"Chris Wood is one of the most stimulating and inspirational teachers to have visited the Irish World Music Centre. He is also one of the few tutors to have taught across several of our MA programmes, from Music Therapy, to Ritual Song & Traditional Music Performance. His ability to communicate with his students at the deepest level is one of his particular gifts. His innate musicianship, expressed through his passionate interest in the traditional music of England puts him at the forefront of contemporary performers of this genre."
Dr Micheal O Suilleabhain , Professor of Music, Director of the Irish World
Music Centre, University of Limerick.

A newly formed band consisting of three excellent and reknowned musicians, Cliff Stapleton (ex Blowzabella), Chris Walshaw (Meridian & The English Bagpipe Orchestra) & Richard Jones (ex Climax Blues Band).
“The music is original and quirky, drawing on the diverse influences of these pedigree players.”

His songs cover the whole gamut of human experience and are delivered with flair, wit, compassion and serious musical ability on guitar and banjo. Essentially a serious songwriter who has been known to raise more than the occasional eyebrow, glass, roof, chuckle and consciousness, he treats his own material with the same conviction that he brings to music from the Scottish tradition, believing both music forms to be inter-related and complementary.

"These two virtuosi of guitar and fiddle like to do their own thing, when they're not earning their crusts in big bands, jazz-rock, pop and soul gigs and the likes of Whippersnapper and the Albion Band. Joe has been playing since he was in the pram and has a PhD in circus skills and mad banter. Kevin has been around a bit longer and has played a few more notes. Musically they're tighter than two coats of paint. Expect anything!"

The combination of the unique sound of Frankie McGuire's percussion with Mark's rhythmic guitar playing provids themusical backdrop that provides Lynn, undoubtedly of of the worlds finest accordion players, to perform at a level which some believe to be the finest to date in her career, combining to create the unique sound by which the band have come to be recognised.

Janet and Rosie are colleagues of old from Sisters Unlimited days, and Rosie always delighted audiences with percussive stepdance amongst the songs.

Rosie’s knowledge of US traditions of both song and dance brings a huge body of material to JigJaw, as does Frances and Kerry’s knowledge of French and Scandinavian song and dance.

Janet delights not only in Scots mouth music, but vocal music from all over the British Isles.

He played his first gig at 14 and started working as a duo with Paul Downes in 1974 (their Live at Nettlebed CD has recently been released). He was then in the Arizona Smoke Revue and a key member of Johnny Coppin's band. His impressive track record also includes touring with Mike Oldfield and being a member of the feted Albion Band from 1984-1991. Show of Hands became a full-time partnership in the early 90s, a band that has gone on to sell out the Royal Albert Hall three times and who were voted Best Live Act, by the public, at the 2004 Folk Awards.

Phil, who also has his own Phil Beer Band, famously guested on the Rolling Stones Steel Wheels album and Steve Harley's Poetic Justice.

Bob is a local lad and blessed with one of the best voices you will ever hear. He is also a very talented musician playing guitar, piano and dulcimer. Add to that a full and varied repertoire of traditional and modern songs and plenty of good 'crack' and you can be sure of a good night.
Terry Freeman - Davylamp Folk Club

The we;come return of these Renaissance songstresses...

Capriole entertain with an extravagant salmagundy of song, music and dance, and like to invite the audience to come and join the dance. They provide entertainment for Mediæval Banquets, Re-enactment Events, Festivals, Ceilidhs, private parties and anything they think might be fun! They can provide exciting costumed entertainment for Renaissance and Tudor/Jacobean periods.

Mike’s 15th release Heaven in Mind, is fantastic! It is essentially an amalgam of Mike’s great songs from the past, ‘Midnight Train’ ,‘You’, the poignant ‘Wrong Side of Midnight’ and standards
including ‘Fly me to the moon’ and ‘Love potion No9’ with some brand new songs, like the stunning, ‘Breaking the Silence’ and the moving ‘Who Wants to Be the One’, written as only Mike knows how. For anyone else, if songwriters who can really sing and play are your thing, discover Silver with haste.