MAD DOG MCREA

Friday 26th April / 8pm / £18

Mad Dog Mcrea blend a unique mixture of folk rock, pop, gypsy jazz, bluegrass and ‘shake your ass’ music. From self-penned songs of adventure, drinking, love and life, to traditional songs of gypsies, fairies, legless pirates and black flies – Mad Dog never fail to capture their audience with their infectious songs. In constant demand and having played just about every festival and two-bit, jibe-arsed dive in Christendom, Mad Dog Mcrea are, in every sense of the word, a live, band. Matched with the unshakable dedication of their massive and “loyal-to-the-hilt”, fan base – Mad Dog Mcrea are more than just a very popular, festival act – with five albums under their belts, they are serious and acclaimed recording artists too. The famous purple happy bus is fired up and ready for action, and there’s room for you – jump aboard.

ELIZA CARTHY

Saturday 27th April / 8pm / £20

Eliza Carthy is undoubtedly one of the most impressive and engaging performers of her generation. Twice nominated for the Mercury Prize and winner of innumerable other accolades over a 20 year career, Eliza has performed and recorded with a diverse array of artists including, Paul Weller, Rufus and Martha Wainwright, Patrick Wolf and Bob Neuwirth. More than most, Eliza Carthy has revitalised folk music and captured the most hardened of dissenters with intelligent, charismatic and boundary-crossing performance.

Eliza grew up immersed in the world of traditional music. She still divides her time between touring and recording with her legendary father Martin Carthy, as well as engaging in numerous pioneering solo and band projects, including work with Pere Ubu and Melanie Challenger, an artist in residence in Antarctica. In what has become something of a parallel career, Eliza has co-presented the BBC Radio 3 World Music Awards, been a regular guest-presenter on the BBC Radio 2 Mark Radcliffe Show and has made many appearances on BBC TV’s “Later with Jools”. In her own right, Eliza has been the subject of an hour long ITV documentary (“Heaven and Earth”) and “My Music” on Channel 5.

Comedian and writer Stewart Lee describes Eliza as “Not the Messiah, but a very naughty girl”.

BARE JAMS

Sunday 28th April / 8pm / £14

An ever evolving collective, a tour-de-force of experienced musical alchemists with a sound that is uniquely their own. A frequent must see on festival aficionados’ lists they have a reputation for tight, flamboyant, high energy yet wholesomely candid performances seamlessly cooking up a credible fusion of pop, soul, reggae and rock.

Well travelled with an enviable tour history Bare Jams have headlined their own shows across Europe, supported legendary acts such as The Wailers, Katchafire and La Pegatina and appeared at the biggest festivals including Glastonbury, Boomtown, Isle of Wight and many more.