The pair first met on the Fairport Convention tour bus in 1995 and have now put together a collection of tunes which will alternately have you laughing, crying or tapping your feet. They tell stories of soundchecks, life on the road and how the songs were written to make their set an unforgettable experience.

Martin Carthy MBE is one of English folk music’s most influential singer/songwriters inspiring the likes of Bob Dylan and Paul Simon as well as Richard Thompson. As well as the acoustic and electric guitars, he also plays the banjo, mandolin and dulcimer, performing traditional songs in his own unique and distinctive style. Twice a winner of the BBC Radio Folk awards Folk singer of the Year, Martin won their Lifetime Achievement award in 2014.

Another hugely popular name returning to Wickham in 2018, Roy Bailey has been described as the very soul of folk’s working class roots. In 2003 he won the Best Live Act award from BBC Radio 2 Folk awards after teaming up with none other than Tony Benn.

The Labour MP described Roy as “the greatest socialist folk singer of his generation”, Roy returned his MBE for services to folk music in protest at the Government’s foreign policy in Lebanon and Palestine.

For 50+ years, Roy Bailey has been one of the UK Folk & Acoustic scene’s most loved and admired performers. From his early days performing skiffle in student union bars, to his love of traditional songs and the stories they tell, onto developing a unique repertoire of songs of dissent and hope, he has performed on stages, TV and radio all over the world. In 2000 he was awarded an MBE for Services to Folk Music – an Award he later returned in protest at the Government’s Foreign Policy.   In 1990 Roy and Tony Benn first presented their show ‘The Writing on the Wall’ for which the duo won Best Live Act at BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2003. The show has been performed to enthusiastic audiences the length and breadth of the UK. From 300 people in Working Men’s Clubs, to an estimated 9000 people at Cambridge Folk Festival in 2000. Roy’s association with Tony began in 1976 and they worked together on various programmes up to Tony’s sad death in 2014.

Now with more than 50 years as a performer, Roy is as compelling, entertaining, thought provoking and moving as ever before.  Colin Irwin writes of Roy’s CD ‘Below the Radar’ as being “… so impeccable it must surely merit consideration as the best thing he’s ever done.” (fRoots June 2009). Approaching 80 years of age, Roy remains committed to his life-long principles of Equality, Liberty, Justice and Internationalism. He is a member of the current Anti-Capitalist Roadshow along with many of this country’s leading and respected socialist folk singers and song writers.

Edward II will be returning to the festival scene in 2023. This is a band that has incredible on-stage talent and energy that has to be enjoyed live. If you’ve got energy to burn and brought your dancing shoes … who doesn’t love some reggae beats with a twist.

Originally known by the neat title of Edward the Second and the Red Hot Polkas, Edward II reformed some 10 years after originally disbanding. With their unique mix of English folk, world music and reggae, they are a great live act who will bring the crowd to their feet.

Edward II, the English roots band that uniquely blend the rhythms of the Caribbean with traditional songs from the British Isles, have been secretly working on a totally new project and will be back in 2017. Temporarily turning away from the rural songs of the middle England Morris teams, this time around the band has been delving deep into a repertoire of songs born of the industrial revolution, specifically of their hometown, Manchester.

Still upbeat, and with rock-steady rhythms, blazing horns, fabulous harmonies, and fiery melodeon melodies, this will be a new set mixed with some of the old favourites and a familiar sound for the faithful.

For the 2023 festival season Steve Knightley and Phil Beer are returning to the duo format that launched their stellar careers over thirty years ago. Audiences will be treated to the usual ‘Show of Hands’ classics like ‘Cousin Jack’, rousing festival anthems, instrumental virtuosity and stunning harmonies from two masters of their craft.

Formerly the Beautiful South, this new incarnation of the band is as popular as ever going down a storm at Wickham Festival in 2015, 2018, and 2021.

With 15 million sales and a string of top 20 hits in their repertoire, you are guaranteed to be singing along to such tunes as Rotterdam, Don’t Marry Her, Perfect 10, Song For Whoever, Old Redeyes and the band’s UK Number 1 A Little Time.

When great British pop institution, The Beautiful South split in 2007, some members of the band didn’t feel ready to hang up their microphones or instruments just yet…

Two years later, singers Dave Hemingway and Alison Wheeler, alongside life long members Damon Butcher (keys), Gaz Birtles (sax) and Tony Robinson (trumpet), came out of retirement and formed the 9 piece band, The South.

And so The South embarked on their journey. Celebrating the Beautiful South legacy and great songs of their own, the band continues performing the classic songs including: A Little Time – the number one single, Perfect 10, Rotterdam, Old Red Eyes, Good as Gold, Don’t Marry Her. All performed again live, these songs span an impressive 20 year career starting way back in 1989!

Fast forward to 2017 and its all change. Dave Hemingway has announced his retirement from the live music scene, Damon Butcher now resides in Ireland thereby leaving the band and Tony Robinson has moved on to pastures new.

It was time for The South to regroup and have a rethink. With the support from their amazing fans, they were encouraged to strive onwards. Right under their nose was an obvious choice. Up stepped long time sax player Gaz Birtles to take centre stage and take over the male vocal duties. As well as performing with The Beautiful South and within The South, Gaz has also had success in his own right as a singer songwriter. Quite handy he should also know the back catalogue of Beautiful South songs too!

Also welcomed into the fold, comes the amazing keyboard player – Andy Price, with years of experience playing along side Ska legend Laurel Aitken, Blues guitar maestro, Ainsley Lister. Happy Mondays’ Bez. The Drifters. Jersey Budd

We are also excited to welcome to the band the new sax player Su Robinson. Su has had a wealth of live experience with such legends as Prince Buster, The Specials’ Horace Panters band, Uptown Ska Collective as well as sitting in with The South on the few occasions Gaz Birtles couldn’t make it.

Long time trumpet replacement for Tony Robinson, Gareth John, is now established as a permanent fixture. His past glories include working alongside members of the Happy Mondays, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, The Specials, Vintage Trouble and many more.

With the new reshuffle complete, The South are a full team again and raring to go! Their live show promises to continue to celebrate and perform the classic Beautiful South songs along with songs from The South’s debut album ‘Sweet Refrains’ and maybe even new material in the future too.

Come on! Let’s Carry On… Regardless!

The South are:

Alison Wheeler (Vocals), Gaz Birtles (Vocals), Phil Barton (Guitars), Steve Nutter (Bass), Dave Anderson (Drums), Karl Brown (Percussion), Gareth John (Trumpet), Su Robinson (Sax), Andy Price (Keys).

Festival fans will be blown away as renowned folk/punk/protest singer Billy Bragg makes his Wickham debut. Known for his left-wing views and political activism, Billy’s lyrics deliver a punch as powerful as any of his speeches.

Songs such as Between the Wars and It Says Here seem as relevant today as they were when he recorded them but perhaps his best known tune is New England which was a top 10 hit for Kirsty MacColl. Since her premature death, he has always performed it with an extra verse in her honour.

Well worth getting here early to catch this Quebec band who blend traditional songs of yesteryear with a contemporary feel. Since 2003, Éric Beaudry, André Brunet and Pierre-Luc Dupuis have been exploring and performing time-honoured melodies from the stomping grounds of Quebec’s musical past. Using fiddle, accordion, harmonica, guitar, bouzouki and a number of other instruments, the three virtuosos blend boundless energy with the unmistakable joie de vivre found only in traditional Quebec music.

A welcome return for Andy Fairweather-Low & the Low Riders to Wickham Festival!  They’ll be supporting 10cc on our opening night.

Best known for his hit single Wide-eyed and Legless, Andy has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in the music industry. He first hit the big-time with Amen Corner who enjoyed a string of hits including Bend Me Shape Me, High in the Sky and the UK Number 1 (If Paradise is) Half as Nice.

Since then the Welsh wizard has sung backing vocals for artists as diverse as The Who and Kate Bush and he has also toured extensively with such legends as Roger Waters, Bill Wyman and Eric Clapton both as part of his touring band and opening for him in 2013 with the Low Riders.

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November 2022 – The great Wilko Johnson has departed this planet. He performed twice at Wickham. A lovely man, a fine musician, a genuine ‘one-off’. R.I.P. Wilko.
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This will be the ultimate “Feelgood story” as Wilko Johnson makes an emotional return to Wickham. Two years ago the former Dr Feelgood guitarist played what was expected to be his last gig here after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Wilko refused treatment and hit the road for the ultimate “Farewell Tour” recording Going Back Home with Roger Daltrey which reached number 3 in the UK album charts. He was already defying the doctors when he brought the house down at Wickham in 2013 but since then he has made an almost miraculous recovery and is still going strong.

With his trademark machine gun style of guitar and a string of hits to his name, Wilko Johnson is regarded as one of the most influential guitarists in the industry. There won’t be a dry eye in the house when he returns to Wickham.

We can’t wait for him to kick start our weekend. You can read an interview with Wilko in our news section and see his 2013 appearance on our videos page.