Folk Alliance

Since last Wednesday Alan, Sandra & Neil have been at Folk Alliance in Memphis. We first went in 2008, but this time were ready and knew what to expect......

Wall to wall music from both big names and upcoming artists all in one huge hotel (the Marriott in Memphis); there were panels, sessions and chances to meet artists, agents, folk arts professionals and fellow festival organisers from all over the world.

It was good to meet some old friends of the festival including Leonard from the Duhks, as well as seeing people for the first time - I confess that I had to travel to the US for my first chance to see Martyn Joseph (he played about a half a dozen showcases and was excellent)

We saw lots more showcases including Michelle Shocked, Po Girl and John Gorka, but the overall highlight was the Sweetback Sisters who put in an amazing concert. We talked to countless artists, and spent time in a city that is very quiet during the day but comes alive at night.

We spent some time on Beale St and met a genuine blues legend in Clyde Hopkins, had a memorable beer in a Beale St bar quite unlike anything you've ever seen, took the l-o-n-g walk to Sun Studios, where the tour was much better than you could expect (they take tours during the day, and then bands record there in the evening), took in a basketball game at the FedEx Arena on Saturday night, and even had time to see the Peabody Ducks

Great restaurants, including a fantastic meal at Rendevous Ribs where we were memorably served by Robert Snr who's been there 46 years!

I came home today (Monday), but Alan & Sandra are touring for an extra week including a trip to Graceland and then to spend some time in Nashville.

Hopefully, by the time they get back we'll be able to announce the headline act!

Who is on When

We've now booked ALL the acts for 2010, and here's the full* line-up along with days performing. This is the first time the list along with artists for all the stages and venues have been released, so have a look through as there are people we've not announced before here......

* all acts are booked, but we can't release the headliner just yet, as it's part of a world tour and everything has to be announced together...we'll be able to do this in March. What we can let you know is that they'll be performing on Sunday night, just after Billy Bragg.

Here we go, in alphabetical order

FRIDAY 27th
Adrian Edmondson & The Bad Shepherds
Adrienne Young
Andy Wall
Fairfield
Jackie Oates
Katriona Gilmore & Jamie Roberts
Kimber’s Men
Koshka
Lucy Kaplansky
Michael McGoldrick Big Band
Mick Ryan & Paul Downes
OK Brandy
Penny Priest
Richard Shindell
The Kittiwakes
The Young’uns
Toothless Mary with Fee Lock

SATURDAY 28th
Adrienne Young
Andy Wall
Cara Dillon
Chuck Brodsky
Dartmoor Pixie Band with Sarah Bazeley
Dave Young & Dave Bordewey
Dervish & Guests
DJ ceilidh with Pete Rees & Phil Bassingdale
Drever, McCusker, Woomble with Heidi Talbot and Boo Hewerdine
Fairfield
Heidi Talbot & Boo Hewerdine
Katriona Gilmore & Jamie Roberts
Kimber’s Men
Koshka
Lucy Kaplansky
Mick Ryan & Paul Downes
OK Brandy
Penny Priest
Richard Shindell
Richard Shindell & Lucy Kaplansky
The Kittiwakes
The Navvy’s Wife
The Old Dance School
The Tom McConville Band
The Young’uns
The Wilsons
Whiskey River Boys
Winter Wilson

SUNDAY 29th
Billy Bragg
Calan
Chuck Brodsky
Dartmoor Pixie Band with Sarah Bazeley
Genticoram
Tim Judson & Julia Disney
Kerr, Fagan & Harbron
Kimber’s Men
Kristina Olsen & Peter Grayling
Nancy Kerr & James Fagan
Lucy Ward
Sam Carter
The Fay Hield Trio
The Old Dance School
The Wilsons
The Young’uns
Tickled Pink with Martyn Harvey
Tom Kitchin & Gren Bartley

MONDAY 30th
Bellowhead
Belshazzar’s Feast
Calan
Chuck Brodsky
Hans Theessink
John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett
Kerfuffle
Kristina Olsen & Peter Grayling
Majorstuen
Mawkin:Causley
May Contain Nuts
The Old Dance School
The Wilsons
Tom Kitchin & Gren Bartley

Festival Showreel Part 2

The second part of our 2009 festival showreel includes highlights from Show of Hands, Eric Bibb, Spooky Men's Chorale and The Proclaimers



We have all the footage from the main stage performances, if you'd like to see a particular song/clip then let us know and we'll upload it to youtube in the coming weeks.....