and what a great night it was......

 



 



THE STRAW BEAR BAND

'The Straw Bear Band' have a magpie nature.
Lyrically mixing folklore, myth, history and fiction.
Musically they're just as eclectic. Ranging from
delicate acoustic song to scratchy electronica,
ending up like a Joe Meek production of Tim Buckley. Featuring members of The Owl Service and Young Husband,
recently their sound has taken another turn,
and live they create a kind of 'medieval Krautrock'
or 'garage-folk'. This direction has inspired
the songs for the new 'Eccentric Heart' project;
an A-Z of British eccentrics. They confess to love
concept albums such as 'SF Sorrow' and
'In An Aeroplane Over The Sea' (Neutral milk Hotel), and this
has spilled over into their writing.
The band have spent the winter months hobernating and recoding and we're  excited to hear what gifts they bring from the cave.


http://www.myspace.com/thestrawbearband
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IVAN CAMPO

Ivan Campo, the super Spaniard with the big hair, shares his name - with a nu-folk ensemble who will take you on a journey through the mysteries of their minds. Hitchcock and The Beatles’ White Album are just some of Ivan Campo’s preoccupations. Characterised by a playful suspense, their songs are as likely to be about the unsolved death of Alexander Litvinenko as they are about love and loss.
Based in the Northwest of England, Ivan Campo produce interweaving melodies combined with a musical unpredictability influenced by artists as varied as Tyrannosaurus Rex, Nick Harper and Arcade Fire. The effect is a unique style infused with echoes of films, snatched memories and a healthy sense of the absurd.
Playing live regularly, Ivan Campo have been spotted in pubs, clubs, cafés, kitchens, festivals, ballrooms & basements, all over the UK, & have shared stages with Gideon Conn, Marrisa Nadler, Thomas Denver Jonsson, Sparrow and the Workshop, Jeff Lewis, Misty's Big Adventure, Jay Jay Pistolet, Dufus, It Hugs Back, Jim Noir, Shack, & The Pale Fountains.


www.myspace.com/ivancampo 


JESS BRYANT

Jess Bryant is a London based songwriter but these are not ordinary songs but intricately woven spells that take you to strange, unexpected places..Beautiful, dark and haunting..all hail ye Jess...


www.myspace.com/jkcbryant 

 



HUSH ARBORS





Hush Arbors is the psychedelic musings of Keith Wood and Leon Dufficy.Combining the pensive songwriting of John Phillips circaWolfking, the plaintive honesty of Neil Young, and the fishtank-gazingcacophony of Six Organs of Admittance (Wood is a frequentcollaborator), Wood writes classic-sounding songs that sound readymadefor AM radio, circa 1968.

http://www.myspace.com/husharborsmusic



THE LOST BROTHERS






The lost Brothers are Mark Mccausland and Oisin Leech and you'd be forgiven for mistaking them for the lovechild of Elvis Costello and Simon and Garfunkle (now that would have been a messy little love triangle)..great harmonies, and cracking songs from this charming duo.

http://www.myspace.com/thelostbrothersmusic



STILL CORNERS





Still Corners write dreamy noir-pop love songs, full of swirling organ, wintry vocals, and big drums. A music inspired by the Spector-esque sound of the sixties and influenced by films and soundtracks of the same era.

http://www.myspace.com/stillcorners

All the thanks in the world to Missy Moopie for all the amazing artwork that she creates for the Picnic ( and for Little ray too!)......we love you dearly little Lou....
check her out here.....
www.myspace.com/missymoonpie  

SHORELINE


Shoreline take a refreshing dip into the waters of new folk with a nine piece ensemble predominantly made up of members hewn from the WILLKOMMEN COLLECTIVE. Boasting Brighton's finest strings section, textural guitars weaving through plaintive banjo and the stunning voices of Beatrice Sanjust (MOONSHINEMOONSHINE), James De Malplaquet (THE MISERABLE RICH) and Jacob Richardson (SONS OF NOEL & ADRIAN). Shoreline make their mark as indisputable bearers of the new folk crown.


COLORAMA


Laid back, timeless folk pop from this brilliant four piece from Wales.


FREDERICK STANLEY STAR




So excited are we to have this folky five piece from Wales, we can hardly contain ourselves. Cascading melodies, gentle harmonies, lyrically simple and beautiful.

Join us on December 10th for an evening of FEMME FOLK



 




 
ALESSI'S ARK
Alessi’s Ark is the musical meanderings of 18 year old Alessi Laurent Marke,a magical creature from W. London. Alessi left school at 16 to follow a pop career and her decision proved fortuitous as on hearing a clutch of songs written on her computer, Virgin signed her on the spot. Alessi’s childlike songs take you on a magical journey through her fairytale world. She weaves tales of whimsical poetry and childlike musings  with a musical muturity beyond her youthful years. Influences include Syd Barrett and Arcade Fire and her forthcoming album features backing from American Indie cult band Bright Eyes..
Currently touring with Peggy Sue Alessi’s Ark join us for a headline show that promises to top off this Femme Folk celebration perfectly.



ORA COGAN

Born and raised on a small island of the west coast of Canada Ora Cogan began writing and performing at the age of 12.  Daughter to a Singer and a Photo Journalist. Ora’s house was a home to a recording studio and her Family host to a constant stream of musicians and travelers. She has picked up a few instruments along the way and now resides in Vancouver where she is part of a close knit folksy community that includes The Be Good Tanya’s who helped her with her first album ’Tatter’. Ora stitches together old time Blues with modern Americana ot create her unique sound and her sultry bluesy voice has led to comparisons with Jolie Holland and Alela Diane.
We are very lucky to have Ora with us for the Femme folk celebration…



KRISTIN McCLEMENT
We are very pleased to introduce the beautifully talented Kristin McClement. McClements songs are dark and haunting and her voice distinctive and spellbinding weaving ethereal magic through with ripples of plucks and strums from her guitar. Kristin is in the middle of recording her album for Woodland recordings and is taking time out of her busy schedule to join us for this amazing night.

The first picnic at the Wilmington was absolutely fantastic so thanks to all who came.............


THE LEISURE SOCIETY

The Leisure Society are one in a stream of impressively talented bands from the Brighton based Willkommen collective. Featuring members of 'the Sons of Noel and Adrian', 'Shoreline', 'the Miserable rich' and the writing talents of composer Nick Hemming (Dead Man's Shoes, A Room for Romeo Brass) the Leisure society draw on such diverse influences from the Kinks to Sufjan Steven's to bring us their unique blend of uplifting modern folk, played out on ukes, banjos, flutes, melodicas and strings.

http://www.myspace.com/theleisuresociety

AMBROSE TOMPKINS

Ambrose Tompkins are a sickenly talented bunch from the Midlands that take their cues from classic English psychedelia, pastoral pop and lilting Americana. Trancelike harmonies and sparkling melodies are cajoled from mandolins, toy accordions, xylophones, zither and banjos. Comparisons to the Incredible string band and the Byrds have been made but the're sound is distinctly their own and live they have the power to literally charm the pants off you!

http://www.myspace.com/ambrosetompkins

EMMA TRICCA

Italian-born Queen of Folk Emma Tricca was first spotted by John Renbourn playing for pennies in Rome. An exceptional finger-picking guitarist and a captivating singer; her voice moves from dark and strong to butterfly light, like a Joan Baez, Buffy Sainte-Marie and Janis Ian all-in-one. There's a touch of Karen Dalton in there too....don't miss this pretty songstress..

http://www.myspace.com/emmatricca