Bromyard Folk Music Festival 2025

Bromyard Folk Festival

11th-14th September 2025

Category: Sat 14:30 Concert

  • Amy Leach & Alasdair Paul

    Amy Leach & Alasdair Paul

    Amy Leach and Alasdair Paul, a distinguished Scottish duo known for their profound passion for traditional ballads, are set to captivate audiences at the 2024 Bromyard Folk Festival. Their partnership, rooted in a shared love for the rich tapestry of traditional songs, has flourished into a unique musical venture that highlights the beauty and simplicity of folk music. Both artists bring a wealth of experience and a deep reverence for tradition to their performances, creating an authentic and moving experience for listeners.

    Amy Leach, hailing from Edinburgh, is a traditional singer with a penchant for big ballads and the quirky, oft-overlooked gems of folk music. Her journey in music was significantly shaped by her time spent studying on the Folk Degree at Newcastle University, where she learned from revered tradition bearers and singers. Amy’s career has seen her perform with The Lindie Quartet and The Flyting, and she has found a harmonious collaboration with Alasdair Paul. Beyond her performances, Amy is dedicated to fostering community through music as a choir leader, embracing the collective power of singing with gusto.

    Alasdair Paul, a talented guitarist and multi-instrumentalist from the Highlands, complements Amy’s vocal prowess with his intricate guitar work, vocals, and banjo playing. Together, they have crafted a musical style that is both minimalist and richly expressive, allowing the narrative and emotion of each ballad to resonate fully. Their debut EP, ‘Six Sangs,’ exemplifies this approach, featuring arrangements that foreground the song and lyrics, underscored by the duo’s instinctive musical rapport. As members of The Flyting alongside Sean O’Kane and Shona Mooney, they have already made their mark on the folk scene, and their participation in the Bromyard Folk Festival promises to be a highlight, showcasing their dedication to the traditional songs that unite and inspire.

  • Cobblers Child

    Cobblers Child

    Cobblers Child is a group of four friends who began playing together during the pandemic lockdowns as a way to maintain their sanity in uncertain times. With a blend of melodeon, guitar, whistles, and Northumbrian pipes, they created a rich musical tapestry that perfectly complements Martin and Emma’s vocals. It wasn’t long before they discovered that their music and infectious enthusiasm resonated with others.

    Their repertoire includes both traditional and contemporary compositions. Martin has a passion for unearthing forgotten gems that still resonate in today’s world, breathing new life into them with beautiful melodies and arrangements. Many of his songs are inspired by stories from the inland waterways, collected during their travels on a narrowboat. Paul contributes lively tunes that add to the band’s toe-tapping sets.

    The Band

    Paul Baker, a dedicated melodeon enthusiast and collector, began his folk music journey at the University of Sheffield, where he formed the ceilidh band Hekety alongside friends like Richard and Jess Arrowsmith (Melrose Quartet). Originally a guitarist, Paul’s strong sense of rhythm transitioned seamlessly to the melodeon. His diverse musical influences are rooted in his love of dance traditions, which he brings to Cobblers Child.

    Martin Vogwell (Guitar/Mandola/Vocals) has been a touring musician for over 25 years, including a decade with Folklaw, performing across the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands. He has released four well-received solo albums and fronts the band Bewelian, known for their intricate arrangements. Martin’s songwriting is inspired by archival material and the stories of the canals. He also performs with his wife Emma as The Vogwells duo.

    Emma Vogwell (Whistle/Vocals) has a long history as a touring musician, contributing vocals, saxophone, and whistle to various bands, both folk and beyond. As part of The Vogwells, she and Martin have been active in the Gloucestershire folk scene, collaborating on projects like the GlosTrad project with the late collector Gwilym Davies and Steve Rowley. They have performed at folk clubs from Edinburgh to Cornwall.

    Polly Stirzaker (Northumbrian Small Pipes/Whistle) has deep roots in traditional music, having busked with highland pipes on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile in her youth. She has played fiddle, melodeon, and whistle with various ceilidh bands and hosts regular “slow sessions” for developing musicians. In Cobblers Child, Polly brings the distinctive sound of the Northumbrian Pipes, which she learned in an evening class while working in Newcastle.

    Paul and Polly are also active dancers and musicians for the Cotswold Morris side Lassington Oak from Highnam near Gloucester, participating in many local folk traditions, including Wassailing, Harvest Home, and May Day celebrations.

  • Dave Webber & Anni Fentiman

    Dave Webber & Anni Fentiman

    Dave Webber and Anni Fentiman are a highly respected duo in the British folk music scene, known for their powerful vocal harmonies and dedication to traditional folk music. Together, they have carved out a distinctive place within the folk community, celebrated for their ability to bring old songs to life with authenticity and passion. Their repertoire is deeply rooted in the traditional music of the British Isles, with a particular emphasis on unaccompanied harmony singing, a style that highlights the beauty and intricacy of folk melodies and lyrics.

    Dave Webber and Anni Fentiman are not only performers but also song collectors and writers, contributing to the preservation and continuation of the folk tradition. Dave Webber, in particular, is known for his songwriting, creating new material that seamlessly blends with the traditional songs they perform. His compositions often draw on historical and social themes, resonating with the storytelling tradition that is central to folk music.

    Anni Fentiman, with her warm and expressive voice, complements Dave’s singing perfectly, creating a rich, full sound that has captivated audiences for many years. Her deep understanding of traditional music and her skillful interpretation of songs make her a standout performer in her own right.

    The duo has toured extensively, performing at folk clubs, festivals, and events across the UK and beyond. Their live performances are known for their intimate, engaging style, where their passion for the music and their connection with each other shine through. They have also recorded several albums together, which have been well received by both critics and fans.

    Dave Webber and Anni Fentiman’s contribution to the folk music world extends beyond performance. They have been active in organizing and promoting folk events, workshops, and singing sessions, helping to nurture the folk community and inspire new generations of singers and musicians.