The guests for 2011 are listed below (if the name is highlighted you can click on it to get to their website). Each of them will perform in a feature concert and also be involved in the Festival in other ways – by running workshops, appearing in other concerts or hosting events for us.  

Anthony John (AJ) Clarke – Originally from Belfast, all AJ ever wanted to be was a writer of songs. Now, this superb, highly respected wordsmith and musician is full of delightful surprises and challenges. Always courteous, always witty, he’s an engaging poet and singer, a lasting example of “how it is done”.

“He storms it every time he gets on a stage. Brilliant!!! He had our audience eating out of his hand every night on the Fairport Convention Tour”. (Dave Pegg, Fairport Convention)

Hard Candy ­– This hot little outfit, which originally came together as result of jamming at various festivals,  features the southern American finger-picking blues exponent Bob Cooper-Grundy alongside the smoky vocals of Karen Clarke and the multi-instrumentalist Kate Marshall. Wayne Morris and Warwick Hill are on duty stoking up the rhythm section out back. Hard Candy plays a blend  of blues and alt country with elements of boogie and swing in the mix. It’s a big sound with a whole lot of punch that’ll take you up country, down the river and back again.

Le Blanc Bros Cajun Band – Australia & New Zealand’s finest tribute to the music and language of the Cajuns, Le Blanc Bros Cajun Band play the traditional music of southern Louisiana. Waltzes, two-steps and Creole blues are authentically presented with energy and style. Their music is a clear reflection of the people who live for it. Laissez les bon temps rouler! (Let the good times roll!)

Neil Finlay and Peter Parnham – Neil Finlay has been a blues enthusiast since he first discovered the music some 30 years ago when he was a teenager. Although over the years he has been involved with many rock, country, Irish and dance music bands, it is the old-time blues to which he keeps returning. Appearing as a duo this Festival with Peter Parnham on upright bass, expect some ‘good old thumping’ country blues.

Polytropos – Rennie Pearson and Oscar West are a young and
exciting new multi-instrumental duo with a passion for Scottish and Irish traditional music with a twist (or without). 

Solstice – Led by Pat Higgins and featuring Mark Pearson and Tracey Wemyss, Solstice has evolved from Pat’s 2010 CD, “What You See is Not Your Own”. Drawing on Pat’s song-writing as well as material gleaned from Folk, Alt-Country, Jazz and Blues, the music is infused by the Irish tradition.

The String Contingent – Drawing from genres including celtic, classical, jazz and bluegrass, The String Contingent compose and perform music of sparkling beauty and originality that explores the full spectrum of musical expression. Australians Chris Stone (violin) and Holly Downes (double bass) with Scotsman Graham McLeod (guitar) integrate disparate musical styles into highly accessible yet sophisticated music that captivates audiences from any genre, while retaining their own unique style.

Tracey Haskell – Singer songwriter, eternally inspired by the combination of voice and guitar, Tracey performs her own creations or borrows from a repertoire of years of folk festivals and live performance. Currently based in New Plymouth, Tracey is “fortunate enough to have many musical friends to play with.  The sharing and motivating being the special thing about performing with others, and often the icing on the cake!”

Wires and Wood ­– Winners of the 2010 Tui for Best Folk album, Wires and Wood is a four piece band inspired by the sounds of traditional and modern bluegrass music. They play the hard-driving, punchy style of bluegrass through to the heart melting slow waltzes, striving for instrumental excellence and infusing songs with multipart harmony singing to achieve that high lonesome sound.