Artist Bios 6

West Riding Concertina Ensemble

Throughout the later part of the Nineteenth and the first half of the Twentieth Centuries concertina bands were popular across the north of England. These bands were the same size as brass bands, about 24 players, and played a similar repertoire - marches, airs and popular tunes of the time. The West Riding Concertina Ensemble were formed to play the type of music that these bands would be playing today.

Cobalt Tales

Pat and Nuala bring a range of songs and stories to the stage in their own style with hints of Janis to Jagger via the Indigo Girls. Having supported Martin Simpson at our last festival, they return with their powerful vocals complemented with engaging harmonies, acoustic and bass guitars, whistles, clarinet and harmonica. Cobalt Tales deliver music from the heart that stirs the soul.

STREET ARTISTS

Chum Chon HiFi

Todmorden’s Chum Chon HiFi provide the renowned sound system at The Golden Lion and have brought the likes of Mr Scruff, Mungo’s HiFi and Daddy G (Massive Attack) to town. They are known for their selection of Reggae, Dub and World Bass. They will be bringing sweet musical vibes for street skanking on the canalside; whilst Yakumama will be providing delicious street food for our Sunday outdoor stage.

Mento B

George Linton (aka Mento B) is a well-known musician on the Manchester Caribbean scene and further afield in Greater Manchester, where he has been running successful jam nights at various venues for many years. His mission is to promote Caribbean musicians and culture to the wider community.

The Ocelots

A trio of rhythm makers and improvisers, taking grooves from Latin America, New Orleans and closer to Todmorden, Expect drums, percussion, bass, vocals and music to get your feet moving.

Dhamak

Dhamak uses its expert skills and knowledge to arrange traditional Brass Bands with South Asian percussion. They will be bringing their unique sound to our canal-side stage.

DANCE TEAMS

Black Gate Morris

Black Gate Morris is a mixed Cotswold Morris side based in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Launched in 2018.

Bollin Morris

Bollin Morris are a mixed Morris team performing Border style dances, based at the Spread Eagle in Lymm, Cheshire. They perform some traditional dances from the counties that border Wales, some dances created by other teams and some choreographed by themselves. The team was first formed in 1976 as a revival of the Altrincham Morris team. The costumes are mainly blues and greens to represent the river Bollin. They were one of the first mixed sides in the country, and definitely the first to use blue face paint back in 2010.

Flag and Bone Gang

Harrogate-based team who dance in their own style with a unique kit. The band is made up of melodeons, concertina, bass curtal, recorder and percussion.

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DANCE TEAMS

Hebden Bridge Hill Millies

The Hill Millies are a Women’s Cotswold Morris Dancing side based in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, formed more than 16 years ago, starting off as a bet with the then landlord of the Fox and Goose pub in Hebden Bridge. They dance with hankies, sticks, dusters, and on occasion a mop or two to the accompaniment of a talented group of fiddle players.

Lancashire Wallopers

The Lancashire Wallopers clog step team was born out of the teaching of the legendary Sam Sherry, who spent most of his working life as a step & acrobatic dancer in the music halls & variety theatres. The Wallopers perform, in various lively and entertaining routines, the steps of Sam Sherry and other famous Lancashire clog dancers. Incidentally, the team name is derived from the old Lancashire term ‘clog walloper’…as in one who wallops the floor with his/her clogs!

Mind the Step Appalachian Dancers

Mind the Step, formed in in 1990, are a lively Appalachian dance team from Knutsford, Cheshire. They perform their own choreographed dances to the accompaniment of Bluegrass music played by their excellent fiddle player. They dance both locally and across the country at a variety of events to display their passion for this energetic dance form. It originates from English, Irish and Scottish clogging and stepping styles as danced by the immigrants that settled in the Appalachian mountain regions of North America, who added their own steps to make it the style it is today.

DANCE TEAMS

Sowerby Bridge Morris

A mixed dance team performing in the NorthWest Morris tradition. They are based in the West Yorkshire mill town of Sowerby Bridge in the heart of the South Pennines. The team was originally formed as an all-male side in 1979 following the success of the Sowerby Bridge Rushbearing Festival. In 2011, the team was revived as a mixed side with a view to performing at that year’s Rushbearing. The team perform all four of their original dances from the early 1980s, as well as two traditional dances from the now sadly defunct Colne Royal Morris Men. They have also developed two original dances, the Jubilee Diamond and the Rushcart Dance.

Thieving Magpie

A mixed Border Morris side who like dancing, waving big sticks about and yelling. They sing as well. They were formed in 2006 and ages range from 6 to 71.

White Rose Morris

A familiar sight in distinctive ‘whites’ with green baldrics and straw hats at regional and national folk festivals, and other local events, White Rose dance the South Midlands (or Cotswold) tradition ‘Up North’ and have also performed in Sweden, Jersey, Provence, Romania and, most recently (2019), in Germany at the Aachen Festival.

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