ELLA JANES

Independent singer-songwriter Ella Janes built a loyal following busking on the streets of her hometown Winchester, following in the footsteps of Simon & Garfunkel and French songstress Françoise Hardy with her romantically contemplative songwriting, nostalgic lyrics and finger-style guitar playing. She has performed at two TEDx events and opened for Jools Holland on his 2018 UK tour (finishing with a show at the Royal Albert Hall in London), before launching a Kickstarter campaign the following year to fund her debut album.

Successfully crowdfunded by the fanbase she built busking in Winchester, opening for Jools Holland and circling Berlin’s folk scene, Ella’s long-awaited debut (released 2020) is a narrative of heartache, letting go and ultimately: acceptance. The album revisits her time living abroad in Nantes (France) and features an original song in French, inspired by the likes of Edith Piaf, Barbara and Jaques Brel. Ella currently resides in Oxford and is recording music for a forthcoming EP.

BURR ISLAND

Burr Island are an alternative Indie Folk duo, from the West Country. Their close harmonies are complemented by introspective lyrics as they take you on an intimate, melodic journey in search of meaning and value.

The duo, comprised of best friends Tom England and Oskar Porter, explore themes of growth, beauty and truth searching in their music. The pair take their inspiration from the works of Paul McCartney, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Nick Drake, The Beach Boys and Cat Stevens, as well as modern artists like Johnny Flynn, Fleet Foxes and Big Thief.

Often described as a modern day Simon & Garfunkel, the West Country pair grew from strength to strength in 2022 with several headline shows, plus recording at Kundalini Studios in Devon with Steve Cradock (Ocean Colour Scene, The Specials). Last September, they supported Steve Pilgrim and Paul Weller at Union Chapel in London, before embarking on their biggest venture yet, a UK tour with Ocean Colour Scene, playing at multiple O2 Academy venues and music halls.

GARY STEWART

Gary Stewart is a singer/songwriter from Perthshire, now living in York. Stewart writes songs in the Folk/Pop vein and is influenced by the Folk Artists of the ’60’s and ’70’s (Paul Simon/James Taylor/The Eagles/Joni Mitchell/Carole King). The Scottish Songsmith has released four Albums to date, his latest, ‘Lost, Now Found’,self-recorded, produced and released in June 2021. The debut single, ‘Leopard’ received steady A-List radio play on YO1 Radio, BBC Radio Scotland and Amazing Radio and the second single, ‘Hot To Trot’, features backing vocals from Rosie Doonan (Birdy/Peter Gabriel). The left-hander is also no stranger to the Festival circuit, having played Kendal Calling, Green Man and Shrewsbury Festivals to name but a few.

When not performing his own music, the multi-instrumentalist busies himself playing drums for Hope & Social and bass for Leeds-based Fleetwood Mac Tribute, Weetwood Mac(ex-Ellen & The Escapades). He also fronts his own reworking of Paul Simon’s Classic Album, ‘Graceland’, with a seven-piece band who have played many a Theatre and Festival, including Shrewsbury, Towersey, Costa Del Folk, Moonbeams and Underneath The Stars.