Who's On 2025 Perfformwyr
(Free to See ~ Rhydd i Weld)
AfroWelsh Connection
Our music is based on the griot kora music of West Africa, brought over to the UK by our Gambian kora player Bunja Conteh. Kora is one of the traditional griot instruments, a 21 stringed instrument, the African equivalent of our harp. Bunja comes from a griot family and the tunes we play are a mixture of traditional griot tunes and some of his own compositions. Accompanied by his wife Liz Conteh on vocals and acoustic guitar, Chandra Moon on flute, Terry Payne on mandolin/violin, Marc Smith on electric double bass and Omar Sanyang our Senegalese calabash/djembe player creating a fusion of African and Welsh musicians. Our music is hypnotic and groovy with beautiful harmonies and melodies. It can be relaxing and trance-like or uplifting and dancey, something for everyone!
‘BouZaTina’ are a creative acoustic folk duo from Bishop’s Castle in Shropshire. They perform traditional and contemporary folk songs interspersed with lively Irish tunes played with passion and virtuosity. 'BouZaTina' are Val Marciandi and Keith Whiddon, showcasing Val’s beautiful voice accompanied by Keith’s unique bouzouki style. The name 'BouZaTina' is a combination of their main instruments: Bouzouki and Concertina.
Broadoak
BroadOak is a Pembrokshire based folk trio, Wendy Lewis, Peter and Chris Kay, all experienced musicians with backgrounds and interests in many sorts of music from Gamelan to Rock. Chris sings and plays piano, and whistle. Wendy plays fiddle and sings. Peter plays fretted instruments and sings. The band play both traditional and contemporary folk, as well as creating their own new work in a folk tradition. It’s hard to pin down their ‘sound’ in a single word: maybe ‘eclectic’ comes closest, and of course they always aim for ‘entertaining’.
Danny Sioned
Danny Sioned is a singer songwriter originally from the Preseli Mountains, performing a mix of original and traditional folk songs in Welsh and English. Ysbrydolir ei chaneuon gan dapestri cyfoethog tirwedd a phobl Cymru, gan golled, cariad a hiraeth.
Deuair is Elsa Davies and Ceri Owen-Jones: fiddle, harp + two voices. Deuair (pron. day-ire) is literally ‘two words’, an old Welsh poetic form and measure. They have been playing as a duo since 2012, learning tunes from fellow musicians and old manuscripts, for listening and dancing. Their intent is to play and interpret rare historical material from their own research and, in their own way, try to bring to life a lost sound world of Welsh traditional music for people today.
Facing the Ocean are Russ and Jane, playing their own tunes on their favourite instruments – guitar and mandolin. These tunes are inspired by their shared love of wild places, the sea, and the living landscape. For the third year running they are bringing their collection of pieces inspired by the history, topography and atmosphere of the Pen Caer peninsular to Fishguard Folk Festival. The Rounds of Pen Caer 2025 - with many new pieces – tells a tale of the exceptional beauty of the North Pembrokeshire coast.
Finbar is an award winning bard and songwriter whose songs have been played worldwide including at Glastonbury. His unique range of ballads (My Belfast Love), satire (TK Maxx), social comment (The Eyes of a Stranger) and recitations (The Ginger Gene) ensure quality entertainment. He is accompanied by Breige - one of the finest fiddlers in Ulster.
Fishguard Folk Singers
Are a group of friends who started out as shanty singers but have now added all sorts of other material. They have a bias towards sea songs, but their main criteria are: do we like it and enjoy singing it?
Glen Peters
Glen Peters, an immigrant to the UK, has been hooked by British folk music. He founded and runs the music programme at Rhosygilwen, Pembrokeshire. His Folk Diary is a personal account of his experiences as an immigrant, expressed through British folk styles. He will perform songs and share stories from this collection. The CD Where do you come from?, produced by Boo Hewerdine, is set for release later this year.
Grŷm
Grŷm is a trio of musicians featuring Bernard KilBride, Imogen O'Rourke, and Tad Sargent. The three of them have been playing together for the last year and play an array of tunes and songs from Ireland, Wales, and Scotland. Tad was born in London, his family originally being from Mayo. He started playing Irish music in sessions hosted by London legends such as Mick O'Connor, Paddy Gallagher, Paul Gallagher. Starting on bodhran, he went on to play bouzouki/guitar and can be heard on a good handful of notable albums such as Brian McNeill, Crossharbour, Matt Tighe, Barrule, Tony Christie, Cara. Live he has played with Luke Daniels, The Kelly Family, Talisk, Ranagri, The Long Notes, and Cara Dillon. He was also the resident bodhran and guitar teacher at the Irish Cultural Centre for 10 years. Welsh-born Bernard KilBride has played traditional fiddle for much of his life, fostered by his parents, Gill and Jenny Kilbride. One of three brothers playing traditional music in South Wales. Spanning almost 30 years, a key part of the Welsh folk group Yr Hwntws, Bernard has travelled throughout Wales and Europe and appeared on TV. He played on their albums: Gwentian and Y Tribanwr. Other bands Bernard has played/recorded with include: Mabsant, the KilBride Brothers, Taran, Aberjaber, Cara, The Rowdy Dow. He continues to front Juice Ceilidh band, and Burn the Fiddle. Also born in Wales, Imogen O’Rourke’s very early musical life was centred around classical training. By 16 years old, she was doing paid gigs, with a jazz-rock-funk fusion band. She began to develop an interest in traditional music in the late 1990s, studied a contemporary art-music degree at Dartington by day, honing her trad Irish repertoire and style in pub sessions by night. After graduating, Imogen’s music work has revolved almost entirely around trad and continues to this day. Past bands include Firebrand, Celtish, Yr Hwntws and Juice and Cat’s Claw Ceilidh bands.
Hafren
Hafren (aka Chris Roberts - Filkin's Drift) is a socially-engaged musician whose radical ideas "have taken sustainable touring to the next level" (BBC News). He has performed live on BBC Radio 3 'In Tune', performed three times at Glastonbury Festival, and appeared as a panellist on sustainable touring at The Great Escape, Brighton. Hafren's music weaves together the rich folk traditions of the Vale of Glamorgan with intricate, polyrhythmic interplay between guitar and voice. His delicate yet dynamic approach blends minimalist textures with deep storytelling, creating an immersive sound that is both timeless and innovative.
Howni Shany Singers
Founded in Aberporth in 2022, Howni set out to resurrect the fading art of shanty singing—a tradition once integral to the area’s fishing heritage. The 25 members balance tradition with fostering inclusivity, community spirit, and personal growth. In 2024 they performed at; Poppit’s Lifeboat fundraiser, Cardigan’s River and Food Festival, Castle Craft Fair, and Aberporth’s Village Hall opening. And now performing at this year’s Fishguard Folk Festival. Their sea-soaked melodies continue to anchor community pride and charitable giving along West Wales’ rugged coast.
Julie Murphy & Ceri Rhys Matthews
Julie Murphy (voice and shruti box) and Ceri Rhys Matthews (flute) are founder members of groundbreaking Welsh folk group Fernhill. Together they perform traditional songs and dance tunes from Wales and beyond, with a particular emphasis on the music and poetry of West Wales. Their exquisite musical evocations of landscape and culture are timeless and universal. Mae Julie Murphy (llais a bwlch shruti) a Ceri Rhys Matthews (flier) yn syflaenwyr o’r grŵp Herron Cymreig arloesol Fernhill. Gyda’r i gilydd maent yn perfformio caneuon traddodialol ac alawon dawns o Gymru a thu hwnt, gyda phwyslais arbennig ar gerddoriaeth a barddoniaeth Gorllewin Cymru. Mae eu hatgofion cerddorol coeth o dirwedd a diwylliant yn anfarwol a chyfanfydol.
Lower Quay Collective
A collection of Pembrokeshire folk musicians who came together to fund raise for FFF. The Collective has now set itself to develop and spread Traditional session tunes in West Wales through live performances, twmpath/ceilidh and, of course, sessions.
Mice in a Matchbox
With a flamboyant Steampunk style Mice in a Matchbox are a lively duo who take traditional and modern folk tunes and some classic well known favourites, as well as original material, and deliver them with their own foot tapping (stamping?) harmony arrangements. Enjoy their tales of the Atlantic ocean in a small 32 foot saling boat. It's not folk music as you are might expect, - look forward to some new interpretations and a most unusual and enjoyable time! They are a very original duo, traditional sentiments but often with clever use of technology to expand their sound and arrangements. Quite brilliant in fact!" Peter Jezukiewicz Recently described as "The guitar of Pink Floyd, The vocals of Fleetwood Mac, and the look and feel of Jethro Tull"... With roots in Folk, Rock, and Soul, it can be hard to pin down their music, but this comes quite close, - albeit with perhaps a faint touch of the rose tinted thrown in for good measure!
The Mighty Quinn
Originally from the ancient capital of Ireland, Armagh, The Mighty Quinn has been a musical fixture in the Manchester music scene for the best part of 20 years. Usually a duo - with the inimitable John Mahon - this festival will see a solo performance from Mark Quinn on guitar and vocals. Expect British and Irish folk songs with a heavy mix of Americana and plenty of Mancunian soul.
Mike Chant
Mike Chant, St Davids born Singer songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and true grass-roots troubadour has been creating and performing music for over 40 years. Always from the heart Mike has written and recorded six albums plus a huge repertoire of covers. Mike also has a passion for creating opportunities for musicians by way of his open mic sessions which he has been running for over a decade. For him music is about expression, honesty, sharing and fun.
RazorBill
Razor Bill… traditional and modern songs and tunes for the good folk of Pembrokeshire, with the odd surprise. English, Irish, American, Welsh, and maybe even the odd French number. Anything and everything that gets feet tapping, people dancing and singing along and smiling. Whether it’s jigs and reels or 21st century folk rock… if it sounds really good and it’s acoustic, they’re up for it. Philippa, Dave, Matt and Graham bring fiddle, bass, guitars, harmonicas, whistles, accordion and bodhran to the party, and Pete comes back from England sometimes with his concertina. And the craic is, their love of playing and singing is catching, so everyone has a great time.
Rob Lear
Nominated for 2023’s Welsh Music Award and with RnR Magazine describing Rob Lear as one of this country’s finest songwriters, the Rob Lear Band blends elements of beautiful vocal harmonies and a wide range of talented instrumentalists. These include accordion, mandolin, violin and djembe, playing songs that draw on Rob’s memories, experiences and coming-of-age tales of growing up in a small mining village tucked away in the Welsh Valleys. Rob’s music blends Folk, Americana, pop and a touch of rockabilly.
An alt-folk artist from the most westerly tip of mainland Wales, where she records, performs, and produces over the winter months. The songs are sentimental and lyrically driven, with guitar and vocals carrying equal weight and intention. Making music is an inherent part of her life. Rona says, "It’s a privilege to spend time crafting and grafting at it. I’ll keep songwriting as I keep breathing, always humbled by the long road ahead". "A truly independent DIY, grass-roots artist from the most westerly tip of Wales, Mac is a prolific songwriter carving her own path as a queer alt-folk artist."
SGH Trio blend traditional music from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. Formed in 2017, from projects of their own (TEYR, Crossharbour, Céilí Max), Tad Sargent, James Gavin and Dominic Henderson blend their intrigue with new and old styles of the music they grew up with. Their music’s been described as “Ear Candy For The Gods” by Bill Barclay (Director Music Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, and Guardian Columnist). Between them, they’ve played such venues as; the Royal Albert Hall, The Union Chapel, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, Glastonbury and Cambridge Folk Festival.
Sir-Reel Clark's are a family band who can play in a number of forms, from a duo to a four piece band. We were set up to help Aaron as he has Autism, ADHD, Dyspraxia + Tourettes, he wanted to play in the outside world and we as a family wanted to support him. Aaron - Melodeon, Mouth Organ, Vocals + Percussion. Andy Dad - Guitar, Vocals, Mandola + Bodhran. Occasionally the other siblings join in - Chantel Clark, Sister - Vocals, Bodhran + Guitar. Kyle Clark, brother - Vocals, Bodhran, Guitar + Trombone.
Teifi Ukulele Group
Teifi Ukulele Group are a group of local enthusiasts who come together to share their enthusiasm for their quirky little instruments. Now they are coming to Fishguard Folk Festival to share their enthusiasm love with you. There are rumours of spare instruments.
The Acorns Twmpath Ceilidh
Twmpath/Ceilidh Band are drawn from the Royal Oak Tuesday night session. Specially selected for the Friday night dance with Caller John Waddington.