Welcome to the Wessex Folk Festival pages The website for this Dorset based festival celebrating music, song and dance rooted in the traditions of the area.

Concerts / Dance / Workshops / Pub sessions / Showcase / Full programme
Concerts and Other Performances The following are booked so far. To find out more click on the images.

	Concert artistes
Friday 6 June		Saturday 7 June

Last Night's Fun supported by		Dick Gaughan supported by

Camilla and the Can Openers		No Fixed Abode
	Artistes appearing on the open stage and elsewhere

Jodie Jones (Saturday)	Three Tuns o' Grass (Sunday)		The Tree Fellahs (Saturday)

Wareham Whalers (Saturday)	Triskele (Sunday)	LeDPiN (Saturday)	Stompin' Dave Allen (Sunday)

Jigsaw (Sunday)		Tramps Like Us (Saturday)	Local Strangers (Saturday)

Bag of Rats (Sunrday)	Djambo (Sunday)	Celtic Confusion (Sunday)	Way Out West (Saturday)

Doey's Daughters (Sunday)	Finnian McGurk (Sunday)	A Minor Fiddle Orchestra (Sunday)

Last Night's Fun Opening the festival on Friday night in Hope Church Quotes and photo (c) and courtesy of Last Night's Fun website	Last Night's Fun have an audience pinned to the wall with breathtaking virtuosity and creative arrangements, and falling off their chairs with a loveable line in patter that is their trademark. They embody a fire, passion and feel for traditional Irish music not seen since The Bothy Band and Planxty at their peak. The key to the unique Last Night’s Fun sound however, is the electric, spontaneous interplay between musicians very much at one with each other. "They make you laugh. They make friends with you. They make you feel at home. THEN they pin you to the wall with blistering, soulful music..." Roots around the World
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Dick Gaughan Our main concert headliner on Saturday night in Hope Church. Quotes and photo (c) Gaelweb2005 and courtesy of Dick's website	With quotes like these what more can we say about this man except that we are thrilled to welcome him to the Wessex Folk Festival. "He has one of the finest and most sublime voices on the planet, capable of capturing the heart with the most tender of traditional ballads in one moment and stirring the fire of the spirit with his uncompromising commentary on social injustice in the next . . . an unforgettable artist, able to change the way that you think and feel through the power of music" (Appleseed Recordings) "how music from the gut really sounds" (The Guardian) "In any style, on any stage, Gaughan is one of folk music's guitar geniuses as well as one of Scotland's finest singers" (Dirty Linen) "You go home from a Dick Gaughan session feeling exhilarated, not just at the wonderful skills of the most potent singer ever to emerge from the Scottish folk-music revival, not just at the astonishingly fluent and explosively eloquent guitar playing, but by the sense of the stark exposition of wrong and the tremulously argued legitimacy of right. Even those who disagree profoundly with his view of life recognise the conviction and the supreme artistry." (Alastair Clark - Scots music journalist)
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Jodie Jones Appearing on the Hope Square stage Quotes and photo (c) and courtesy of Jodie Jones' website	Jodie Jones, is a 21 and a singer-songwriter from Devon, whose song 'It's Like Love' was in the Top Ten Winners of the BBC Talent Showcase at the beginning of 2006. She plays piano and guitar, and appears with her husband, Joff Alexander-Frye, who sings and plays guitar/ percussion. Jodiehas performed alongside such acts as Van Morrison, Roy Wood, Midge Ure and Supergrass. Her music is catchy, with a slightly folky feel, and always quirky and original. Live, she stuns her audience with a rare and totally honest performance!' 'Jodie possesses the voice of an angel' - National Gig Guide 'There's something a little different about it that intruiges me..." - Bandman.co.uk
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LeDPiN Appearing on the Hope Square stage Photo (c) and courtesy of LeDPiN's website	LeDPin are Neil Martin, David Roger, Louis Hemsley and Phil Wilcox who, between them, play guitar, bodhran, cello, flutes, whistles, accordian percussion and bass guitar as well as singing! In other words they're generally all-round smart a***s who are well worth a listen. In their own words their music is "mainly of Irish origin, however we are known to throw in a few surprises along the way. Our first CD was published in August 2007 and you can buy a copy online if you like! "
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No Fixed Abode	No Fixed Abode are fronted by Una Walsh singing in her own lilting Irish accent and Tony Dean supporting on acoustic guitar. They captured the audience's hearts last year and we're very pleased to welcome them back in 2008. “Una’s voice soars mixing tender emotions and raw power into a heady mixture, the interplay between Una and Tony is absolutely charming” (John O’Regan, Irish Music Magazine)
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Tramps Like Us	Tramps Like Us formed in April 2007 with four friends at Bath Spa University linked by a desire to play their music, their way. The sound that has been released is one of pure honesty and emotion with more than a dash of youthful exuberance thrown in! Be sure to catch a unique and unforgettable experience before they get too old and crotchety...
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The Tree Fellahs Appearing in various guises all over the festival weekend.	Much more than a ceilidh band! Brilliant musicianship to get your feet tapping, your body swaying and your hands clapping.
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Triskele Appearing on the open stage on Sunday and hosting our Sunday Showcase session	Triskele Local 5 piece band with a unique sound featuring a wide range of instruments and choice of material. They'll be hosting the open mic sessions and appearing on the open stage on Sunday (3rd June).
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Wareham Whalers Appearing on the Hope Square stage as well as at the shanty session and who knows where else....... Quotes and photo (c) and courtesy of Wareham Whaler's website	Around Easter 2004, Wareham Whalers was formed from an idea of Dave Wheatley. The plan was to form a shanty group that would keep the tradition alive around the river Frome and Purbeck in Dorset. A group of blokes started to get together in the local pub, have a few drinks and then decamp to one of their homes for a sing along. The drinking part was easy, the learning of songs was to take a little longer (Drinkers with a singing problem).....but they certainly seem to have mastered a few now and we're delighted to have them at the festival.
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Three Tuns o' Grass	A truly impressive line-up for this high octane, bluegrass band. They'll set the open stage alight! DAVID HATFIELD - Double Bass. Founder member of the Kursaal flyers and sometime sidesman to Ry Cooder, Peter Rowan, Country Joe MacDonald and Arlo Guthrie to name a few. NIGEL CANTER - Fiddle. Has worked with Geoff Harris, Derek and Hazel Sarjeant, Nick Dow, Peter Rowan and Country Joe and, last year, toured the USA playing (amongst other places) the Station Inn, Nashville (in the first full British Bluegrass band to play at this prestigious venue) and the Jerusalem Ridge Festival (the home and founding place of Bluegrass music). CHARLIE BOSTON - Guitar and Mandolin (in one instrument). Winner of TWO BCMA awards for his fine solo albums, the last of which was recorded in Nashville. Charlie has a fine family musical tradition as he is the Great - Nephew of Sir Thomas Beecham. JEREMY COZENS - Mandolin. Yet another occasional sidesman to Bluegrass/Tex-Mex legend Peter Rowan. Never happier than when he's out in his aeroplane wot he built himself... JERRY NORMAN - Guitar. A Splendid and solid guitarist (and gardener). He also plays for the clog team 'No Mean Feet'. RAY SMITH - Banjo and Guitar. Rock Solid and Dexterous. Ray's songs have been recorded by Ginny Hawker,Tracy Schwarz, Bob Black, Chris Brashear, Peter McLaughlin, Forest Rose and Jody Stecher. Ray is an amazing artist and has had works commissioned by companies and authorities all over the UK. Oh yes, and he was also responsible for the album covers of Heaven 17, The Skids and Fred Frith (among others).
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Djambo	is a six-piece Bournemouth-based acoustic roots music band playing a fusion of celtic, latin, folk, rock and jazz for revellers and dancers They take their material from influences worldwide - South America, Eastern Europe, South Africa, Ireland, Greece among other places. Djambo are not interested in trying to copy the originals, rather they adapt the songs, riffs and tunes to their unique style.
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Jigsaw	Waiting for biog (!), but we can say that they're back by popular demand after their stunning sets on last year's Hope Square stage.
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Camilla & the Can Openers	Three individually acclaimed performers come together to support Last Night's Fun on the opening night of the 2008 festival. Singer/guitarist, Pam Dentith, sings like an angel - her voice captures everyone's attention. Paul Openshaw is a member of the Tree Fellahs. He's a singer/guitarist/ songwriter and in this trio he shows us just how fine a guitarist he is. Nigel Canter has played his fiddle with many famous names both here and abroad. In this mix he shows off the full range of his styles from sensitive to savage!
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Stompin' Dave Allen	He's back! Nifty footwork, express banjo picking, tuneful singing - this amazing man does them all at the same time and he never seems out of breath! If you haven't seen him before, prepare to be astounded and hooked!
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Way Out West	They're called Way Out West, they're from Tucson in Arizona and they take you there with classic songs of the cowboys, songs of Hollywood's singing cowboys, and their own mix of cowboy and Western tunes played with their bordergrass sound! Way Out West is Emmy Creigh, guitar and vocals; Slim Rost, bunkhouse bass and vocals; and Tom Poley, banjo, guitar and vocals
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Local Strangers	From songs of sinful sailors to lyrical laments and toe-tapping tunes by way of hilarious poetry this talented group all hailing from Portland (but with only 1 true Portlander!) will be running the Saturday showcase and appearing in many guises throughout the weekend. They are Julie Matthews, Pauline Clenshaw, Pat Green, Jon Diaper and Alan Evans.
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Finnian McGurk	Finn is a popular regular on the Weymouth pub scene with his humour, warmth and blend of music that's guaranteed to get audiences eager for more.
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Celtic Confusion	First appearance at the Wessex Festival for this band that have audiences eating out of their hands.
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Bag of Rats	Bag of Rats took the place by storm in 2007 so we've asked them back for more of thier ultra-high energy music.
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Doey's Daughters	Doey's Daughters are Nesta and Josie, sisters who have been playing music together since they were young. Flute, guitar and vocal harmonies feature in their original compositions which have a modern-folk style. They also cover artists such as KT Tunstall, Sister Hazel, Counting Crows and others and have played at various venues and festivals including Trowbridge.
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A Minor Fiddle Orchestra	Will be playing for us on Sunday in Hope Square to entertain us all in between the open stage acts.
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