Cumberlandia...
Cumberlandia...
Who’s performing at Cumberlandia?
Scroll down to find out more about our performers:
Sam Lee
Sam Lee plays a unique role in the British music scene. A Mercury prize nominated singer, highly inventive and original arranger, folksong interpreter, passionate conservationist, song collector and creator of live events. Sam’s work as an artist has shaken up the music scene breaking boundaries between traditional and contemporary music and the assumed places and ways folksong is appreciated. Sam's voice has helped challenge what old songs hold for us today.
Sam's a regular radio and TV broadcaster, film soundtrack composer and has provided songs for several major feature films. As a change-maker in the music industry he is a co-founder of Music Declares Emergency, FAC board member and the pioneering artist to work with leading environmental charity Earthpercent to whom a portion of proceeds of the current album will be donated.
“…unexpectedly cosmic” MOJO
“…vital and assured, folk stomp” AMERICANA-UK
An Dannsa Dub
An Dannsa Dub (The Dub Dance in Gaelic) is the brainchild of dub vocalist & producer Tom Spirals and Scottish traditional musician Euan McLaughlin formed in 2020. The 6 piece live band fuses the mystical energy and instruments of traditional Scottish music and Gaelic song with the heavy, meditative, driving basslines digital dub music.
Music is one big conversation. And few bands live at the heart of it like An Dannsa Dub. Born from a love of traditional Scottish folk, dub reggae and dance music, together they summon the joyous, communal energy of a cèilidh and a sound system session.
2021’s self-titled EP "An Dannsa Dub" brought the group worldwide acclaim. The release has been played on BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio Nan Gàidheal and BBC Scotland. It’s been supported by Don Letts, who included it in his “Best Of 22”, as well as Tom Robinson, Mungo's Hi Fi, and OBF.
Granny’s Attic
With exceptional musicianship and boundless energy, Granny’s Attic are going from strength to strength. Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne (melodeon, anglo concertina, vocals), George Sansome (guitar, vocals) and Lewis Wood (violin, vocals) have honed their skills touring the UK and Europe since 2009. They are much loved by audiences up and down the country, with bookings everywhere from Cambridge Folk Festival to Cecil Sharp House.
The trio have been heralded for their lively performances and skilled delivery of traditional material, playing with verve, energy and their own inimitable style. Though grounded in tradition, they are keen to push new boundaries by exploring fresh approaches and writing their own compositions. In October 2021, they released their latest album, The Brickfields, an instrumental collection that sees them reach new heights both as performers and composers. Described by Folk Radio as “one of the most exciting and accomplished English folk acts on the scene right now”, this outstanding trio can hold audiences in the palm of their hand.
Re:Vulva
Stop blushing and listen!
This quartet comes fully loaded with talent and they are mad as hell that all they see on the UK festival scene are men, men, men. Well here is the antidote! They are taking aim at hyper-masculine culture that encourages too many acts to swagger around on stage like an 18th Century sailor at home from sea.
These dazzling talented women present virtuosity, strength, and power in a language that is unashamedly and decidedly female. Their vision of the future is of a platform fit for the young women of tomorrow - so excuse us while we take just one minute of your time to peg our masculine counterparts to the wall!
RE:VULVA features Janice Burns on mandolin, Holly Clarke on vocals and guitar, Cathy Geldard on fiddle and Amy Thatcher on accordion, synth and drum pad. They reclaim the best classic folk tunes and refashion these and their own compositions with a squirt of millennial pop nostalgia. Each performance promises to be as sparkling as a brand new vagazzle...
Rory McLeod
Rory McLeod, an ex-circus clown and fire eater, is a one-man-soul-band, and poet. He has a natural troubadour’s talent for weaving magical, musical, storytelling spells accompanied by his own bizarre solo orchestra of distinctive instruments. The spoons, finger-cymbals, bandorea, Djembe-drum, harmonica, guitar, trombone and-tap-dancing shoes accompany the “rich, raw, deep and resonant” voice of this “singular and liberating performer.”
“Rory Mcleod must be the musical equivalent of a six or seven ball juggler… ” - The Guardian (UK)
Rory McLeod is a musical Gypsy, his eccentric melodies are infused with influences from Flamenco to Country blues, through to Celtic, East European and Calypso rhythms creating a style of music and songwriting that has been described as “intimate, revealing, political and powerful.”
“When he sings his songs he will take you on a journey with him.”
“Great songs to dance to, infectious rhythms, flying harmonica!”
Bitterbeck
Bitterbeck are an easy-going bunch of folkie friends who perform catchy original songs with environmental themes, influenced by folk and blues styles. Angie Power (vox), Cathy Grout (bass, vox), Dave Camlin (guitar, vox) and Keith Fitton (guitar, vox) formed a social ‘bubble’ in lockdown to make music to get through the pandemic together, and then kept on playing, joined by Lindy Powell (cahon, vox).
With hopeful songs about brighter futures in the face of the climate crisis, their natural habitat is in gardens, around bonfires or in intimate spaces like lounges, barns and kitchens.
Carolyn Francis
Lakeland Fiddler Carolyn Francis is well known for her research, performance and teaching of Cumbrian fiddle and border bagpipe tunes.
She has made a career of producing a living, inclusive, culture of traditional music rooted in Cumbria, in particular with Striding Edge band and The Lakeland Fiddlers.
With her new Solo project “Loup”, Carolyn loops and layers favourite Lakeland tunes, with the addition of poetry, spoken word, fiddle-singing and lyrics, to create a soundscape reflective of the environment she knows, loves and works within.
Search @LakelandFiddler1 on FB and Instagram.
Chiara Imbalzano Hilton & Alex Walters
Chiara Imbalzano Hilton and Alex Walters are an up-and-coming duo based in Newcastle Upon Tyne whose energetic, technical and carefully crafted arrangements bring a distinctive edge to the exciting traditional repertoire of Scotland and Canada, and pay ‘hommage’ to some of their favourite tunes.
Native Cumbrian Chiara is a fiddler who combines her mixed background of classical and folk training with a deep understanding and love of her repertoire to give performances radiating with skill and flair, and Alex is a powerhouse multi-instrumentalist who combines traditional guitar and piano accompaniment styles with a modern edge, skilfully supporting and uplifting every arrangement.
Together they create a sound worthy of a much fuller ensemble, and conjure buckets of energy and spirit.
Ian O’Regan
Irish-born singer songwriter, drawing on a wide range of influences, from Blues and Americana, to Rock and Country, and always delivering a compelling and hugely entertaining performance.
Johnny Campbell
Johnny Campbell emerged onto the UK folk scene delving deep into Northern English folk song and story. His material explores the connection (and disconnection) to the landscape, and he is an avid supporter of the Right to Roam campaign. His latest album, True North, a collection of traditional songs of Northern England recorded on their respective county high points received accolades from Richard Thompson, Tradfolk, Country Walking Magazine, UNCUT and more.
JP Worsfold and the Band of Gold
J P Worsfold is a writer of emotional contemplative contemporary folk songs that speak of connection, joy and belonging. With a subtle blend of rich vocal harmony, sweeping string arrangements alongside heartfelt piano and guitar. They are songs to evoke life’s deeper meaning and to inspire connection within ourselves and the natural space around us.
With Anne-Marie Sanderson and Josh Jackson, J P and his Band of Gold draw on three albums of original material, with spellbinding songs and performances that leave audiences feeling genuinely moved by a truly magical event.
Quickbeam
Quickbeam are a close-harmony singing quartet who started singing together outdoors as a way of maintaining their sanity during lockdowns, and consequently took their name from an Old English name for the rowan tree. Now in their fourth year, their diverse musical backgrounds and influences make for performances encompassing a wide variety of musical styles and genres, from traditional folk songs to original baroque compositions, sometimes whilst wearing colanders on their heads.
They are all regular performers as individuals and as a group on the folk scene, but whether performing discrete songs or whole song cycles, Quickbeam infuse their singing with exquisite harmonies, rhythm and fun.
Stew Simpson
Stew Simpson has been fortunate enough to carve out a varied career in the arts, including Painting, drawing, acting, ilustration, performance art, poetry, presentation and on stage MCing at music festivals. But what Stew is mostly known for is his work as a singer/songwriter both solo and with his band Hadrian's Union. He has written and recorded 5 studio albums, appeared on screen and stage, designed album covers, won music awards and continues to become more popular on the folk and alternative scene in the UK and further afield.
Wierdstring Band
3 men, numerous strings, all the weirdness.
With a smile, a song, and an unfeasibly large bar tab, The Wierdstring Band could start a ceilidh in an empty house. Combining music from across all the extremities of Europe with songs of the last century and jokes ancient & modern, their mission remains to create the groove to move you and your feet, while ensuring that your right to party remains intact.
As Wierdstring enter their twentieth year, some ask whether they can go on forever? On some evenings, yes, they can.