Whilst some acts transfer well to TV / on-line viewing, others you can only truely appreciate live when your body shakes … we’re welcoming back The Dhol Foundation.  Over the years they’ve proved a real Wickham favourite so it’s another bhangra bonanza on for 2022.  These guys know how to put on a stunning show … Wickham, you want vibrant enery?  They’re back!!!  We’re not sure any other festival could claim to have a bhangra based house band.  On Saturday 6th August 2022 we’ll be welcoming some unique Indian culture to get us jumping on our feet.  You can also catch Johnny Kalsi’s DJ Set on the Friday.

Established in 1989, The Dhol Foundation began as a small class in slough with only a few friends asking Johnny Kalsi for Dhol drumming lessons. A couple of weeks went by, and those friends bought friends of friends and so on… One class turned into several! Before we knew it we became the first-ever dhol class/academy in the UK, creating a new breed of modern dhol players that became quickly in demand!

With a strong team of dhol players built up, it was time to hit the road! So Johnny Kalsi and The Dhol Foundation began workshops internationally and then tours across the globe, Slowly expanding along the way.

In 2001 TDF released our debut album, ‘Big Drum Small World’ which was another milestone for the British Asian music industry. With backing from Peter Gabriel’s Real World Publishing, the album grabbed mainstream attention and was quickly picked up by Hollywood directors. TDF collaborated with Martin Scorsese on ‘Gangs of New York’. This collaboration was then followed by more silver screen work with the likes of, Ang Lee on ‘Incredible Hulk’ and Sean Macleod Phillips on ‘Sea Monsters 3D’,

​As the years have flown by, The Dhol Foundation continues to grow. As through the lockdown months, they have started writing new material for their 6th installment. As the saying goes… Watch This Space!​

Legendary rock icon and the original Cockney Rebel, Steve Harley makes his third visit to Wickham Festival when he headlines with his full rock band on Thursday, AUGUST 2nd. Harley has written and recorded twelve albums in a career covering four decades, and continues to tour to sell-out audiences in many countries world-wide.

Recognised as one of Britain’s greatest and most charismatic Live performers, Harley is as much in love with the touring life now as at the beginning of his career: “We see some wonderful sights, visit galleries and museums and really take travelling as part of the experience. I’m a genuine and inveterate Tourist”.

A Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel Live show will be packed with hits such as, Judy Teen, Mr Raffles, Here Comes The Sun, Mr Soft, the classic Sebastian, as well as the world-wide hit and UK Number One, Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me), which has been recognised by the Performing Rights Society as one of the most-played singles in British Radio history…

Harley also picks an eclectic mix of tracks from his career recordings, including a selection from recent albums The Quality Of Mercy and Stranger Comes To Town.

Rod Stewart has described Harley as “One the greatest lyricists Britain has ever produced.” Mojo magazine states, “Harley creates rock songs that are proud, lyrical and full of yearning”.

The Sunday Express called him “Britain’s best-kept Live secret; a consummate performer at the top of his game”, and this show will bear that out.

Having entertained us in 2015, Tom Robinson returns to Wickham on Saturday 4th August.  He shot to fame with the top 10 hit 2-4-6-8 Motorway and Glad To Be Gay.

A UK songwriter & broadcaster first known in the 1970s as a musician & LGBT activist, Tom and his band were also early supporters of Rock Against Racism & Amnesty International. Between 1975 & 2001 Tom released 19 albums with various bands, and had a solo hit with the song War Baby. He has also co-written songs with Elton John, Peter Gabriel & Dan Hartman. He has hosted programmes on all BBC national radio networks and won three Radio Academy awards. He currently presents shows on BBC Radio 6 Music and hosts the new music blog Fresh On The Net.

10cc first appeared at Wickham back in 2013 as a support slot which proved one of the big hits of the 2013 Wickham Festival.  They then played in 2015 and 2017 as headliners by popular demand.  Well … drum roll … they’re back at Wickham Festival 2022!!!  With a string of top 10 hits including Donna, Dreadlock Holiday, Rubber Bullets and I’m Not in Love, this evergreen act will bring our opening night to a fantastic finale.

Among the most inventive and influential bands in the history of popular music, 10cc are one of the very few acts to have achieved commercial, critical and creative success in equal measure. Fronted by original band member Graham Gouldman they are still going strong 40 years on.

10cc consists of:

Graham Gouldman
That loyal little song-bug has stood him in good stead through decades of distinction as one of the UK’s most productive and imaginative hitmakers. We’re talking very much in the present and future tenses, too, since he continues to write with contemporary hitmakers and see his classics renewing themselves constantly, as with the news that ‘For Your Love’ and ‘Heart Full Of Soul’, two of the timeless hits he wrote for the Yardbirds, have lately been part of live sets by the White Stripes. The headlines of Graham’s career may always be his early compositions for the scenesters of the ’60s, his crucial role in the super-intelligent ’70s pop of 10cc, and his livewire combination with Andrew Gold in Wax during the ’80s.

Rick Fenn
Born in Oxford, Rick was plucked for a band called Gentlemen to join 10cc towards the end of 1976, at the launch of the Deceptive Bends album and has been part of the team ever since. From 1979, he also toured and recorded with Mike Oldfield and with him co-wrote the song Family Man, which become a worldwide hit for Hall & Oates, and won him an ASCAP award for best song in 1984. In 1985, Rick wrote and recorded his own album Profiles, with Pink Floyd’s drummer Nick Mason. The single from the album, Lie for a Lie – sung by Dave Gilmour and featuring Maggie Reilly – was a hit in the USA.

Mick Wilson
Mick has performed and recorded with artistes such as Lionel Ritchie, Kylie Minogue, Westlife, Cher, Alice Cooper, Alison Moyet, Chris Rea, Donny Osmond, Robin Gibb, Cliff Richard, Lulu and the K.L.F.  He is also a regular member of The SAS Band which play all over the world, with guest performers such as Brian May, Roger Daltrey, Roger Taylor, Kiki Dee and Tony Hadley.  For over 20 years, Mick has had his own recording and production facility, which has been the base for a varied career as a producer and songwriter, as well as composing music for TV and live events, for companies such as Sky, BBC, ITV, Marks & Spencer, McDonalds, BT, Levi’s, Toyota, Mercedes, Ford and Mitsubishi.

Paul Burgess
Paul met Graham Gouldman in the early days of 10cc when recording at Strawberry Studios and when they planned to start touring asked him to join as an auxillary member, playing drums, percussion and keyboards for what was to become a ten year period. He started recording with them in 1976. In 1982, he toured throughout America and Canada with Jethro Tull and in 1983 played his final tour with 10cc around the U.K. The ’80s became a tour fest with Camel in (’83/’84), Elkie Brooks (’85), Joan Armatrading (’86), Alvin Stardust (’87), Gloria Gaynor (’88) and Icicle Works (’89).

Mike Stevens
Born in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, Mike is a musician, producer and writer graduate from Birmingham School of Music, where he studied clarinet, euphonium and piano. He is widely known as the Musical Director for Take That, having performed with them on every tour since 1993, including the Progress stadium tour last summer.

Lisbee Stainton is the 26 year-old singer-songwriter known as ‘The English Rose With The 8-String Guitar’, who has been writing songs for 17 years. Lisbee originally launched her career in 2007, when she became the first unsigned singer-songwriter to play London’s O2 Arena, performing two shows to 30,000 people.

At the beginning of 2013, Lisbee went out on her own headline tour of the UK before more touring with Seth Lakeman and playing festivals throughout the summer, including Glastonbury, Cropredy, Looe music festival and Beautiful Days.

She will be appearing in her own right and also again later on as part of Seth Lakeman’s band.

A regular performer with Show of Hands since 2004, Miranda Sykes formed a duo with Rex Preston in 2009 and in just a few years they have developed into one of the most sought-after and acclaimed duos on the English folk scene.

A superb vocalist and double bassist, Miranda surprises audiences with her versatility on the guitar and with her unique interpretations of songs.

Emily and Hazel Askew are fast becoming one of the most popular and respected duos on the English folk scene. From dark ballads to uplifting dance tunes, they play with driving energy and the unity of two people who have played together all their lives. The sisters use fiddle, melodeon and concertina to breathtaking effect, creating cinematic arrangements that get to the very heart of each song.

This 10-piece band effectively hold their own folk festival on stage. Although fronted by Edinburgh fiddle player Gavin Marwick, each of the performers take turns playing their own mini-sets as duos or trios as well as combining as an enthusiastic ensemble for a spectacular show.

With a dozen albums to her name, Kathryn is the country’s leading Northumbrian pipes player as well as being an accomplished fiddle player. A winner of the Queen’s Medal for Music and the 2013 Radio 2 Folk Musician of the Year, her work is deeply rooted in the landscape and people of Northumbria.

Her new folk-classical ensemble the Side comprises Louisa Tuck (cello), Ruth Wall (harp) and Amy Thatcher (accordion, clog dancing).

A firm favourite at Wickham, this self-described “Modern English musician” had already won an MBE and five Radio 2 Folk awards before her 40^th birthday. Now hitting the peak of her musical powers this Mercury Music prize-nominated singer has become one of the most dazzling and recognised folk musicians of her generation.

After a hugely successful 25-year career she is now fronting the 12-piece powerhouse supergroup the Wayward Band, one of the best festival acts on the circuit.

After abandoning plans for a 2021 release/tour, 2022 has seen The Proclaimers recording their 12th studio album at the legendary Rockfield Studios in Wales with producer Dave Eringa. Confirmation of an autumn release date will be confirmed soon.

They kick of a 14-month World tour with a main stage appearance at the Isle of Wight Festival in June followed by a series of summer festivals and regional concerts.

October to December sees The Proclaimers embark on a 35 date UK & Ireland tour.

2018 had seen their ‘Angry Cyclist’ album released to immense acclaim, becoming their 8th UK Top 40 album debuting in the UK Official Album charts at 17 and at number 3 in the UK Official Independent Album Charts.

The Proclaimers “Angry Cyclist World Tour” began in July 2018 and ended in September 2019, 111 shows in 14 countries to over 400,0000 people. The tour began in Stroud, England and ended at The Hydro in Glasgow. The tour included their biggest ever tours of Scotland, England, Canada, New Zealand and Australia and notably in June 2019, The Proclaimers opened The Pyramid Stage for their 7th appearance at Glastonbury. The Proclaimers July 2019 Edinburgh Castle concert sold out in just under 10 minutes with Castle Concerts reporting this as the fastest sell out in their 25-year history. A second show at Edinburgh Castle was added, this show also sold out within 24 hours, which Castle Concerts are also reporting as never before seen demand.

Strikingly individual, twin brothers Craig and Charlie Reid emerged 31 years ago with their debut album This Is The Story and Top 3 single ‘Letter from America’. Since then their enduring appeal across generations has have over the years seen them enjoy huge success across the globe

The Proclaimers songs are timeless, capturing a gamut of human emotions, written with poignancy, emotional honesty, political fire and wit. Their songs feature at weddings, funerals and everything in-between and there is one song, an early celebration of falling head over heels in love that is known the world over and has become a staggering global anthem. There are many others that have gained great popularity in different parts of the planet and then there is a wide cross section of sublime songs embraced by a multitude that has kept up with The Proclaimers studio albums, compilation collections and extensive touring over three decades.

The Proclaimers have carved out a niche for themselves in the netherworld where pop, folk, new wave and punk collide. In the process, they have enjoyed Gold and Platinum singles and albums in UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Named after a dead dog, Megson are the acclaimed husband/wife duo Stu and Debbie Hanna. This unlikely combination of a former punk and a classically trained soprano are already making waves on the folk circuit. With five critically-acclaimed albums to date, these regulars on the festival scene have wowed crowds wherever they have played.

An emerging talent, Charlie Cunningham has a distinctive voice and Spanish guitar style which cannot fail to captivate the listener, transporting them to warmer climes. His songs have an honesty and a depth and his new EP Breather is already proving a big hit both online and live.