Gower Folk Festival 2026
Jenn Butterworth
(Sunday afternoon)
Jenn Butterworth is widely recognised as one of the UK’s leading exponents of traditional folk guitar. Renowned for her exceptional skills in collaboration, accompaniment and arrangement, she seamlessly adapts to any stage, whether performing in an intimate venue or commanding a large festival audience. Based in Glasgow, Jenn is a central figure in the thriving Scottish folk music scene. She is a key member of the award-winning folk powerhouse Kinnaris Quintet and performs regularly in duos with Laura-Beth Salter and Will Pound. Her versatility has seen her contribute to an impressive array of projects.
Sam Carter
(Saturday afternoon)
Midlands born Sam Carter is a BBC Folk Award winning singer-songwriter and guitarist renowned for his narrative rich songwriting. He is a highly regarded instrumentalist, renowned by many as “the finest English-style fingerpicking guitarist of his generation”. Over the past fifteen years Sam has made appearances on national TV, won a BBC Folk award, and has toured the world, sharing stages with some of folk’s leading lights. Here he’ll be playing Ballads & Songs, a full set of Nic Jones’s material, chosen from across Nic’s recorded output, including, but not limited to, Penguin Eggs.
Arthur Coates & Kerran Cotterell
(Sunday afternoon)
Arthur Coates & Kerran Cotterell are a powerhouse folk duo blending Scottish fiddle fire and English guitar gravitas with driving foot percussion and soulful vocal harmonies. Their mix of groove, wit, and inventive arrangements bridges tradition with modern edge – music that smoulders, sparks, and occasionally catches fire. Their music blends original compositions with tunes and songs they’ve found in the wild, delivered with harmonies, tall tales, and a streak of serious silliness.
Maclaine Colston and Saul Rose
(Saturday evening)
Mac & Saul isn’t the name of a new pasta dish; it is in fact a glorious combination of melodeon and hammered dulcimer. Saul (Faustus, War Horse, Waterson:Carthy) and Maclaine (Kings of Calicutt, Pressgang) have played together over a 27-year-old partnership. Sand and Soil, their first album, is considered a folk classic. Come and hear some great new material, with amusingly irreverent banter, traditional songs and tunes and, of course, their trademark immaculate but gutsy playing style. Saul will be holding a melodeon workshop on Saturday.
Deux sans Frontières
(Friday evening)
Deux Sans Frontières are one of the UK’s leading Bal Folk groups. Mark Prescott and Mike Gulston are hugely experienced musicians, regularly performing for dancers at festivals and Bals in France and throughout Europe as well as in the United Kingdom. The duo will kick off our popular Friday evening dance. Mike will hold a DADGAD guitar workshop on Saturday, and Mark will be holding a fiddle workshop the same day.
Chris Dyer and Tom Evans
(Sunday afternoon)
Fiddler and nyckelharpa player Chris Dyer is MC of the London Scandi Session. She’s a regular performer and workshop leader at UK festivals and dance clubs and is a guest player with Boda and Aspeboda spelmanslags in Sweden. Accordion player and multi-instrumentalist Tom Evans is currently playing in several bands including Climax Ceilidh Band, Missing Richard, Suntrap, Twagger Band and Understory. Together Tom and Chris are putting the stomp into Scandi and Eurobal favourites. Chris will be holding a Scandi tunes workshop on Sunday. Bring any instrument – nyckelharpa particularly welcome!
The English Fiddle Ensemble
(Saturday afternoon)
The English Fiddle Ensemble is a distinguished folk group featuring Bryony Griffith, Jim Boyle, Ross Grant, and Rosie Butler-Hall. Each member is an accomplished fiddler, bringing their unique style and regional influences to the ensemble. Together, they celebrate the rich tapestry of English fiddle music, delivering performances that are both authentic and invigorating. The English Fiddle Ensemble will be running a tunes workshop on Sunday. Any instrument (including fiddles!) welcome.
Rosie Hood Band
(Saturday evening)
Rosie Hood is known for her powerful and clear vocals and captivating performances that combine poetic writing with dynamic and honest interpretations of traditional songs. She is joined by fiddle-player Bridget Slater, melodeon-player and percussionist Robyn Wallace and fiddle-player Rosie Butler-Hall. With outstanding musicianship and a deep understanding of tradition, Bridget, Rosie and Robyn’s sensitive playing combines perfectly with Rosie’s voice, skilfully and empathetically lifting each song. The Rosie Hood Band’s dynamic and emotive performances create an inimitable sound that whilst rooted in tradition, has contemporary appeal. The band will host a singing workshop on Saturday.
Kerr, Fagan, Van Eyken
(Saturday evening)
Kerr, Fagan, and Van Eyken are a distinguished trio in the folk music scene, comprising Nancy Kerr (fiddle, vocals), James Fagan (bouzouki, vocals), and Tim Van Eyken (melodeon, vocals). Each member is celebrated for their individual contributions to folk music, and together, they create a harmonious blend of traditional and contemporary sounds.
Nancy and James, an Anglo-Australian duo, have been performing together for decades, earning acclaim for their dynamic performances and intricate musicianship. Tim, a renowned actor-musician, gained prominence in the folk world with his adept melodeon playing and rich vocals. Their collaboration brings together a wealth of experience and a shared passion for folk traditions.The trio will headline our Saturday evening programme.
John Kirkpatrick & Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne
(Sunday evening)
A unique inter-generational duo – both virtuoso players – John and Cohen are an exciting new musical combo exploring the possibilities of concertina music in an entertaining and joyous celebration of their art. Both energetic and charismatic performers, this duo highlights their kindred passion for English traditional music and song, whilst both also finding inspiration from a range of other musical genres as part of their sets. John is a mighty oak of the English tradition, an acclaimed and MBE-decorated English folk musician and one of the most prolific figures on the scene. Cohen is at the forefront of his generation of English folk musicians, both as a soloist and with the much-loved Granny’s Attic.
Tom Kitching & Jennifer Reid
(Saturday afternoon)
Tom and Jennifer present ‘Bitter and Mild’, a tongue in cheek celebration of their native North West of England, through songs, stories, and a skeletal horse. Flitting between timeless rural Cheshire and ever-changing industrial Manchester, ‘Bitter and Mild’ is a fast-paced, anarchic, singalong ramble and rant through those steadfast and vital traditions upon which we lean as we seek to make sense of the bewildering changes wrought by industrialisation and modernity: singing, dancing, drinking, making giant puppets out of expired farm animals.
The Luscombe Sisters
(Saturday afternoon)
Steeped in a world of maritime song, sisters Becky & Polly Luscombe create captivating harmonies in a varied collection of songs they have picked up over the years. They are building up a strong festival following. Daughters of Pete Luscombe of Portsmouth Shantymen, Ramskyte and Wholehearted, they have grown up in a world of pub sessions and are ensuring that the singing tradition remains safe in the hands and voices of a new generation. They also perform as part of folk trio Alternative Quay, alongside Kevin Frost, specialising in sea songs and shanties.
Bethan Nia
(Sunday afternoon)
Flowing from the magical valleys of De Cymru, award-winning Welsh artist Bethan Nia combines the best of traditional and original folk music and song. Planted firmly in her Celtic roots, Bethan pairs ethereal vocals and harp to create a contemporary spin on her ancient heritage. Bethan is a winner of the coveted Danny Kyle award at Celtic Connections and has played many other prestigious festivals.
Ben Robertson and Phoebe Rees
(Saturday afternoon)
The musical equivalent of the proverbial ‘marriage made in heaven’, Phoebe and Ben are two of the very finest of the younger generation of UK Folk musicians. Both outstanding solo performers in their own right, in combination, each powerfully complements the other’s unique talents. Dazzling fiddle-playing meets extraordinary guitar virtuosity and two very fine voices blend to bring you some of the best of Folk Music in the 21st Century.
Tarran
(Sunday evening)
Tarran are an exhilarating contemporary folk group from Glasgow, with roots in both Ireland and New Zealand. The band consists of Sophie Joint (Keys), Breanna Wilson (Fiddle), Malachy Arnold (Harp), and Rory Stark (Whistle/Bodhran). Using elements of funk, blues and contemporary rhythm, the band create a lively and innovative twist on traditional music. Tarran’s captivating performances have been brought to stages across Europe since 2019, notably Celtic Connections festival, Edinburgh int. Harp Festival, and Celtic Valle d’Aosta (ITA). After the recent release of their EP, “Heartwood”, the band is thrilled to unveil fresh music to audiences worldwide. Tarran will bring the festival to a close on Sunday evening.
Three Legg’d Mare
(Sunday evening)
Kate Saunders, Jon Davies and Dafydd Eto are a trio based in Aberystwyth who take great delight in singing traditional songs – and some of their own – in Welsh and English. For nearly ten years they have immersed themselves and their audiences in songs of love, loss, joy, desire, sadness, adventure, madness, salvation and everyday life, all woven together by dexterous vocal harmonies and far too many quirky instruments to mention.
Topette!!
(Friday evening)
Topette!! occupy a unique position in the current folk and traditional music landscape. A collaboration between five highly regarded individuals from two countries, they’re the kind of perfect idea that, if they didn’t already exist, someone would have to invent. Yet Topette!! are no mere ‘project’ band. They’re a fully formed and functioning group of the kind that rarely comes around nowadays. Topette!! are a true collective – bonded as much by the joy found in each other’s company as in their shared musical vision. Topette!! will be headlining our Friday evening dance.