This year, instead of making one huge announcement of all of our guests, we’re going to release the details over a few emails, which also allows us to give you a bit more information about each of them. All these details will be kept up to date on our website as they are released.

We are really excited by the range of guests we have planned for 2015. First announcement up is one of our overseas guests – the ULC Trio. Featuring two Danes and an Irishman, this is truly cross cultural outing, playing music that combines traditional 18th century Danish dance music with jazz influenced backing and songs from the Irish tradition. Formed in 1998, the trio features Seamus Cahill (guitar, Irish bouzouki, vocals), Sonnich Lydom (accordion, harmonica) and Peter Uhrbrand (fiddle). Peter will be familiar to anyone who remembers the group Faerd, who toured here a couple of times in the late 90s and early 2000s. ULC Trio’s recordings have collected five Danish music awards. The group will have a main stage feature concert, be running two workshops (one will be a dance workshop) and will be in the Festival’s final concert.

Our first Wellington guest announcement is singer/songwriter/guitarist, Rob Joass who specialises in “songs of loss, songs of love, songs of failure, songs of redemption, songs about drinkin’ and dyin’ and trains – definitely some songs about trains”. Rob is well known not only in solo performances but also as a member of bands Hobnail, Too Many Chiefs and The Shot Band. Rob has been a great supporter of Wellyfest over the years and this year will have a daytime concert and also contribute to our regular Songwriters’ Forum (and be a feature of the festival jam sessions too, we expect!)

Our NZ out-of-Wellington guests in this update are Albi and the Wolves. You may remember Albi (Chris Dent – guitar and vocals) from a couple of years ago when he appeared solo at the festival. This year, he’s bringing the rest of his pack with him – Micheal Young (double bass, backing vocals), Pascal Roggen (electric fiddle, backing vocals) and Matt Owens (banjo and backing vocals). They describe their act as “This is folk music, but not as you know it”. Pulling inspiration from a wide spectrum of genres, from swing to bluegrass, soul, r&b, rock and world music, Albi & The Wolves offer a decadent serving of double bass, banjo, and fiddle accompanied by Albi’s smooth vocal stylings. These elements come together to create both a potent foot stomping rhythm and a captivating music and stage presence never experienced before.”