Canadian Amanda Rheaume returns to Newbald for the first time since 2016. Amanda’s crystal clear voice and moving, story-telling songwriting style marks her out as a unique performer. With a proud heritage and a determination to speak up for minorities, Amanda is a woman making a difference in the world but above all else is a superb musician.

Amanda Rheaume’s rootsy, guitar-driven ballads introduce crucial dimensions to the world of Heartland Rock. In a genre characterized by anthems of underdogs, assumptions and unfair advantages, Rheaume’s sound and story crucially and radically expand the boundaries, geographic and cultural, to make space for new perspectives on resistance and resilience. A Citizen of the Métis Nation, and an active and proud member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, Rheaume’s music is indeed from the heart, and the land.

First a songwriter, Rheaume comes from a long line of tireless, transformational organizers and activists, and carries this lineage forward in her ever-growing role as a crucial builder of Indigenous music infrastructure and community. From the International Indigenous Music Summit, to newly-founded Ishkode Records, and the National Indigenous Music Office, the goal of raising Indigenous sovereignty in the music industry drives all of Rheaume’s work.

Rheaume (she/her) has released 5 full-length albums over a period of 15 years, a self-managed career that has traveled countless tours and milestones. 2013’s Keep a Fire was nominated for a JUNO Award and won a Canadian Folk Music Award for Indigenous Songwriter of the Year. With a new single “100 Years,” a driving, surging Copperhead Road-esque journey through a wilfully, harmfully misrepresented chapter in a violent colonial timeline, Rheaume makes a powerful statement about history and identity.

“Conjuring thoughts of a swaggering Sheryl Crowl

— FOLK RADIO UK

“...a voice clear as a bell, reminiscent of Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell”

— Lindencult Times, Germany

Broadcaster, writer and musician Mark Radcliffe met David Boardman a few years ago when he moved to Knutsford and they found each other in the Builder’s Arms. David is a seasoned singer/songwriter, guitar teacher and fine artist. This is a duo that works perfectly: they both sing, they both write, David plays most of the difficult bits and Mark does most of the talking!

The pair began to co-write songs for David’s band FineLines and the duo idea came out of that. Inspired by the elegant simplicity of two guitars, two vocals the initial inspiration was The Everly Brothers and Simon and Garfunkel but more contemporary acts like The Milk Carton Kids have also been a major influence. They also share a love of Western Swing and old school roots country music in particular the songs of Hank Williams. Those inspirations have fed into their original songs as well as having informed their choice of cover versions. 

Unofficially known as The Long Ridge Riders, there’s something of a country-ish campfire tinge to the atmosphere they create. Theirs is a duo that works perfectly: they both sing, they both write, David plays most of the difficult bits and Mark does most of the talking!

Blair has been hailed as one of the UK's most accomplished songwriters since he burst into the folk scene with his debut  album Blight & Blossom (2012)

BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards followed along with critical acclaim. In 2016 Blair released on his own label (Gilded Wings) and received wider acclaim and BBC Radio 2 playlisting for singles  ‘The Egoist’ and ‘356’. Appearances at Glastonbury and the major Folk Festivals followed, along with breakthrough tours of Australia. Blair is now firmly established as a household name amongst respected British songwriters.

Elizabeth & Jameson              + The Rosewoods

Hannah Elizabeth and Griff Jameson have joined forces to create an acoustic folk-roots sound which encompasses both their individual musical backgrounds. Hannah’s influences are firmly planted in traditional folk-roots, whilst in contrast Griff has formed his musical reputation within folk pop/rock genres. Together, Elizabeth & Jameson arguably offer the best of both backgrounds; this is simplistic, classic song writing at its best - a stripped back harmony-driven sound with acoustic guitar, violin and exquisite vocals.