River Festival Biographies and Weblinks: !The Swing Museum: The Swing Museum are a perfect compliment to any event that would benefit from the sophisticated, refined music of the 30’s and 40’s. The quartet play the innovative compositions of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli who were influenced by both popular jazz and formal classical music. The quartet also perform their own original compositions influenced by Gypsy Jazz. An atmospheric event with the Swing Museum will give you a delicious sense of nostalgia and an opportunity to sing and dance to some !old classics like “Summertime” and “It don’t mean a thing (if it aint got that swing)”. Since forming in May 2007, this bunch of ukulele enthusiasts have discovered the amazing amount of fulfilment and enjoyment that can be gained from playing 'figure-of-eight' wooden ukuleles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoYtwvDZfHs

Jabba Cartel:

Jabba Cartel mix classical Spanish guitar and acoustic beats into a danceable journey of songs and instrumentals. Percussionist Tom Voce creates a stylish blend of acoustic drum’n bass-trip-hop-latin rhythms for the Jabbas, previously recording on the Rhythms Del Mundo Cuban cover project with The Killers and Zucchero, and playing on the festival circuit with folk trance outfit Le Cod Afrique. Singer, songwriter and bassist Carol Whitworth roots the Cartel with her dubby bass and new English folk originals while the compelling guitar arrangements of Adam Jurewicz tell the story when the words don’t. Completing the line-up are Leo Steeds on Moog and Rhodes, Greg Mcdonnel on pandeiro and Darren Povey on tabla, giving that extra rhythmic and harmonic boost. jabbacartel.bandcamp.com www.facebook.com/jabbacartel

Caitlin D Project:

By chance or by design - things generally don't happen unless you provide a catalyst. Growing up and learning their respective musical trades a stones throw apart, Duncan and Dave’s paths did not actually cross until nearing their half century. Once contact was established, exploring various musical journeys included a collaboration with Caitlin, a relative of Duncan from London’s East End, who was wandering through various musical pastures with a voice as perfect as the London skyline, and as colourful as a New England fall. Together, in the confines of the smallest rehearsal space (Duncan‘s utility room), they created something special. In front of their first audience, they created magic, the effortless magic that artists spend a lifetime seeking, and rarely achieve and d’ya wanna know what folks - this is just the start - fasten your seatbelts and come along for the ride so what was the catalyst, I can hear you cry - well it could be the internet, it could be your favourite open mic night, it could be magic or it might just be fate. https://www.facebook.com/thecaitlindproject/info ! ! ! Bunsen Honey: !“Like being hit over the head with a gorgeous velvet hammer!” - Metal Hammer Magazine Bunsen Honey come crashing out of Andrew Gold's downstairs closet, startled and slightly jet-lagged, a time capsule of 70s AM radio americana that's been scuzzed out of all recognition by distorted piano, !thumping bass and thrashing drums. This piano-rocking three piece are made up of Thomas Bunsen, Jason J Page and Nathan Anderson-Barr who came together, only a few months ago, to pursue a love of a certain kind of 70s nostalgia and a !collective notion that 'louder' is definitely better! Deliberately omitting all things pertaining to drunken student nights out and lyrics about 'getting on the floor' and brushing one's teeth with Jack Daniels; Bunsen prefer to write songs that poke fun at the establishment and mass media, unpicking perceptions and challenging the status quo, complemented by !some truly beautiful and thought provoking material that would make even Axel Rose blubber. The result is a modern twist on traditional songwriting, a compact retro feast, repackaged and re-spun into !one glorious musical show. !https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtztinuByPMQivZ3aHYxlzQ !Shanade: !'A really great, unique sounding and powerful voice… Brilliant' (Jim Barr, Portishead) Shanade’s career has been on a rapid ascent thanks to her unmistakable vocal and unstoppable energy. With critically acclaimed tracks ‘Saviour’ and ’Bones’ getting praise throughout the !industry, Shanade is one of the U.K’s hottest properties. !https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhYZ_y8J5lk !By Lantern Light: Live music, Covers & Originals, Classic Rock to Modern Pop, acoustic guitars, banjo, harmonicas and 3 part harmonies. A busy and always well received live band playing a mixture of select covers and their !own pop, rock and americana material. Bass, drums, acoustic guitars, banjo. !https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_bj-ZxSW0k !The Soul Circle Gang: The Soul Circle Gang, a fresh and innovative Leeds based band, brings together eight experienced musicians who weave elements of funk, soul, reggae, world and jazz into unique new sounds. Led by Lara Rose (who has previously sung with The James Taylor Quartet, The New Mastersounds, The Haggis Horns and Corinne Bailey Rae) The Gang are in their element live, delivering sparkling performances featuring energetic grooves, dexterous improvisation, soaring vocals and sweet harmonies. (Imagine Parliament fronted by Chaka Khan.) The 'Live In Session' EP, released in 2012, gives a taste of their dynamic live sound. The Gang released the double A-side single 'Fresh Fruit / Umbrella of Life' in April 2013, which has received local and national radio play. With performances announced at some of the UK’s top venues, including a couple of slots at the Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show, the prestigious Mostly Jazz festival and the UK’s best jazz, funk, soul venues. http://www.thesoulcirclegang.co.uk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLsNhYu8Dh8

Haggis Horns:

“The best f***ing horn section in the World!” Mark Ronson

Mr Ronson isn’t alone in his high opinion of The Haggis Horns. Over the last few years they have lent their lungs to recordings and live shows for everyone from Corinne Bailey Rae and Amy Winehouse to Nightmares On Wax and Lou Donaldson. They first came to prominence through their part in the seminal Keb Darge presents The New Mastersounds album on BBE Records. An integral part of the burgeoning UK funk scene, the last few years have seen the band cement their reputation through singles “Hot Damn!” and “The Traveller”, with debut album ‘Hot Damn!’ winning even more fans including Gilles Peterson, Quantic, The Fatback Band, Mr Scruff and Nostalgia 77.

After the tragic loss of founder member Jason Rae early in 2008, the boys have hit the studio working on a follow up to ‘Hot Damn!’ They have recently teamed up with singer Nia Saw (a.k.a. Lucinda Slim) who has performed around the world with the likes of Zap Mama but who is also a funk aficionado, DJ’ing alongside Keb Darge at their long established Deep Funk night at Madame Jojo’s in London’s Soho. They released their 2nd album ‘Keep On Movin’ in 2010 and continue to gig relentlessly, showcasing of their own brand of ass-shaking, dancefloor breaks at their now legendary live shows. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSs1FKz_oIQ

Amicantus:

In mid-2012, Musical Director, Maddy Evans, was asked by the church she played organ for to put together a choir for an upcoming concert that was part of the Shipston Proms. At the time, Maddy, who is a music teacher and performs the Violin with a string quartet, was MD for another Stratford-based choir and approached a number of members that she thought might blend well as a smaller choir. The first rehearsal was held and it soon became obvious that the quality of sound was something special and after the concert it was decided that they carry on as a group to see what happened. What started off as a bit of a laugh and an aside to other projects soon began to take on a life of its’ own. As the repertoire grew, the quality improved further and more bookings came in it was decided that they take things a little more seriously and started rehearsing on a regular basis.

Within a couple of months, and after a couple of cheeky emails, they had secured two prime-time dates at the Birmingham German Christmas Markets to perform a selection of Christmas carols along with a few of musical and pop numbers. They were exceptionally well received and as a result they were able to secure further bookings including some corporate Christmas parties. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sgyqG-L0aA ! Karl Loxley - Local Tenor:

Karl Loxley Your Local Tenor. Professionally Trained at The Guildford School of Acting. Karl brings opera to Stratford upon Avon in his own inimitable style. “If Karl is not the next big thing in opera, the world will be !missing out!” !https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuCEn9GLWO4 ! Carlo Mahalo & the G Strings

'Carlo Mahalo & the G Strings' first performed together in 2008 at The Kitchen Garden Cafe in Kings Heath. If you were there that night you may not have realised you were witnessing history in the making! On many occasions since then we have attracted many additional playing members to our line-up, at which times we have adopted the name 'The Second City Strummers'.

Now in a fresh burst of enthusiasm, determined to stay slim and still keep our well-earned title of Birmingham's premier ukulele band, 'Carlo Mahalo & the G Strings' are here to stay! ! ! !Beth Porter and the Availables: Beth Porter has long been regarded as one of the country's most in demand session musicians having played for the likes of Peter Gabriel, Eliza Carthy, Jackie Oates and Newton Faulkner to name but a few. However, after working with some of the countries finest songwriters, Beth is now showing her undeniable talent as a most talented composer in her own right and now Beth is delighted to introduce you to her !own original project 'Beth Porter and The Availables'. www.soundcloud.com/beth-porter !www.facebook.com/bethporterandtheavailables !Andrew James and Paul Johnston ! Andrew’s unique sound and voice can see him kick-start any event with style and class. He can also bring the house down when he metaphorically ‘turns up the volume’ and before you know it there’s no room on the dance floor, because Andrew has them all dancing the night away. The ultimate professional and a must for anyone planning LIVE entertainment https://soundcloud.com/andrewjamesmusic/break-even-the-script-acoustic?in=andrewjamesmusic/sets/ !andrew-james-paul-johnston !Will Pound Band: Will Pound (25) has long been in demand as a harmonica wizard, playing with the likes of Guy Chambers (ex-songwriter for Robbie Williams), legendary folk guitarist Martin Simpson and Scottish Early Music ensemble Concerto Caledonia. He recently recorded the harmonica part for The Hillsborough Single which featured Sir Paul McCartney, Mel C and Beverley Knight and which was the Christmas number 1 in December 2012. He has computer game, film and TV credits, has performed for the BBC Radio 2 Ballad series and has done a live session at Maida Vale for BBC Radio 1xtra. Recording credits include sessions for some of the biggest names in folk music including Sam Carter, Jim Moray and Martin Simpson.

He was launched on to the folk scene in a duo with banjo master Dan Walsh as the critically acclaimed Walsh & Pound and soon after featured on the BBC TV series Goldie’s Band: By Royal Appointment which culminated in a performance at Buckingham Palace.

He has been nominated for prestigious Musician Of The Year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in both 2012 and 2014 and was interviewed and performed on BBC 1 TV Breakfast ahead of the 2014 Folk Awards.

2013 saw Will release his first solo record ‘A Cut Above’ which has received enthusiastic reviews and airplay from BBC Radio 2, Radio 6, The Daily Telegraph, R2 Magazine, fRoots, FATEA Magazine, The Scotsman and more.

In the wake of the album The Will Pound Band was formed featuring John Parker on double bass (member of the chart-topping duo Nizlopi), Chris Sarjeant on guitar (of the Jackie Oates Lullabies project) and Henry Webster on fiddle (2013 London Fiddle convention winner). www.willpound.com/the-will-pound-band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBpwGH-SASo