Panic Shack
Romi, Sarah, Emily, and Meg were fed up of music being a members-only club at best and a phallocracy at its worst, so in 2018, they decided to do something about it. Cue, Panic Shack. Armed with brash, witty lyrics and killer hooks, they crashed through the UK music scene with a tidal wave of ear-crunching noise. Immediately building up a reputation for their raw, unapologetic live shows and off-kilter songs, Panic Shack prove that DIY does it better.
Since their inception it's been non-stop for this Welsh punk quintet. With support from BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 6 Music, Huw Stephens, Jack Saunders, Radio X, Bob Vylan, it's clear that this band have started something special.
Having already played prestigious stages at Green Man Festival, Liverpool Sound City, Cardiff Castle, and 2000 Trees Festival, and joined bands like The Wytches, Grandma's House, and Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard on stages across the UK, Panic Shack are only going to continue to create unhinged, Earth-shattering music (until, of course, they're rich enough to be sipping champagne after taking a dip in the pool at their mansions).
Vraell
In association with Cambridge Folk Festival
Vraell (real name Alessio Scozzaro) is a classically trained London-based musician who has been releasing music under the 'Vraell' moniker since early 2019, rapidly building up an online audience for his ethereal sounds. His songs such as "Between" have recently become viral sensations as well as being used by BBC Earth.
Jeffrey Lewis & The Voltage
In association with Cambridge Folk Festival
One snowy February day in 1963, Bob Dylan and Suze Rotolo were photographed in New York City for the cover of "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" LP, around the corner from Dylan's 4th Street apartment. 60 years later, lifelong 4th St resident Jeffrey Lewis had the idea to try to take the same chilly photo but with no pants on, to prove himself "even more" freewheelin' than Bob! This plan was foiled by global warming, as New York City winters no longer offer snowy street photo ops, but at least Jeffrey tried.
While the album cover might be a native New Yorker's neighbourhood joke, it also serves to throw down the gauntlet to modern song-smiths, as if to point out that nobody in contemporary song-writing can quite fill Jeffrey's shoes (barefoot or not). If you thought 2019's "Bad Wiring" was an unimprovable high-watermark of the Jeffrey Lewis 20-year discography, prepare to be shook all over again. The range of moods, situations, wordplay and styles here is effortlessly breath-taking, and if you aren't transported on ten different emotional rollercoasters by the ten songs on this album then you might just be a Chat GPT replicant-bot.
Beats & Rhymes: Fliptrix
As one of the most influential players in the UK scene as a solo artist, one-quarter of The Four Owls and founder & CEO of High Focus Records, Fliptrix continues to ascend.
From a basement studio in Camberwell to living off-grid in the Portuguese mountains, Fliptrix has always manifested his dreams in the music he makes. His many adventures across the world and standout collaborations with a long list of like-minded music makers such as DJ Premier and Greentea Peng are significant highlights, however, they were always part of the panorama; Fliptrix's dedication and laser-guided focus key pillars of his ongoing legacy.
Having recognised music as an extremely powerful medium from an early age, Fliptrix seeks to spread positivity and light through his creations; with messaging and meaning taking centre stage at every turn. He writes songs to further himself as an individual, expanding his knowledge album-on-album, with the aim of making a difference to the lives of those who listen.
£1 from every ticket goes to Cam Skate, who run Cambridge's volunteer run indoor skate park
John Bramwell (I Am Kloot)
As the singer in I Am Kloot from 1999 to 2014, John Bramwell achieved a Mercury Prize nomination for 2010's The Sky At Night, a Top 10 chart position for 2013's Let It All In, numerous UK and European tours and a triumphant farewell at the Queen Elizabeth Hall with an orchestra in 2014. Now, as a solo artist, he's travelling a very different path, his stunning new album The Light Fantastic is almost a complete U-turn from his Kloot-days. Darker clouds have been banished, there are strings and four-part harmonies (a warming development, since Kloot never had any backing vocals) and a dozen gloriously exhilarating, beautifully crafted and observed songs about life, humanity, the universe and everything. As John puts it, 'It's been great to find the joy of making music once again. These are the most uplifting songs of my career.'
Stanleys
Fresh from supporting Richard Ashcroft and touring with both Shed Seven and Cast, the Wigan four-piece Stanleys are coming to the Portland Arms, Cambridge, in May.
Having also already been on the road with the likes of The Libertines, The Lathums, The Sherlocks, Jamie Webster, The View, The Rifles and Inspiral Carpets, it's only a matter of time before the Stanleys are as well-known across the UK, as they are across Manchester and the North-West. Their recent headline show at the 950 capacity Manchester Academy 2, sold out in minutes!
Stanleys
Fresh from supporting Richard Ashcroft and touring with both Shed Seven and Cast, the Wigan four-piece Stanleys are coming to the Met Lounge, Peterborough, in May.
Having also already been on the road with the likes of The Libertines, The Lathums, The Sherlocks, Jamie Webster, The View, The Rifles and Inspiral Carpets, it's only a matter of time before the Stanleys are as well-known across the UK, as they are across Manchester and the North-West. Their recent headline show at the 950 capacity Manchester Academy 2, sold out in minutes!
Throwing Muses
Throwing Muses - Moonlight Concessions European Tour 2025
Kristin Hersh brings the Throwing Muses live show to Europe in Spring 2025.
Their first tour since 2011, the 'Muses will embark on a 2025 European tour as a three-piece, fronted by Kristin Hersh.
Kristin Hersh remains one of the most unique and singular talents of her generation, a celebrated and gifted writer as well as relentlessly-touring musician.
Throwing Muses-2025 finds Hersh going back to where it all began, with nearly 40 years of Muses-history behind them 2025 marks a new chapter in the project.
A very rare opportunity to witness one of the great cult American rock bands, we look forward to presenting the 'Muses on their intimate European adventure.
Amelia Coburn
"Framed by tradition but totally distinct" - Clash Magazine
"This one is utterly unique" - Far Out Magazine
"Amazing and really different" - Paul Weller
"Songs that feel like centuries old fairy tales" - Shindig! Magazine
Amelia Coburn is darkness and light. Her acclaimed debut album "Between The Moon And the Milkman", produced by Bill Ryder-Jones, showcases her as a truly singular voice in the world of music.
Unbound by one mood or modern trends she pairs daring but instantly memorable melodies with unusual chord movements and exquisite arrangements. Populated by the people and places she has encountered on her global travels and in the darker corners of literature and art Amelia views her songs as a soundtrack to her stream-of-consciousness, "opening up new paths, new clearings and new valleys with every listen".
Stanleys
Fresh from supporting Richard Ashcroft and touring with both Shed Seven and Cast, the Wigan four-piece Stanleys are coming to the Waterfront Studio, Norwich, in May.
Having also already been on the road with the likes of The Libertines, The Lathums, The Sherlocks, Jamie Webster, The View, The Rifles and Inspiral Carpets, it's only a matter of time before the Stanleys are as well-known across the UK, as they are across Manchester and the North-West. Their recent headline show at the 950 capacity Manchester Academy 2, sold out in minutes!
Gurriers
Taking their name from an antiquated and somewhat charming Irish term for lout, ruffian, or street urchin, Gurriers formed in January 2020, initially comprising Dan Hoff on lead vocals, Ben O'Neill on guitar and backing vocals, Mark MacCormack on guitar, Pierce O'Callaghan on drums and Emmet White on bass, who has since amicably left the band and been replaced by Charlie McCarthy.
Hailing from various parts of Ireland, Gurriers met in Dublin. They believed they were destined to connect creatively in a meaningful way, so they formed a band. We don't need to dwell too much on how events in early 2020 temporarily stalled their progress. "All we wanted to do was be back in a room together and practice," Dan Hoff recalls. "I remember one stage screaming into my pillow because of the extended lockdowns."
Instead of doom scrolling on their phones, baking banana bread, or bingeing on box sets, Gurriers seized an opportunity to hone their vision and advance their ambition. Over numerous Zoom calls, they meticulously discussed every single aspect of the band, plotting strategies at a time when venues, studios, and rehearsal rooms were shuttered shut. The silence spurned the fledgling group on to make a bigger, more beautifully abrasive noise.
Price includes a 50p venue levy
Miki Berenyi Trio
Miki Berenyi Trio are Miki Berenyi on vocals/guitar (Lush), Kevin 'Moose' McKillop on guitar (Moose) and Oliver Cherer (Gilroy Mere, Aircooled). The three musicians first worked together during Piroshka's 2021 tour; Miki and Kevin being founder members, Oliver coming in on bass to replace Mick Conroy (Modern English) who had moved to the US.
When the global pandemic made touring impossible, Miki spent the lockdown months writing her memoir, "Fingers Crossed", released in 2022 to widespread acclaim. To provide some musical accompaniment for the string of book events and signings, Miki Berenyi Trio was formed.
The band has developed a momentum of its own, touring with the Wedding Present and Gang of Four and sold out London co-headline show with Aircooled.
Price includes a 50p venue levy
Prima Queen
"Prima Queen's ethereal sound, which shimmers with delicate vocal interplay and glacial instrumentation, takes them to regal heights" - NME
Transatlantic indie experts Prima Queen announce debut LP "The Prize", packed with effusive, empathic melodies, "The Prize" represents a fresh era for a band primed and ready to truly assert their individuality. The songs of Louise Macphail and Kristin McFadden play like a love letter to the radical power of friendship; to the fans who have revelled in the band's bitingly charismatic storytelling, qualities which are showcased vividly throughout their entire debut record.
Described, accurately, by McFadden as an album that 'screams empowerment and strength,' "The Prize" uses the pair's fateful connection as a North Star for their shared journey towards growth. Tapping into the shimmering pop sensibilities of Haim and Jenny Lewis, an openness of spirit defines the 12 tracks, partly inspired by the euphoria the group experienced on stage over the past year while touring with the likes of Olivia Dean, Wet Leg and Whitney.
Having built a glowing live reputation through appearances at the likes of Glastonbury, SXSW and Pitchfork Paris in recent times, Prima Queen have already attracted plaudits from all corners of the press landscape (The Guardian, The I Paper, The Independent, The Times, NME, DIY, Dork, The Line Of Best Fit, Clash), whilst their previous five singles have all landed on the BBC 6 Music playlist (Steve Lamacq, Huw Stephens, Lauren Laverne, Craig Charles) to widespread praise.
Price includes a 50p venue levy
Shonen Knife
Shonen Knife's front girl Naoko was inspired to form the band by Beatles, Ramones, Buzzcocks etc. in Osaka on December 30, 1981. The origin of the band name is an old brand name of a pencil sharpener knife.
Their first album "Burning Farm", released on Zero Records in Japan in 1983, was reissued on legendary American label K Records in 1985.
Their one and only unique sound got popular in North America, UK and Europe; and their first major album "Let's Knife" was released in Japan, the US and UK in 1992.
Shonen Knife keeps on releasing their rockin' albums and touring constantly worldwide!
Price includes a 50p venue levy
C Duncan
Born and raised in Glasgow by two classical musicians, Chris studied piano and viola before taking up guitar, bass, and drums in his teens; eventually studying music composition at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. After graduating he began work on his first album, writing and recording everything from home.
His Mercury nominated debut "Architect" was released in 2015 and after a spell of touring the UK and Europe he returned to his home studio and began work on his Twilight Zone inspired second album "The Midnight Sun" which was released in 2016 and shortlisted for Scottish Album of the Year.
He supported Elbow on their UK and North American tour which led him to record his third album "Health" at their studio in Salford with Craig Potter, which was released in 2019 and also shortlisted for Scottish Album of the Year. Chris signed to Bella Union and released his 4th album "Alluvium" in 2022. Following this he produced records for Scottish harpist Gillian Fleetwood, and Downton Abbey actor Michael C. Fox, as well as writing music for documentaries and orchestral commissions.
Chris's new album "It's Only A Love Song" was recorded in his 'new and improved' home studio and was released in January 2025. He is also a keen artist and paints all his album artwork.
Price includes a 50p venue levy
Gasper Nali & Band
In association with Cambridge Folk Festival
"His music is simple but joyous, and totally infectious" - Songlines Magazine
"His songs are moving to hear and a spectacle to watch" - Evening Standard
Gasper Nali is a not-so-traditional babatoni player from the small town of Nkhata Bay on the shores of Lake Malawi. The babatoni is an African one-string home-made 3-metre long bass guitar, and with a stick and an empty beer bottle, together with a cow skin kick drum and catchy melodies, he creates the most amazing and danceable original Afro Beats possible!
Gasper's unique style of Kwela music has received an extraordinary amount of online attention after a video of him playing by the lake shore went viral with over 20 million views. He has been featured by CNN and in the documentary "Deep Roots Malawi", jammed with Joss Stone, appeared on Wired for Sound - Malawi, remixed by Aroop Roy for Sol Power Sounds and been played by Iggy Pop on BBC 6! His debut album, "Abale Ndikuwuzeni", roughly translates to 'People, I want to tell you'. It is a fitting title as Gasper's songs, all sung in the Malawi national language of Chichewa, talk about life and strife in the country, often including social issues such as the rich and the poor, child marriages etc.
Price includes a 50p venue levy
Andrew O'Neill's History of Punk
Following on from their award-winning GEBURAH show, occultist comedian Andrew O'Neill returns with their brand new HISTORY OF PUNK.
In 2017, Andrew toured their HISTORY OF HEAVY METAL show to critical acclaim alongside the book of the same name. In 2025, they return with another genre they're equally passionate about.
"One of the funniest comedians on the circuit at the moment... hitting new heights of comedic brilliance" - Timeout
"clever comedy for those who like their laughs original, off-kilter and cliché-free" - Three Weeks
"...comedian, metalhead, amateur occultist and musician... Sharp, artistic and unique, [their] innate confidence and fondness of absurdity leaves [their] audiences feeling full of glee" - Funhouse Comedy
Price includes a 50p venue levy
Goldblume
Cambridge's own Goldblume celebrate the tenth anniversary of their first ever show with their biggest headline gig to date.
From those humble beginnings supporting Tellison at the Corner House in 2015, the grunge and math-rock influenced three-piece have played the city's venues big and small, in addition to countless dates country-wide.
With a discography spanning two full length albums - 2018's "HUSK" and 2022's follow up "Sleep on Your Side" - as well as several EPs; Goldblume have honed their sound into something unique, yet familiar.
Jadu Heart
For nearly a decade, Jadu Heart have toiled in the liminal, endlessly explorable space between pop and the underground, following every whim wherever it took them ? from sinewy electronic funk on 2016's "Wanderflower" to lithe jazz and ambient electronic music on 2019's "Melt Away" to blissful post-shoegaze on 2020's "Hyper Romance". With 2023's anxious wall of sound "Derealised", Diva Jeffrey and Alex Headford finally felt like they had broken through to a new plane. They went on tour in America and came home buzzing. Then, they broke up. But the band stayed together.
"Post Heaven", the London duo's resplendent, wounded fourth album, finds Jeffrey and Headford in the aftermath of that seismic personal and professional event, sifting through the remnants of their relationship and putting them back together. A shimmering odyssey of warped electronic folk, fragmented rock and warm dance music, "Post Heaven" finds Jeffrey and Headford memorialising their relationship with clarity and empathy, creating a memoir in duet form along the way. Even if the pair are no longer together as a couple, they have never been stronger as a band.
Dawn Landes
In association with Cambridge Folk Festival
Dawn Landes is a North Carolina based singer-songwriter who has penned original songs for TV, film, and musical theatre (ROW on Audible). Landes has toured internationally and supported Nick Lowe, Mary Chapin Carpenter and many more. Her newest album "The Liberated Woman's Songbook" was produced by Josh Kaufman (Bonny Light Horseman) and highlights women's activism throughout history.
Price includes a 50p venue levy
Betty Boo - Boomania 35
Hip-hop pioneer and 90s icon Betty Boo is a platinum-selling, BRIT and Ivor Novello Award-winning, singer-songwriter and rapper. She is best known for her hits "Hey DJ - I Can't Dance To That Music You're Playing," "Doin' The Do" and "Where Are You Baby?" which propelled her into the spotlight in 1990. In 2022 after a 30 year hiatus, Betty Boo made an unexpected return with the critically acclaimed, radio smash filled album "Boomerang." She followed this with her 2024 UK Top 40 album, "Rip Up The Rulebook," which has been universally described as her best album to date.
35 years later, Betty Boo's hits remain deeply loved, and she is celebrating this monumental milestone with special edition re-releases of her two classic 90s albums: "Boomania" and "GRRR! It's Betty Boo."
Price includes a 50p venue levy
Josh Rouse
In association with Cambridge Folk Festival
With Brill Building wit, and a Midwestern sense of melancholy Josh Rouse has built a career that spans almost 25 years, reaching back to his acclaimed 1998 debut "Dressed Up Like Nebraska" and continuing to his breakthrough albums "1972" and "Nashville". His well-crafted and hook-laden tracks are coupled with closely-detailed, well-observed vignettes in his lyrics.
Now passing 50, Josh faces the next phase of his life. "I remember seeing Tom Waits on the cover of a magazine with the headline 'Tom Waits at 50'." Josh recalls "I was in my twenties and that seemed so far off... but he made a great record ("Mule Variations") and I hope I have too."
Price includes a 50p venue levy
The Messthetics & James Brandon Lewis
The last time drummer Brendan Canty and bassist Joe Lally were in a band together, they were the rhythmic architects for Fugazi, an organization whose decade and a half of disciplined progressivism provided a necessary bridge between the zenith of late-punk expression and everything alternative in rock that followed. In 2016, the two were enlisted by guitarist Anthony Pirog in a conspiracy to subvert and reimagine the power trio, bringing fully into the 21st Century a form that may have reached near perfection with Hendrix's Band of Gypsys on the very first day of the 1970s.
Price includes a 50p venue levy
October Drift
EARLY SHOW:
DOORS 7
THE YOUTH PLAY 7.30
OCTOBER DRIFT 8.30
"...a muscular slug of sugar-coated power rock" - Q Magazine
October Drift have gained a strong word-of-mouth following since exploding onto the music scene.
Despite the early success of their incendiary debut singles - receiving support from Steve Lamacq, John Kennedy and Q Magazine to name but a few - and a string of sold-out gigs, this band still remain something of an enigma.
October Drift's music is similarly ambiguous, characterised by their signature wall of sound guitars, soaring, ponderous vocals and driving, urgent drums.
The band have gained a reputation for delivering blistering, high-energy live shows, and we can't wait to welcome them back.
Price includes a 50p venue levy
Chastity Belt
Live Laugh Love. It's a phrase you might encounter in a certain type of cursive on the wall of a certain type of home. On the opposite end of the mood board, it's also a stick-and-poke tattoo on Chastity Belt guitarist/vocalist Julia Shapiro's left ankle (just below a highly improvised Shrek), and the title of the band's fifth album. It's fun, it's funny, but it's also sincere, not unlike the band's history - a joke that became real because it was always real - and the enduring bond that has been their band's foundation for the past 13 years.
In their decade-plus together, the four-piece - Shapiro, Lydia Lund (guitar, vocals), Gretchen Grimm (drums, vocals), and Annie Truscott (bass, vocals) - have created a resonant body of work. The early days of "Nip Slip" and "Pussy Weed Beer" (hits from their iconic debut full-length "No Regerts", which recently celebrated 10 years) and the "Cool Slut" era of 2015's "Time To Go Home" were raucous bonanzas of dry wit and self-evident feminism. A newfound gravity on 2017's "I Used to Spend So Much Time Alone" shifted the lyrical mood toward introspection as they continued to refine their trademark sound: lush intertwining guitars, meticulous rhythms, a careful balance of melancholy and optimism. Two years later, the dreamy Chastity Belt marked a renewal of vows to their musicianship and friendship, each member coming into their own as artists, convening with a fresh perspective on collaboration.
Price includes a 50p venue levy
This is the Kit
In association with Cambridge Folk Festival
In today's fast-paced mid-apocalyptic world it can feel like a waste of time to speak about time at all. Why dwell on the past when we could just live in the present because the future won't shut up about how bad it's going to be?
But with This Is The Kit, the pseudonym of songwriter / banjo strummer / pinhole camera lover / Winchester UK born Paris dweller Kate Stables, we're going to have to give time just a modicum of consideration. Because not only is Kate still here and making albums of cataclysmic honesty and welcoming tonal embraces, they are continuing to grow, which is probably the only smart way to move forward through time.
This Is The Kit's music places companionship at a premium, so being welcomed into its space feels like an obvious privilege, on record and in concert hall with her stellar supporting cast of Rozi Plain (bass), Jamie Whitby-Coles (drums) and Neil Smith (guitar). And at this current point in our confusing history, continuing to be here at all, to stand tall and make music to gather to, that's a heroic act. Joyful survival as an act of time-wasting, I'll take that any day of the week. Look to This Is The Kit to spend at least one day of your week this year, I guarantee it will be time well wasted.
Please note: this is an early show with doors at 6.30pm and an expected finish of 9.30pm.
Bambara
"Bambara have evolved from Birthday Party-ish post punk to the more melodic Birthmarks. Letters To Sing Sing thunders along like Fontaines DC, Face Of Love's crepuscular funk is laced with MBV-style guitars while Elena's Dream haunts with Twin Peaks disquiet. An enthralling fever dream of an album. ****" - MOJO
"Birthmarks" is a reincarnation of sorts for the trio - twin brothers Reid (vocals) and Blaze Bateh (drums), alongside childhood friend William Brookshire (bass) - altogether. Five years removed from "Stray", and three from their 2022 EP "Love On My Mind", "Birthmarks" inevitably arrives with the weight of a new chapter after a lengthy absence. Long ago having established their brand of magnetic darkness - equally formed by the grit of their adopted New York City home and the mysterious corners of the Georgian swamps that raised them - Bambara found themselves in a period of slow, laborious evolution. Birthmarks emerges directly from the band's favoured aesthetics and themes but captures them with a new sense of sonic adventurousness and thematic subtlety, resulting in a collection of songs that are somehow both the band's most apocalyptic and most poignant.
Ziggy Alberts
Ziggy Alberts is no stranger to success, having built a dedicated global following through a combination of steadfast touring, captivating songwriting, and an independent ethos that has seen him thrive without the backing of a major label. An artist who has mastered the acoustic charm of busking and intimate venues to the electrifying energy of sold-out world stages -all as a solo act -Alberts is now entering a new phase of his artistic journey with his seventh studio album, ?New Love?, set for release in February 2025.
From his early days busking on the streets of Byron Bay, Alberts has understood the power of direct connection with his audience. His rise has been driven not only by his emotionally resonant folk songs but by his determination to bring his music directly to fans. Now a decade into his career, he?s grown his fanbase the old-fashioned way: by playing show after show, year after year, turning small rooms into sold-out venues across the globe.
In 2024, as part of his New Love World Tour, he has delivered standout performances, including headline sets at Bluesfest Byron Bay and co-headlining Australia?s SummerSalt tour with Matt Corby and James Bay. His tour has taken him across Europe, the UK, North America, Indonesia, and even into new territories like Mexico and Japan. This momentum follows his 2023 Rewind World Tour, where he performed for over 110,000 people and sold out iconic venues like London?s Eventim Apollo.
Notably, Alberts has achieved all of this as an independent artist, without the support of a major label. His commitment to creative autonomy led to the founding of his own label, Commonfolk Records, through which he?s continued to release music and grow his career on his terms. This independence has allowed Alberts to stay true to his artistic vision, taking risks that have paid off. His discography has garnered over a billion streams, with hits like ?Runaway? and ?Love Me Now? earning millions of listens, while as of October 2024 his singles ?Laps Around The Sun? and ?Runaway? achieved ARIA Triple Platinum status. Fan favourites like ?Days In The Sun? and ?Gone? and his EP ?Four Feet In The Forest? have also now received Double Platinum status; ?Hands I Can Hold? and ?Together? reaching Platinum status and another seven tracks plus his ?Land & Sea? album reaching Gold status (?Don?t Get Caught Up?, ?Heartbeat?, ?Letting Go?, ?On Hold?, ?Start Over?, ?Together (Instrumental)?, and ?Worn Out?). Alberts has also won two APRA Music Awards for Most Performed Blues and Roots Work in 2022 and 2024, solidifying his impact on the Australian music scene.
Nerina Pallot
In association with Cambridge Folk Festival
Nerina Pallot, the critically acclaimed singer-songwriter known for her heartfelt lyrics and soul-stirring melodies, has traversed an extraordinary journey. From her breakout success with Fires in the mid-2000s, which earned her Top 40 hits and nominations for both an Ivor Novello Award and a Brit Award, to collaborating with artists like Kylie Minogue, her career has been anything but ordinary.
Yet, Pallot remains grounded, her work a reflection of life's ups and downs, its beauty and heartbreak. The creation of her latest album, A Psalm for Emily Salvi, is a deeply personal endeavour.
Nerina Pallot's music transcends the superficial metrics of modern success, resonating instead on a deeper, emotional level with those who listen. Whether you've been following her for years or are just discovering her work, A Psalm for Emily Salvi is an invitation to connect with something real.
Black Country, New Road
There are few contemporary bands who can do musical reinvention quite as consistently as Black Country, New Road. From their Mercury Music Prize-nominated debut For the First Time, which touched upon everything from jazz to post-rock via klezmer music, to the art-rock meets chamber pop follow up Ants From Up There (both top 5 charting albums). Then when singer Isaac Wood amicably left shortly after, they wrote an entire set of new songs to tour which ended up on Live at Bush Hall, an album The Guardian claimed was a "magical resurgence" in a triumphant five-star review. Now, on studio album three, the band are once again building from the ground up in yet another miraculous musical transformation.
Nadia Reid
In association with Cambridge Folk Festival
Nadia Reid's "Enter Now Brightness" is an album of departure and questioning, a reminder that song-writing can transform pain, joy, thoughts, and anger into something new. "I'm so much better off now that it exists," she says. "Now feels like a new time."
Moving further from her folk roots, Reid establishes a sound distinctly her own: poised and expansive. The title, drawn from a book passage, evokes light breaking through, the feeling of stepping onto a stage, of life beginning.
A record of great beauty and change, "Enter Now Brightness" captures Reid's evolution, blending textural pop, country-leaning folk-rock, and striking emotional depth. The Guardian describes her sound as "halfway between Haim's sophisticated pop sparkle and Sharon Van Etten's full-throated songcraft."
Price includes a 50p venue levy
Heather Ferrier Trio
In association with Cambridge Folk Festival
With captivating musicianship and a sound that is unapologetically her own, Heather Ferrier is a force to be reckoned with. An "engaging talker and magnetic performer" (NARC magazine), the Stockport-born accordionist, clog dancer and composer is changing the perceptions of alt-folk and the accordion as an instrument, all on her own terms.
Her latest EP "Engine for the Sound" creates music that sets the accordion free from its stereotypes and, with an extended lineup of musicians, expresses everything Heather stands for, using powerful melodies and jazz influenced harmony. Bold, passionate and enthralling, the EP has been played on BBC Radio 6 music, well as being favourably reviewed in local and national publications.
Heather also performs as the Heather Ferrier Trio with guitarist Alasdair Paul and drummer Adam Stapleford. On stage, the trio's sound is an explosion of groove and melody that embellishes Heather's signature alt-folk style. Their combined medley of influences and genre-bending collaborations transcends the limits of contemporary instrumental folk music, employing Heather's distinct compositional style to create a show with both emotive and upbeat moments.
Price includes a 50p venue levy
Terry Reid
In 1968, when Terry Reid was only 18, Aretha Franklin remarked that "there are only three things happening in England: The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and Terry Reid." Firmly on the radar of those in the know back in those halcyon days, he still is, several decades later.
Reid's teenage years found him touring with The Rolling Stones (including their fabled 1969 American tour), Cream, Jethro Tull and Fleetwood Mac, as well as playing prestige slots at festivals such as Isle of Wight and Glastonbury. The story of him having to turn down Jimmy Page to front Led Zeppelin and recommending that he check out a certain other young singer who had recently supported him instead has become legendary. Jimmy Page and Robert Plant discuss Terry in the Led Zeppelin documentary "Becoming Led Zeppelin"
Already a singer of some repute, Reid's soulful voice and powerful vocal range also earned him the nickname 'Superlungs' following his recording in 1969 of the Donovan song "Superlungs My Supergirl" that opened his self-titled second album.
Price includes a 50p venue levy
Ye Vagabonds
In association with Cambridge Folk Festival
"A remarkable album" - Songlines
"Joyous" - Uncut
"A cavern of delights... A labyrinthine treasure trove" - The Irish Times
Brothers Brían and Diarmuid Mac Gloinn grew up playing music together around their hometown of Carlow, a small town in the southeast of Ireland. After moving to Dublin in 2012, they quickly became a staple of the live music and session scene in Ireland, playing their own original songs as well as folk songs from Ireland, Scotland, England and America.
In 2014 they came to the attention of Arbutus Yarns' music filmmaker Myles O'Reilly, whose videos gained international attention for the brothers for the first time.
In October 2017 they launched their debut, self-titled album to great acclaim. "Ye Vagabonds" comprised of harmony rich folk music, influenced by Irish traditional music, Appalachian singing, and the 1960's folk revival. It included ten mellow tracks weaved with thoughtful lyrics, thickly layered with strings and droning harmonium.
Their second album "The Hare's Lament" was released on 22nd March 2019 to huge critical acclaim. In 2019 they won the BBC Radio Two Folk Award for Best Traditional Track, and they swept the boards at the RTE Radio One Folk Awards where they won Best Traditional Track, Best Group, and Best Album.
Shiny New Model 2025
After having way too much fun at the first Shiny New Model we wanted to build on it and bring you another line up of the sharpest cuts we can find. Here's 2025's first wave:
Antony Szmierek
Manchester based hip hop artist and former teacher Antony Smierek mixes the vibe of The Streets with a more laid back attitude, and uplifting beats. The perfect way to finish the night.
Honeyglaze
South London's Honeyglaze blend Black Country, New Road-esque post rock with torch songs and motown influences to inject classic songwriting into the realm.
Lime Garden
Guitar lines twist and turn around some gloriously wonky indie pop. They've been bubbling under for a while now and look set to explode in 2025.
Grove
Fiercely political and angry, Grove mixes up furious grime and garage beats with punk. Their timely appearance with Bob Vylan a few years back coincided with the Queen's Jubilee and no-one doubted their views on the matter.
Ebbb
Probably one of the best and most insane live propositions we've seen in the last few years. Drawing in MDMA laced techno beats, the lunacy and musical exploration of Animal Collective and all with just three people on stage. You'll leave their set changed.
She's In Parties
Pop laced nu-gaze upstarts, drawing influence from 80s pioneers like The Cocteau Twins and The Cure and throwing it all in with some Tears For Fears pop sheen.
Grant-Lee Phillips
In association with Cambridge Folk Festival
This year, Grant-Lee Phillips will release his 12th solo album, the self-produced "In the Hour of Dust". It's a work that doesn't shy away from the big themes of contemporary life.
"The mood on this album is contemplative," says Phillips, "trying to find meaning in an age of confusion, feeling your way through the blinding dust of unreality."
"In the Hour of Dust" is also a highly intimate affair; both in its musical presentation and the highly personal - often autobiographical - lyrics in the songs, all set, the songwriter admits, "against this larger discordant backdrop." Audiences first discovered Phillips' thoughtful, literate song-writing in context of the rock band Grant Lee Buffalo, a trio which found success with the 1993 debut "Fuzzy". The title track catapulted the group to international recognition. Grant Lee Buffalo followed up "Fuzzy" with 1994's "Mighty Joe Moon" (an album featuring the modern rock hit "Mockingbirds") etching a distinct mark, while transcending the era. Beginning with his 2000 solo debut "Ladies' Love Oracle", Phillips opened another chapter in his career, as a folk- and Americana-focused artist crafting songs and stories rich with details and humanity. At this precise moment, Phillips was invited to join the cast of a burgeoning television series. The Gilmore Girls would enjoy lasting syndication and multi-generational embrace, introducing Phillips, 'the Town Troubadour' to a new audience.
Reflects Phillips "I don't see songs of love and songs of protest as being so far apart, really. It's all about recognising the value of connection in a disconnected time."
Please note this is an early show, with doors at 5pm and an expected finish of 9pm.
Price includes 50p venue levy
Lady Maisery
In association with Cambridge Folk Festival
Individually three multi award-winning artists, Lady Maisery form a unified voice, carrying stories of sisterhood, human struggle, the joy of living and the vitality of song with the "freshest possible take on traditional music" (Folk Radio UK). Their long-standing effervescent collaboration has been described as "adventurous and beautiful" (Mark Radcliffe, Radio 2) "exquisite and thrilling" (The Guardian) with "a generosity of spirit and joie de vivre that seems to emanate from every minute of their recorded output as well as from their exuberant live shows" (Folk Radio UK).
Their fifth studio album "Tender" was released at the end of 2022 to far-reaching acclaim. An arresting record exploring the power in vulnerability, the tenderness of collective wounds and the strength in kindness, it was hailed "a beguiling blend of ancient and modern" (The Times) and "both nurturing and raw, a sensitive response to the times we are living in" (Daily Info).
David Ford
In association with Cambridge Folk Festival
"Unmissable. 5 stars" - The Guardian
"One of Britain's best. 5 stars" - The Times
"Puts everything into every word" - The LA Times
"David Ford is the eternal thrill of a young man going way too far and pulling it off" - Word Magazine
David Ford's 2005 debut album "I Sincerely Apologise For All The Trouble I've Caused" took the music world quite unawares.
Understated but ambitious, it is a collection of honest, tender, visceral moments recorded in a Sussex basement that would go on to receive worldwide acclaim and be declared one of the 'Albums of the Year' by major publications on both sides of the Atlantic.
Twenty years on, Ford returns to the road to revisit the album that kicked open every door to the music industry and to tell the story of how, one by one, he carefully closed them all.
Featuring special guest performers as well as Ford's renowned feats of multi-instrumentalism, this celebration of "I Sincerely Apologise For All The Trouble I've Caused" is a rare chance to see the album performed in its entirety, along with selected highlights from the illustrious David Ford songbook.
Tom Robinson with Adam Phillips
Tom Robinson presents an evening of songs and stories from fifty years wandering the wilder shores of the Record Industry. Classic hits such as War Baby, Up Against The Wall, and 2-4-6-8 Motorway rub shoulders with a Radio 1 ban for being Glad To be Gay, rocking against racism with The Clash, writing songs with Elton John, headlining Glasto with Peter Gabriel, drug smuggling in East Germany, two nervous breakdowns and a year in tabloid hell after falling in love with a woman. Plus fan favourites from his vast back catalogue, spanning Café Society in 1975 to his acclaimed 2015 comeback album Only The Now.
Tom Robinson with Adam Phillips
Tom Robinson presents an evening of songs and stories from fifty years wandering the wilder shores of the Record Industry. Classic hits such as War Baby, Up Against The Wall, and 2-4-6-8 Motorway rub shoulders with a Radio 1 ban for being Glad To be Gay, rocking against racism with The Clash, writing songs with Elton John, headlining Glasto with Peter Gabriel, drug smuggling in East Germany, two nervous breakdowns and a year in tabloid hell after falling in love with a woman. Plus fan favourites from his vast back catalogue, spanning Café Society in 1975 to his acclaimed 2015 comeback album Only The Now.
Baskery
In association with Cambridge Folk Festival
The queens of banjopunk, three Swedish sisters by the name of Baskery, who've played music since they were old enough to hold an instrument. Baskery play a combination of classic 'roots music and Americana' with a twist of rule breaking punk turn this much loved style of music on it's head. Their sound oozes style and playfulness and has helped them accrue a number of plaudits and accolades.
The first album, "Fall Among Thieves" (2008) was recorded in Stockholm, co-produced by Lasse Mårtén (Pink; Peter, Bjorn and John; Kelly Clarkson; Lykke Li; Primal Scream ). It quickly established them as an act that people took seriously. In the years that followed they've released several albums and EPs working with the likes of Blackpete (Depeche Mode; Joe Jackson; Peter Fox), Matt Wignall (Cold War Kids; J. Roddy Walston; Wargirl) and were also signed by Dan McCarroll (President and A&R) to Warner Music. "Coyote & Sirens" was released in October 2018, produced and engineered by Andrew Dawson (Kanye West; Rolling Stones; f.u.n; The Revivalists).
On the live scene Baskery are experienced in putting on a show have played over 400 of their own in 2015 the sisters were invited to join legendary artist Robbie Williams as opener and special guests on his arena-tour throughout Europe. Later the same year they also toured the US with Gary Clark Jr and Brandi Carlile and the festival requests roll in; Colours of Ostrava, Bonnaroo, Utopiafest, Newport Folk Festival, Arroyo Seco and Bottlerock.
Price includes a 50p venue levy
Mac DeMarco
For tickets head to https://www.cornex.co.uk/events/mac-demarco
Mac DeMarco is a Canadian self-produced multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and recording artist. Raised in Edmonton, Alberta, and currently residing in Los Angeles, California.
Hotline TNT
Will Anderson needed to call a timeout. It was October 2024, in the studio of modern DIY hero Amos Pitsch, clear across Wisconsin from the small town where Anderson was raised. As he has done for every increasingly absorbing Hotline TNT album, Anderson arrived at the studio with eight, maybe nine demos he liked, leaving himself room not only to expand their sound but to write a few tracks in the room, too. But this time, and for the first time, the quartet that had toured for the last 10 months as Hotline TNT had come with Anderson, somewhat unexpectedly. He had intended to make one more album his way - holing up with a producer and building songs piece by piece, as he'd done for the 2023 breakthrough "Cartwheel" - before making Hotline TNT a full-band affair in the future. But guitarist Lucky Hunter, bassist Haylen Trammel, and drummer Mike Ralston wanted in. Anderson relented.
As they cycled repeatedly through one of Anderson's demos, they couldn't unlock the way to play it, the power and pattern that Hunter's and Anderson's guitars needed to share. When Hunter began playing a part that had nothing to do with that song, Anderson dipped, heading upstairs with his guitar in a spell of mild pique and fatigue. When he emerged a few hours later, he'd written "The Scene", a spiralling-and-stomping new song about wanting someone to throw a tantrum on your behalf. The rest of Hotline TNT, meanwhile, had written a lunging and moody instrumental, guitars pulled as tightly as razor wire against Motorik drums. Anderson resisted at first but then helped finish "Break Right". Both songs are now tentpoles of Raspberry Moon, the most sweeping and compelling Hotline TNT album to date and, crucially, the first built by a full band. Oh, the other song they couldn't get right? No one remembers its name.
Price includes a 50p venue levy
Young Knives
Ever faithful to their manifesto "Young Knives: not a band, not music, not art", brothers Henry Dartnall and The House of Lords have been turning out weirdly catchy records since the start of the millennium. Initially riding the wave of the mid 2000's British post-punk resurgence with a string of Indie disco classics and top 20 trojan horse hits, they quickly transcended any genre thrown at them by moving into more experimental electronica and noise rock in the 2010's.
This evolution culminated in the release of the critically received "Barbarians" in 2020. Their blues quashing live-streams and Spotify hacking experiments making them self-proclaimed saviours of the pandemic era. The next year sees them back with new and totally unique material as they prepare to sneak their way back into your sub-conscious once again.
Price includes a 50p venue levy
Daft Funk Live
Daft Funk Live are one of the world's most prestigious Daft Punk tribute bands: diligently constructing a 'live' rendition of Daft Punk's legendary performances and appearances. They incorporate their own synchronised light shows together with live instruments to give a truly immersive and unique experience. Their stage production is meticulously crafted, paying the utmost respect to the infamous and illusive Robots.
"...totally superb, an incredibly detailed performance giving you a Daft Punk explosion of sound and colour. Five stars." - Max Taylor
(Groove Armada, Mika, The Bays, Creepy Neighbour)
The Orchestra (For Now)
In association with Cambridge Folk Festival
Hotly-tipped London-based seven piece The Orchestra (For Now) have released their first ever song "Wake Robin".
Winners of this year's edition of Green Man Rising, opening the main stage at the acclaimed tastemaker festival, and fresh off the back of two sold out shows at London's St Pancras Old Church, the band have also just announced their next London headline at the ICA on 10th April.
"Wake Robin" should not be the work of a band releasing their first song. A dextrous multi-limbed assault on the senses, "Wake Robin" is an 8 minute odyssey, welding orchestral movements with rapid fire drumming and a preacher on the mountain top vocal delivery. The Orchestra (For Now) emphatically bring all these strands together with a confidence and delivery that is a testament to their months of live experience and careful development of their sound.
"The Orchestra (For Now) are further cementing their prime position among next year's ones to watch." - DIY Magazine
"It feels no exaggeration to say that the bands debut is one of the most highly anticipated of the year." - So Young
"A completely distinctive sound, hugely progressive in scope and tone." - Clash Magazine
Price includes a 50p venue levy.
Jim Moray
Should you care to look back over the past two decades of British folk music, one musician in particular stands out for having a singular, idiosyncratic vision that has rarely wavered in style and substance. Jim Moray may have garnered initial attention for his digitally-driven approach to traditional music, but reflecting on his seven albums and numerous production credits it's clear that imagination and invention are the real cornerstones of his work. The cinematic vision of albums such as "Skulk" (2012), "Upcetera" (2016), and his game-changing debut "Sweet England" (2003) show just how far the old songs can be taken. His arrangements of traditional songs such as "Gilderoy", "Horkstow Grange" and "Fair Margaret and Sweet William" are regarded as amongst the classics of the folk genre, while his treatment of the ballad "Lord Douglas" has become a must-learn for fingerstyle guitarists.