Musicians and performers joining us this weekend

Chris Greve is a musician and songwriter performing Americana songs with strong Celtic influences. He was born in London, England, grew up in Calgary, Canada, now living back in England, and as a lover of a Takamine guitar, how can I say no to his request to join us on the Cheshire Folk Stage!  

Laura Carr is a writer of beautiful songs and tunes, she sings some with her friend Alison Shultz, Laura is also beautiful fiddle player, it is a joy to welcome her back to our folk club stage.

Ben Ward is a popular singer songwriter from the North West and a welcome visitor to Cheshire Folk, always a story to tell in his songs.

Ben Harker is a friend of Ben Ward, and with a recommendation to visit us at our regular Cheshire Folk Sunday session, we loved his songs and his unique guitar style, so you get to enjoy listening to him on our Cheshire Folk stage, see what you think.

Ian F Ball is also a newcomer to Cheshire Folk, but I heard through the grapevine that he sings a good song or two and this is what he says, ‘I don’t sing songs that people want, I sing songs that people didn’t know they wanted, using guitar, bouzouki, melodeon, mandolin, whistle and, of course, voice, songs that tell a story.’ I look forward to hearing Ian on the Cheshire Folk stage. 

Paul Walker & Karen Pfeiffer “With two grand voices – individually and in harmony” (Folker-German Folk Magazine), I can tell you that is true, Paul and Karen offer a versatile miscellany of self-penned and imaginatively arranged songs, delivered with guitar, woodwind instrumentation. A warm welcome to our stage Karen and Paul.

Nigel Hammill is a great friend and character who brings a wealth of experience of the folk scene from his homeland in the North East, and from his travels far and wide which he shares in the songs he’s written, many in collaboration with other great songwriters. Nigel and his current set of friends can be found at the Leathers Smithy pub in Macclesfield once a month and after a hearty meal, he hosts a lively session and sing-around.

Graham Bell, a good friend of Cheshire Folk and who also hails from the North East where folk songs tell tale of that strong tradition. Graham, an award winning cattle judge brings songs forth with a passion and a humour and a love of his homeland and in the same breath and with a twinkle in his eye, tells tales of his working life with the cattle that he loves, throw in the odd rampant tup and a bulling heifer and you utterly joyous stories of his life in poem and song.

Gareth Williams, our very own folk troubadour, sometimes he’s the Jasmine Allen estate, sometimes he’s something else, well we welcome him to the stage in whatever guise he chooses. His self-penned songs are always fun well written and meant to be enjoyed.  

Jonathan Day, as others say, “Jonathan Day is a musician of movement and of place – an artist who, whether through the experience of travel or through deep contemplation of his surroundings, has come to terms with his place in the world – and it is utterly beautiful.” Thomas Blake, Folk Radio UK. Perhaps it is that Jonathan brings art and music together in that space where contemporary, folk music and world music come together. Our Cheshire Folk stage gets to enjoy that space!

Eddie and The Waves Collective
Eddie Ogle fronts this band of folk led musicians all performers from the London and Bristol folk scene. Very much looking forward to this collaboration specially for Folk at the Lock.

Narrowboat Folk are Mark Percival and Matt Kenrick. Mark has been a stalwart of the Folk and Boat session and song scene for many years, and Matt is a relative newcomer and is turning into an important folk singer in his own right. Self-penned songs of his narrow boat family history and with Marks experience and guidance, this makes for a very interesting duo.

Uncle Pleb, I call them the boys from Bollington, and they are a very accomplished duo. Excellent well written songs and pleasant harmonies, who also happen to run Bollington Folk club. Well worth a visit!

Arthur Marshall, I may be biased, but I find Arthur’s songs utterly delightful, his humour and his intelligent lyrics are a true joy, so pleased he’ll be with us on the Cheshire Folk stage.

Simon Eales, Simon sings the blues, amongst other things, he also tells tales in song and remembers words in some spectacular fashion which is a skill in itself! Welcome back Simon!

Pete Latham, my favourite blues player from Stoke, Pete and I go back to the early Middlewich Folk and Boat festival days, where he was performing with his band, the Barrelhouse Dukes. He knows the blues does Pete and brings them to the stage with a little history and a lot of soul to the music he enjoys playing.

Cerulean is the duo, Carl Corbett and Helen, performing folk and pop classics and original material. Welcome to the Cheshire Folk stage for the first time.

Eddie Ogle, you all know Eddie as the multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, musician and my son who is also one of the best sound engineers I know, I do hope we can release him from behind the desk over the weekend and onto the stage to play something for us and with us. Eddie Ogle and Zac are the Sound and Waves Collective for us this weekend.

Liz Rosenfield, that’s me, organiser of Folk at the Lock, mostly known (and delighted to be) Eddie’s mum, as well as Sam and Harry’s mum! Festival organiser, experienced backstage volunteer at other folk festivals, 20 years as folk club organiser, recently retired from the day job to play more guitar and sing more myself and with singing husband David Giles as Bitter and Twisted.

This is our third year of Folk at the Lock. With huge thanks to Martin Mosely and the team at the Kings Lock, we are so looking forward to filling the tent with wonderful music.

Let’s make it a weekend of live music to remember, please come along and be our audience!