Friday 16th April

Bellowhead

The sharp-suited, 11-strong Bellowhead were first unleashed onto an unsuspecting Oxford Folk Festival in 2004. Since then they've released 2 albums, played on Jools Holland and at the Proms, and won countless BBC2 Folk Awards. We're already jumping up and down with excitement!

Maclaine Colston & Saul Rose

A really entertaining duo, Saul and Mac breathe new life into traditional songs and tunes via the unusual combination of melodeon and hammered dulcimer.

Telling the Bees

Spiral Earth album of the year 2010 nominees, the local folkedelia favourites will kick off Friday night with songs inspired by English folklore and the politics of protest.

The Oxford Waits at The Holywell Music Room

Our favourite 17th century Waits band are back to entertain and elucidate with bawdy ballads, dance tunes, airs, reels and readings, taking us back 400 years to the English Civil War. Superb singing voices are matched by specialist skills in a multitude of instruments to be marveled at.

Ceilidh: The Tiggerz with Cate Bannister and Pete Rees at The Newman Rooms

Simon Care has put together a new ceilidh band for our delight - no doubt will be as fun and frolicsome as all of Simon's endeavours! You will have to go just to see who he's got playing with him this time!

Saturday 17th April

Cara Dillon

Whether she's singing her native Irish songs of lost love and emigration, or her original compositions, you will be hard pressed to find a more emotive and captivating performer than Cara Dillon. Nominated for 3 BBC2 Folk awards this year, she's a singer at the top of her field.

The Demon Barber Roadshow

Described by Mike Harding as "one of the best live bands I've ever seen" and winners of BBC2 Folk Awards 2009 Best Live Act, The Demon Barbers combine traditional instruments and songs with the oomph of a superb rhythm section (plus some pretty special dancing).

Megan Henwood

The Radio 2 Young Folk Award Winner 2009 graces the Oxford stage for the first time, all the way from Henley!
Described as "vibrant, melodic, fresh, energetic and bloody good", she's certainly one to watch!

Torivaki

A French band with a difference, playing music from Eastern Europe and the Balkans. The six musicians transport us from Romania to Macedonia.

Roots Union

This dazzling five piece who fuse acoustic guitar, dobro, violin, beatbox harmonica, bass, percussion and harmonies. Their live show offers a rich tapestry of compelling songwriting and often spellbinding musicianship...

Oxford Concert Party at the Holywell Music Room

Europe's only baroque and tango orchestra! Take three hundred years of music from around the world, turn it upside down, infuse it with humour, energy, passion and pathos - and you have the Oxford Concert Party, described as "one of the most entertaining, mould-breaking groups around".

Ceilidh: Steamchicken with Mike Courthold at The Newman Rooms

Described as a "gem of vibrant eccentricity", Steamchicken are now a firm favourite at festivals and dance clubs. This swinging septet come to stir up a storm of stomping feet to the tune of traditional favourites and forbidden pleasures.

Sunday 18th April

Warsaw Village Band

Although traditional Polish music forms the foundation of the Warsaw Village Band's unique sound, they are far from purists in their interpretation. Sometimes magical, sometimes mystifying, their live show is definitely not to be missed!

Chris Wood

The "the renaissance man of English folk" returns to Oxford. One of the best-loved writers and performers of English folk music, Chris Wood's exquisitely crafted songs celebrate the "ordinary" with rare earthy beauty.

Jez Lowe and the Bad Pennies

Jez Lowe and The Bad Pennies have been playing the songs and music of Northern England for a decade and a half. They remain one of Britain's top attractions on the folk/acoustic/celtic circuit.

Simon Care

The melodeon maestro brings his box to Oxford to do a solo turn and entertain us all with his inventive playing, (and if we're lucky, dancing at the same time!)

Maqam

Giles Lewin joins forces with Tarik Beshir and friends for dazzling adventures into Arabic traditional music, with fiddle, oud and qanoon. Simply mesmerising!

Concert with Torivaki and the Oxford Fiddle Group at The Newman Rooms

Torivaki (see above), from Oxford's twin town of Grenoble, are joined by the Oxford Fiddle Group for an evening of European musical exchange and entertainment.