To encourage, promote and support live performance, especially that which is rooted in the traditions of the area, in June 2006, Weymouth Folk Festival staged its first outdoor concert on the back of a flat-bed lorry in Hope Square. This year, the “Harbourside Stage” will be devoted to “Made in Dorset”. With that in mind, it is hoped, that you will enjoy a selection of what Dorset has to offer in 2023.
Porter Black
Dorset based band; playing a wide range of music in their unique Folk/Celtic style. Porter Black are a Folk band with modern influences and a clear grounding in Irish and British traditional.
Bere Essentials
The Bere Essentials are a band playing mostly old Americana tunes, Bluegrass, Western Swing, country and the odd pop tune with a smile. Featuring 5 string banjo along with vocals, guitars, fiddle and bass they are essentially bluegrass and beer. #BluegrassAndBeyond.
Chimney Fish
Highly original and entertaining duo. Moving effortlessly between folksy ballads, rock n roll, jazz, and blues. Their original songs are funny and honest with a breathless range of chords and keys, whilst the clear chemistry between them keeps you engaged from start to finish.
MoonFleet the Band
MoonFleet are a 6/7 piece group of talented musicians from Weymouth and the surrounding areas, actually not far from the atmospheric Moonfleet.
They play an eclectic selection of Music from Folk, Rock and Traditional accompanied by Guitars, Banjo, Violin, Accordion and Bass mixed in with plenty of Harmony Vocals.
Weymouth Ukuleleans
The Weymouth Ukuleleans are a group of like minded people who were brought together by their shared enthusiasm of the ukulele.
Beginning with weekly ukulele jam sessions the group formed in 2013 for an initial series of Christmas Charity Events.
The groups mantra of “Strum for Fun” seems to have captured the public’s affections and with their infectious sound of foot tapping, sing along family entertainment the group are going from strength to strength and can be seen sharing the fun of the ukulele at many local festivals and events.
Boodle
With Boodle you get a range of songs that are as varied as their instrumentation. Influenced by blues, folk and jazz with a nod to country, Kit Stone, Greg Baker, Steve Old, John Forsdyke and Pauline Clenshaw effortlessly blend vocals, guitars, mandolin, clarinet, resonator, harmonica, string bass and occasionally ukulele. Boodle bring you music that will set your feet tapping, get your voice ringing and make you happy. What more could you want?
HICKORY MOON
Americana String Band – We play traditional and contemporary American music using acoustic stringed instruments. The repertoire encompasses early American folk songs, popular contemporary and rock songs from the 60’s thru 70’s 80’s and 90’s, featuring multi-part vocal harmonies. They are a five piece band with the following line up. The Band is based across Dorset/Hampshire/Wiltshire.
On Reflection
On Reflection are John Hilton and Bob Morley. They have been playing on the acoustic circuit in Weymouth for the last ten years specialising in cover versions from a wide spectrum of music, from folk to jazz; 60’s, 70’s and contemporary; anything with a catchy tune and an interesting rhythm. Ensuring that the emphasis is on fun they bring sympathetic harmonies to all their songs. Guitar, ukulele, saxophone, whistle and harmonica are their weapons of choice.
Tree Fellahs
The Tree Fellahs can perhaps best be described as a “loose arrangement” of traditional style musicians, with Mike McDaid on piano accordion and Paul Openshaw on guitar, flanked in 2023, by Dave Newson on bass and Clare Tarling on fiddle and Caller Teresa Williams. In various guises, since 2006, they have combined their talents to support the festival in whatever way they have been able. This has included fund raisers, ceilidhs, music sessions and workshops. They have been described as “Something more than a ceilidh band with music, which is guaranteed to set your feet tapping”.
State of Undress
From Cornwall to Scotland, State of Undress have been taking stages by storm for the past 17 years with their exuberant and infectious fiddle-fuelled music. Performances include Glastonbury, Sidmouth FolkWeek, Looe Music Festival, Swanage Folk Festival, Wessex Folk Festival, Saltburn Folk Festival and The Tall Ships Festival in Waterford, Ireland. With original songs that embrace the thought-provoking, joyous and shamelessly foot-tapping, plus traditional songs played in their own idiosyncratic style, State of Undress promise you a rollercoaster of a gig! They’re delighted to be back at this year’s Wessex Folk Festival.
Bimbling
The definition of “bimbling”, is to amble in a contented but somewhat detached manner with vague intent on a destination, but it does not stop there. Bimbling is also a delightful Dorset Duo who play a broad range of material including covers and original songs to the accompaniment of guitar and whistle.
Bridport Broadsides
Are a 20 strong collective of spuriously titled gentlemen, who have a common desire to enchant the world with their vocal excellence and sparkling wit, through the rendition of shanties, nautical songs and stories.
The Wild Rover Set
The Wild Rover Set is a band drawn from the Wessex Folk Nite session. The core of four bring in some friends to big up the sound and help the aged. The band has appeared at the festival several times in the last two decades and has found a spot for an hour of songs and tunes. Playing music that folkies and non-folkies alike will have imprinted in their heads from days of yore. Music from the many folk bands who, over the years, brought popular music of the folk gendre to the world. Songs you won’t hear in Folk Clubs will feature and you will be amazed how many choruses you will know and hopefully sing along with. An ideal warm up for the Survivors session.
