Bromyard Folk Music Festival 2025

Bromyard Folk Festival

11th-14th September 2025

Category: Sat 19:15 DRM Concert

  • Spiers & Boden

    Spiers & Boden

    John Spiers and Jon Boden, the revered duo known as Spiers & Boden, have made an indelible mark on the folk music scene since their emergence in 2001. Garnering acclaim as “the finest instrumental duo on the traditional scene” by The Guardian, their journey includes a successful stint with the folk big band Bellowhead. After a hiatus, they made a triumphant return in 2021 with their new album ‘Fallow Ground,’ a project born amidst the challenges of the pandemic and recorded between lockdowns. This album, a blend of traditional folk melodies and ballads, showcases their distinctive mix of morris tunes, historic pieces, and original compositions. Their ability to breathe new life into traditional songs is evident in tracks like Funney Eye, Bluey Brink, and Butter and Cheese and All, while also introducing original works like Bailey Hill / Wittenham Clumps and Giant’s Waltz / The Ironing Board Hornpipe.

    Reflecting on the album, Jon Boden notes their focus on joyous, lively songs, a departure from traditional themes of death and sorrow, adding a light-hearted touch to their repertoire. This approach aligns perfectly with their upcoming headline performance at the Bromyard Folk Festival, where audiences can expect a blend of spirited traditional tunes and the duo’s unique, engaging style. Their anticipated appearance at the festival is a testament to their lasting appeal and ongoing contribution to the folk music landscape.

  • O’Hooley & Tidow

    O’Hooley & Tidow

    Bromyard Folk Festival is thrilled and proud to feature Belinda O’Hooley and Heidi Tidow as one of its acts this year. This Yorkshire-based singer-songwriter duo is renowned for their harmonious vocals, drawing favorable comparisons to the iconic folk pair, Kate & Anna McGarrigle. Belinda and Heidi are not only original and distinctive in their performances of self-penned songs but also excel in interpreting contemporary and traditional tunes. Their track ‘Gentleman Jack’ gained widespread recognition for its use in the closing credits of the BBC1 drama bearing the same title. The Guardian has praised their work, highlighting the “boundless songwriting and exquisite harmonies” that stand out in their music. Known for their originality and wit, their stage presence is captivating and a true delight, making them a highly anticipated addition to the festival.

  • Banter

    Banter

    Banter consists of Simon Care on the melodeon, Nina Zella handling keyboards and vocals, Tim Walker on drums, percussion, brass, and vocals, in addition to calling dances, and Mark Jolley playing bass, fiddle, guitar, and also contributing vocals. This quartet of accomplished musicians, deeply rooted in the traditional English music scene, delights in pushing musical boundaries.

    Since their formation in 2015, their shared passion for the evolving traditions of English song and dance music has driven them to incorporate a broader range of musical styles into their repertoire.

    They have quickly made a name for themselves as a distinctively original force within the English traditional music scene, leading to performances at major UK festivals such as Glastonbury, Cambridge Folk Festival, and Sidmouth Folk Festival, among others, as well as international appearances in Europe.

    Their debut and follow-up albums, YES and DARE, released between 2017 and 2019, garnered critical acclaim, including high praise in FATEA, Songlines, and RnR Magazines, and they even performed a live Valentine’s Day session on Mark Radcliffe’s BBC Radio 2 Folk Show.

    Now recognized as one of the UK’s leading bands, their third studio album, THREE, offers fresh takes on beloved traditional songs and energetic dance tunes, featuring guest appearances by John Spiers and Phil Beer.

    Despite being a four-member band, they produce a sound so expansive they’ve been hailed as “the world’s smallest big band.”

  • Tom McConville & Michael Biggins

    Tom McConville & Michael Biggins

    Tom McConville and Michael Biggins, both celebrated as BBC Folk Musicians of the Year in Britain and Scotland respectively, are set to perform at the Bromyard Folk Festival. Their collaboration brings together the fiddle, piano, and vocals in a union that promises an extraordinary evening. Audiences can expect a night filled with virtuosic playing and singing, all infused with Tom’s renowned humor and sense of fun, ensuring a top-class entertainment experience.

    Tom McConville, hailing from Tyneside, grew up immersed in the rich traditions of Irish and Scottish music, which have profoundly influenced his career. Known as an authority on the music of James Hill, his journey in folk music began in the vibrant scenes of Newcastle’s Irish community and has spanned over 50 years, earning him immense respect and admiration for his skill on the fiddle and his contributions to folk music. His collaborations with artists like Bob Fox, Kieron Halpin, and Pauline Cato, among others, have marked him as a world-class act celebrated for his unique blend of music, humor, and storytelling.

    Michael Biggins, a multi-instrumentalist originally from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne and now based in Glasgow, brings his exceptional talent to the partnership. A recent graduate from The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year for 2021, Michael’s versatility and skill have seen him play and tour with various groups, including TRIP and The Canny Band. With a deep commitment to teaching, Michael’s expertise extends beyond performance to nurturing the next generation of musicians, highlighting the depth of talent and dedication that both he and Tom McConville will bring to their performances at the Bromyard Folk Festival.