Warchild -Help album. (Rev was a member of the Serious Road Trip which toured war torn Balkan States back in 1994-5). Rev’s latest recording Skald features more collaboration. The musical wizard Nick Harper produced and played on the album as does Rev’s son Samuel Ryan who wrote the album’s title track the instrumental Skald.
Pack your talent and leave the safety of the bedroom and come on down and strut your inner rock star so that all can enjoy. All types of musician and poet welcomed. Better come early to book yer space. Hosted by the talented Nick and Si from Behind Closed Doors
Formed in 2007, N.U.M.B. (Never Underestimate Musical Belief) are a live alternative Hip Hop band successfully fusing Reggae, Rap, DnB and Folk. With a reputation for energetic, foot stomping live performances, sublime grooves and infectious songs that stick in your head, N.U.M.B. bring the festival vibe to any event. With over 700 live performances under their belt, they’ve honed their craft and have supported Arrested Development, Peter Andre, Mica Paris, Frank Turner, The Beat, and Finley Quaye to name a few. They’re a festival favourite too boasting appearances at Glastonbury, 02 Wireless Festival, Beach Break Live, Solfest, Farmer Phil’s Festival and they’ve been nominated for Best Band of the Year and Best Album of the Year at The South West Music Awards. They came 2nd in the UK heat of Global Battle of the Bands and got to the final 10 bands from 30,000 in the 02 Wireless Unsigned Competition. N.U.M.B. have are also sponsored by UK guitar manufacturer Faith Guitars and ethical urban clothing firm The Hemp Trading Company
Primitive Blues & Rhythm Stomp from Sir Bald aka Hipbone Slim! He sings whilst strumming guitar, blowing harp and banging drums and things with his feet!
Tori and Rick mix a quirky blend of genres to give something that is utterly unique, genuine and heartfelt. Tori's music goes from finger picking folk, through to jazz influenced beats, a dusting of country and vocals that could be soul. It's music that will touch hearts, get toes tapping and leave you wanting more. Born in New Zealand, raised in Australia, and having done a lot of travel, Tori has difficulty naming one place home. This affinity with being on the road has manifested itself in many songs and undoubtedly, being a wandering spirit, will do in many more. Tori has performed alongside the likes of folk great Martin Carthy, blues master Lloyd Spiegel and folk artist Tecoma, plus many more. From local Antipodean gigs, to far flung performances in Israel; tiny peña's in Argentina to large stages at charity events in Tasmania; big stages, small pubs, Tori has had the fortune to entertain and share stories with musicians and audiences from all over the world
Six superb winning cheeses from the British Cheese Awards all served with a selection of crackers and accompaniments. Tickets are available from the bar at £6.50 each. Get your tickets early for this popular night as we have limited spaces. Booking for this event is essential. 7:30pm and 8:30pm sittings available.
The Fat Marrow Band have been together for some time playing a mixture of funky rhythm and blues and jazzy rock and roll in pubs, clubs and at parties. Starting off as a six piece in the 90's with drums, bass, 2 guitars, harmonica and saxophone they have become well known around the Yeovil, Weymouth and Taunton area as a tight band who always play a good gig. With the odd change of drummer over the years they have featured in BBC documentaries, played the Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis, Music for Africa gigs at Sherborne Castle and Montacute House and would have supported Otis Grand if he had turned up at the Cheese and Grain at Frome. Recently they have added keyboards and trombone to the full line up, what value! The emphasis for them is that the band should have as much fun as the audience and they always enjoy themselves
One man traditional Celtic music roadshow
At the age of 27 Danny's art of performance and production has already helped him achieve some of his dreams and aspirations including making his first EP with Tribal Law at Abbey Road Studios with living legend Eddie Kramer in 2010, to being 1 of only one hundred singers chosen out of 180,000 to Audition For the first Series of BBC's The Voice UK 2012. Performing to live to audiences ranging from hundreds to thousands since the age of 6 and cutting his teeth gigging from age 13, Music and the love of music is as much a part of Danny as the love he has for his family and friends. With the release of his first album with "The Black Mariahs" in 2013 and constant work live and in the studio with up and coming talent of all genres, Danny hopes to make an impression on the world of music and its listeners with his unique style, performance, sound design, and song writing
9:15pm - Emerging from the darkest depths of Dorset, Vanilla Radio burst onto the funk rock scene in 2013 delivering their soulful funky grooves to crowds all over the south west
Introducing the Glass Spiders. The Spiders from Dorset! Nick Horton and Andrew Sykes (both former Dinnerladies) together with Marc Eyre and Tony Bygrave (previously Freak Circus). With a 70s feel, Glass Spiders promise lots of Bowie, and other associated artists such as Iggy Pop, Roxy Music, T-Rex, Lou Reed, Mott the Hoople and Eno. And then add a bit of New York Dolls into the mix!
Mutter Slater was the front man and flute player for the 70’s cult band Stackridge (produced by George Martin, signed by Elton John): a group that established itself as a firm favourite on countless stages throughout the land and appeared regularly on BBC TV’s The Old Grey Whistle Test and John Peel’s radio programmes. After Stackridge Mutter returned to a life of quiet domesticity in the South West of England. The song-writing and performing bug eventually got the better of him, leading to the formation of his band and a return to the recording studios – Love & Hate 2006; Riding A Hurricane 2008 (produced by Billy Bragg) and 2014’s Absobloodylutely. His songs reflect his primary interest in 60’s American blues, soul and R’n’B as well as his persistent addiction to a ‘half decent tune’. The music is warm, harmonically panoramic and edgy. Lyrically it’s intriguing; telling of human strengths and frailties and illicit loves, bar room observations, train rides, bus rides, long walks and cosmic disintegration
The Sunset Cafe was a top night-spot on Chicago’s infamous South Side. Al Capone owned it, Louis Armstrong starred there. The Sunset Cafe Stompers do play the music of that period... great tunes from Scott Joplin, Irving Berlin, Jelly Roll Morton, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller... but the band’s wide repertoire also features songs made famous by artists as diverse as Patsy Cline, Marilyn Monroe, the Inkspots, Fats Domino... even Elvis. Beneath it all, one can sense the elusive, shifting, pulse which defines the sound of New Orleans. In that city, ever since the 1900s, bands have been hired to attract a crowd, or to add spirit and generate excitement for all kinds of occasion. Throughout the last twenty years we have followed in that tradition: playing jazz clubs, concerts for churches, arts centres, village dances, weddings, festivals, funerals, garden parties... from our Dorset/Somerset base, down to Cornwall and up to Cumbria
Benny Mayhem has covered a lot of ground, literally and figuratively. Written in a hotel room in the Austrian Alps, his latest single Song For Absent Friends is both a tribute to, and a product of, the songwriter’s considerable world travels. From being a guitar-strumming teenager in his bedroom at the turn of the millennium, to a decade as the shirtless-and-writhing frontman of rock monsters Project Mayhem, to performing over 500 shows in nine countries worldwide… the musical journey of Benny Mayhem has its own overfilled passport. From a home base on the west coast of Australia, Benny Mayhem has toured the world in a way that few other artists have considered… as a wandering troubadour. And through this lifestyle choice, Benny has toured continental Europe thrice and the UK four times; working his way up from busking outside Tube stations to the UK’s festival circuit within two years. But, more importantly, he has met people and seen places that have changed and forever enriched his life. Both a hook-laden sing-along and a song from the heart, Song For Absent Friends is an ode to the people that have helped shape Benny’s journey and, indeed, the person he is today. Equipping himself with a new live band, Song For Absent Friends finds Benny embellishing upon his trademark folk-punk sound with some Sunnyboys-style Australian power pop and a touch of Californian punk. And why not indeed…
Expect ska and reggae from these fine set of lads
Our annual Birthday Bash to raise funds for Parkinson’s UK. Acts to be confirmed but will include Garry Smith, Chris Deacon and Shelby’s Elbows
Eight piece Americana/Country/punk outfit. Think CSNY meets The Band and has a fight with The Libertines. Up for any shows anywhere including guerrilla gigging in people's front rooms. Critically acclaimed and garnering great radio support. 'Funked up folk with a mohawked heart' Yack Magazine 'Pastoral folk on a white knuckle ride on an out of control Cider cart' Dancing with architecture blog
The Ropemakers is a popular local venue offering regular live music, open mic nights, a monthly chese club, a weekly quiz, a meat draw, and various events throughout the year.