MUSIC
- Acoustic Stage
- Fringe Tent – DJ sessions
- Martyrs’ Marquee
- Fringe Tent – Tolpuddle Unplugged
- Martyrs’ Marquee
- Open Mic
You can download a copy of the full programme here.
Friday
Acoustic Stage
14.00
14:35 – Archie Ray
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Archie Ray is a prolific Singer/Songwriter from Cornwall. An artist who brings multiple genres and various walks of life into a shared space of music by blending the sounds of artists such as Ed Sheeran, Sam Fender, Lewis Capaldi, Foy Vance and The Script. From rock-pop ballads, catchy hip-hop tunes or emotional soundscapes, Archie Ray covers all ground in a live performance, getting the audience involved and singing along. This artist style of songwriting and performance has taken Archie Ray’s music to BBC Introducing Southwest and Solent, BBC Cornwall, Sync in a Raindance Awarded No.1 UK Feature 2021 alongside Declan McKenna in the Soundtrack, Theatre shows selling 100+ Tickets and most recently returning from a leg of a Tour in Ireland supporting established artist Brad Heidi. |
15:10
15.45 – Kitty Stewart
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From Glastonbury Festival stages to airtime on BBC Radio Bristol Kitty Stewart’s songwriting is fuelled by the fire in her belly for social and climate justice. With folk infused comedy-pop originals, medleys and covers with a twist, her soulful vocals and intricate ukulele skills promise a thought provoking and soul-nourishing good time! |
16.20 – George Mann
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A former union organiser and activist based in Ithaca, New York, George Mann sings songs from the last century of the labour and social justice movements, and his own songs are powerful and funny takes on the state of the United States. His concerts are part sing-along, part history lesson, and he can make you shout for joy, send chills down your spine or bring tears to your eyes in the same set. |
From 21.00 – DJ sets in the Tolpuddle Fringe including Vinyl Van
19.00 – Negra Santa
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Negra Santa is a native band from Argentina, defined as a band from the Third World and mestizo. It is also referred to as #AlternoLatinoPunk. The band features conscious lyrics and a musical rhythm, having performed more than 600 shows in Argentina and Europe. With a strong influence from bands like Mano Negra, Manu Chao, and KMST, Negra Santa has successfully merged musical rhythms such as cumbia, cuarteto, punk, ska, and raggamuffin.
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20.15 – Jess Silk
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Jess Silk is a guitarist, singer and songwriter from the Black Country. Her shouty but melodic brand of folk/punk music gets people sitting up and listening. Armed only with an increasingly sticker-covered acoustic guitar, lyrics right from the heart and a distinctive, gravelly voice that many don’t expect, Jess plays to audiences up and down the UK and has shared stages with many well known names among the folk/punk scene. |
21.30 – Logic
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A highly respected member of the UK hip hop community, Logic has used his platform to create a space for up and coming talent via his organisation, Peoples Army. Labelled as a ‘concious’ rapper as his music always has a message and when combined with a positive vibration you have a winning formula. Combining Hip-hop with afro-beats and other genres, Logic has a unique sound and approach towards his music which encompasses many elements. Not only was he featured on the legendary ‘Fire In The Booth’ series twice, but he was also the first artist to urge Charlie pull up his lyric and start again. A prominent figure who has featured on Linkup TVs Behind Bars series as well as SBTVs warm up sessions. Logic always comes alive on stage and his presence has set a standard within the UK music scene which is hard to match. |
22.45 – The Halfway Kid
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The rising singer/songwriter blazing a trail independently both online and offline. “His debut album “If I Don’t Come Home (Go To My House and Burn My Things)” is a beautiful, mesmerising experience. He draws you in with his intimate, relaxed style with echoes of Elliot Smith and Bob Dylan but with his own humour and sensibility. He has a charisma that holds an audience, who listen to his every word, while swaying and moving to the groove that he builds with the band.” – John Kennedy |
Saturday
19.00 Tolpuddle Unplugged
Tolpuddle Unplugged is the festival’s best kept secret.
Nobody knows quite what will happen in the Fringe Tent on Saturday night, not even the hosts of this stage with no PA, no lighting and no running order but something special always does, as headline acts from other stages mix with walk-ups and festival regulars to perform completely unplugged to an audience prepared to expect the unexpected.
You never know who might turn up to sing a song or two.
19.00 – Nasty Fishmonger
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Nasty Fishmonger is a rowdy folk-punk band from Bristol. They play anti-austerity anthems and historical ballads with a camaraderie and charm that is hard to resist. Drunkenly conceived in 2018 with the sole ambition of getting into festivals for free, the chaotic folk-punk collective have gigged relentlessly up and down the country, winning over crowds with their foot-stomping sound and political anthems. Having played with heavy hitters such as The Dreadnoughts, Ferocious Dog, Mad Dog Mcrea and Black Water County, the band has proved time and again they can conquer stages of any size, from the iconic Rock City, to the infamous Boomtown Fair. |
20.15 – Onika Venus
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Onika Venus is a singer and songwriter from South Manchester in Jamaica, now based in the Forest of Dean. Introduced to live music at an early in age in her home village of Resource, she quickly learnt that music reaches people in a way that nothing else does. Ever since her first performance, her soulful voice and reggae style has been capturing the hearts of audiences across continents.
With a unique vocal style and outstanding musicianship, Onika now performs her multi-genre music across the UK with her band. Expect to hear shades of old school reggae, RnB, pop, and funk – as well as a few surprises. |
21.30 – Shanghai Treason
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Those cheeky party starting Yorkshire Banjo Punks ‘Shanghai Treason’ will have you hopping around, spilling your pint and smiling from ear to ear. It’s politically charged, good time, beer drinking music that’s perfect for big tops, festival fields and one man revolutions! |
22.45 – Grace Petrie
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Forged from the political disillusionment of a generation of Tory rule, folk-rock cult hero and queer icon Grace Petrie returns to UK venues this year with the protest song firmly back in her heart. Long renowned for her razor sharp lyricism and the joyful, welcoming nature of her stunning live shows, Petrie smashed the UK charts with latest album Build Something Better. Produced by Frank Turner and packed with full-hearted modern folk anthems, it shot to the top of both the folk and the UK download chart, cementing her status as one of Britain’s most beloved songwriters. |
Open mic and poetry sessions
No advance booking – get your name on the board
Nestled in between the Fringe and the Workers Beer tent is a small stage where the great, the good and sometimes the “A* for effort come and showcase their talent. You might spot some rising starts here. We also have a great line up of performing poetry. Why not give it a go?
12.00-13.00 Poetry
13.00-16.30 – Open Mic music
Sunday
Main Stage
MC: Robb Johnson
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Robb’s widely recognised as one of the UK’s finest songwriters. He enjoys playing pubs, clubs, benefits, art centres, picket lines & Tolpuddle Festival.“An English original”, (Robin Denselow, the Guardian) … “a national treasure” (Mike Harding)…“one of this country’s most important songwriters (no argument!)” (fROOTS). |
11.00 – Du Glas
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Songs of miners, mutiny and murder; starvation, sirens and smugglers, that’s what you get with this bunch of Cornish renegades. Du Glas offer their own brand of original roots music, combining influences from Americana and British folk-rock, inspired by the people and stories of their native land. Their energy, humour and love of gin has incited such madness that audiences have thrown away their pints, danced in a downpour and bounced on the bar like a Bruckheimer film (you know the one we mean). You’d be a fool to miss it! |
11.55 – Speit
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Speit is a UK-born Palestinian hip hop and spoken word artist who visits the West Bank yearly and is inspired to become the voice of freedom – standing up and speaking out for all those without a voice. 🇵🇸 ✊ Exciting, energising, poignant and highly relevant. |
13.00 – Angeline Morrison
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Angeline is one of the freshest voices in English folk music today, celebrated for her soulful, resonant voice, evocative songwriting, and deeply affecting performances. Her artistry has earned standing ovations on stages large and small, with Mojo ranking her #5 among key voices of 2023.
A singer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, Angeline’s music explores ordinary lives with reverence and curiosity. Accompanying herself on autoharp, dulcimer, and mbira, or singing unaccompanied, she delivers performances that linger long in memory. The Birmingham born-musician is now settled in Cornwall, where she is an active figure in the local music scene. |
15.45 – PET NEEDS
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Founded by brothers Johnny and George Marriott, PET NEEDS’ career has been sky-rocketing ever since the release of their acclaimed debut ‘Fractured Party Music’ back in 2021. From getting signed to Xtra Mile Recordings, to sold out shows, rave reviews to rabid fans, and embarking on extensive global tours; demand for these four lads from Essex has been on a trajectory with the stratosphere. Joined by Jules (drums) and Ryan (bass), the band released their third studio album, ‘Intermittent Fast Living’ in February 2024 which entered the Official Album Chart at Number 17. |
16.45 – Billy Bragg
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Billy Bragg has been a fearless recording artist, tireless live performer and peerless political campaigner for 40 years, with 11 solo albums plus many collaborations under his belt.Punk rocker, soldier, Essex boy, folk singer, Skiffle aficionado, protest singers’ protest singer, patriot, optimist, lefty polemicist, author, soul miner, musicologist, champion of the underclasses, Cockney vocalist and all round decent bloke.
‘Unquestionably our generation’s finest protest singer…vital and indispensable’ Classic Pop |
11.00 – Dryadic
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Emerging Bristol folk-roots sensation, Dryadic, deliver an infectious blend of rootsy folk with a melodic pop flair on strings, keys and stomp, peppered with heart soaring vocals and vibrant fiddle licks. Expect a rhythmical mix-up of stomping feminist protest songs to travelling folk tales to dreamy, epic ballads with candid, hilarious, queer lyrics and five-string fiddles with oversized (double) bass guitars do-si-do-ing with the audience! Their new single ‘Smiling in the Dark’ is a joyful, effervescent love song that’s unapologetically queer and brimming with energy. |
1140 – Peter Vadiveloo
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Hailing from Australia, Peter’s songwriting is characterized by its thought-provoking nature. His lyrics delve into a wide range of topics, and listeners have described them as political, funny, provocative, playful, moving, and thought-provoking. His songs primarily revolve around environmental and social justice issues, highlighting his commitment to raising awareness and promoting positive change through his music.
What sets Peter apart is his diverse musical repertoire. Drawing from his lifelong experience, he seamlessly incorporates an astonishing array of genres into his songs. From rock/pop, funk, jazz, and flamenco to comedy cabaret, musical theatre, opera, folk, Latino and Afro-Cuban music, Peter’s versatility knows no bounds. This eclectic fusion of styles allows him to create a unique and captivating musical experience for his listeners. |
1220 – Susie Lewis
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Susie Lewis is a singer songwriter and actor from Cornwall, UK. She has worked in theatre, film and television. In recent years, Susie has released three solo albums on Four Monkeys Records to critical acclaim and streaming success. Her songs are poignant, often humorous and reflect the world we live in today. Within trade union circles she is best known for her RMT campaign song ‘Last Train Home’. |
1300 – Chris Harrison
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Chris Harrison is a musician and composer who grew up in the North East and is now based in London. After a career in music education, he has turned his attention to making more of his own music and to developing music-making within his local community, where he runs an instrumental band and a singing group and conducts a community orchestra.
His set at this festival will largely feature his own settings of poems by his great-great-grandfather, Joseph Skipsey (1832-1903). Skipsey was a Northumberland miner who taught himself to read and write and became a nationally respected poet. His work includes a poem on the Hartley Calamity of 1862, which he himself recited at events to raise money for the families of the 203 miners killed in the tragedy. This song will be included in the performance at Tolpuddle. Overall, the songs – recorded under the title of Carols from the Coalfields – offer a vivid picture of the life and times of the mining community in the north-east. |