Voices for Change

Gretchen Peters has accumulated accolades as a songwriter for artists as diverse as Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, The Neville Brothers, Patty Loveless, George Strait, Bryan Adams and Faith Hill. Independence Day, recorded by Martina McBride, won a CMA Song of the Year award in 1995.

She has been nominated for 2 Grammys, a Golden Globe and numerous other awards. Her 2015 album, Blackbirds was awarded International Album of the Year and Song of the Year by the UK Americana Association.

In 2015, The Daily Telegraph named her one of the greatest 60 female singer-songwriters of all time.

Gretchen was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in October 2014 and iIn 2021 she was awarded The Poets Award by the Academy of Country Music.

She is joining us for this event with her long-time collaborator and husband, Barry Walsh - an incredible keyboard and accordion player and pianist whose credits include - Waylon Jennings, Roy Orbison, Jessi Colter, The Amazing Rhythm Aces, Tom Russell, and Gretchen Peters, among others.

Martin Carthy MBE, one of Britain’s most influential folk musicians, remains a defining force in the genre. Renowned for his distinctive guitar style and deep commitment to traditional music, Carthy was a key figure in the 1960s folk revival, influencing artists such as Paul Simon.

Over his six-decade career, he has collaborated with icons like Dave Swarbrick, Steeleye Span, and The Watersons. He has also worked with Drum and Bass pioneers and World Music luminaries Imagined Village, showcasing his ability to bridge musical traditions.

In recognition of his contributions, he was awarded an honorary doctorate alongside his MBE and multiple BBC Folk Awards. Carthy continues to perform and inspire new generations, ensuring the rich traditions of British folk music endure.

Describing herself simply as a ‘modern English musician’, Eliza Carthy is one of the most recognisable faces in British folk.

She has received an MBE; numerous BBC R2 Folk Awards; two Mercury Prize nominations; was the first English traditional musician to be nominated for a BBC R3 Award for World Music, and in 2021 became President of the English Folk Dance & Song Society.

Thomm Jutz is a German-born American singer, songwriter, producer and guitarist based in Nashville, Tennessee.

He has worked with folk singer Nanci Griffith (as a member of her Blue Moon Orchestra), Eric Brace & Peter Cooper, Mary Gauthier, Mac Wiseman, Bobby Bare, Connie Smith, Marty Stuart, David Olney, Otis Gibbs, Kim Richey, Bill Anderson, Amy Speace, Milan Miller and Marc Marshall.

His songs have been recorded by Nanci Griffith, John Prine, Kim Richey, Junior Sisk, Kenny and Amanda Smith, Balsam Range, Buddy Melton, Milan Miller and Terry Baucom.

"To Live In Two Worlds, Vol 1" was nominated for a 2021 Grammy Award in the Bluegrass category.

Thomm is featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s American Currents exhibit.

Pam Sheyne is a multi-platinum selling songwriter, singer and vocal producer. Her songwriting career has achieved success on a global scale, it includes international hit records and sync placements in numerous TV shows, and films around the world. With 50+ million record sales, 100+ platinum sales, she is also a prestigious Ivor Novello Award winner and a 7 times BMI Radio Play Award recipient.

Best known for co-writing the No.1 single, Genie in A Bottle for Christina Aguilera, Pam’s songs have been covered by a number of multi-platinum global artists including; Camila Cabello, Demi Lovato, Lindsay Lohan, Corrine Bailey Rae, Seal, Sinead O’Connor, The Backstreet Boys, Jason Derulo, Cece Winans and more.

As a singer Pam has performed, toured or recorded with the following artists including; The Pet Shop Boys, Elton John, Celine Dion, Tom Jones, Lulu, Daryl Hall, Cyndi Lauper, Laura Pausini and Dave Stewart.

Sarah Bethany is a music artist, vocalist, pianist, songwriter and producer. She graduated at the UMKC Conservatory of Music and studied with world-renowned pianist, Kristín Jónína-Taylor and vocal coach James Meny, (protégé of Seth Riggs; vocal coach for Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder). She started writing and producing original songs and instrumental music which led her to pitch for film and TV. In 2023, her song "Speak Easy", was featured in the opening scene of a prime-time TV show on ABC. Her songs have also been placed on other major networks, such as Paramount +, BET + and in several indie films.

Mo began his professional music career playing bass with Ray Charles. He then began working as a session musician, backing some of the most accomplished talents in Jazz and R&B including George Duke, Natalie Cole, Dianne Reeves, Jonathan Butler, Rachelle Ferrell, Michael McDonald, Oleta Adams, Roberta Flack, Marcus Miller and Frankie Beverly and Maze, to name a few.

From 1989 through 1992, Mo was both keyboardist and musical director with saxophonist Najee, pianist Alex Bugnon, and vocalists Philip Bailey, Patti Austin and Jon Lucien. In 1993, he became a member of the legendary group Earth, Wind & Fire, and ascended to become the band’s musical director in 1994.

Mo was featured playing keyboards, trumpet and guitar with Janet Jackson’s 2001 All For You tour and played keyboards and trumpet with Boney James’ 2004 Pure tour. As a principal member of the group Devoted Spirits, Mo was featured playing keyboards for Jimi Hendrix’s 60th Birthday Celebration.

In addition to performing at worldwide jazz festivals including Montreux, North Sea, St. Lucia, Cancun, and Montreal, Mo has been a featured concert pianist, performing Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” with the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra and for the Boston Ballet.

Two-time Grammy nominated Kim Richey has, over the past two decades, released ten critically acclaimed albums, been listed in the ‘Top 10 Albums of 1999’ in Time Magazine for her album Glimmer, plus received 4-stars in Rolling Stone and named ‘AltCountry Album of the Year’ in People Magazine for her album Rise.

Her 2013 release Thorn In My Heart was named in year’s end best lists by No Depression, The Boston Globe and The Associated Press.

She has written two #1 singles and had four others hit Top 10. Her songs have been recorded by Trisha Yearwood, Mary Chapin Carpenter, James Morrison, Brooks and Dunn and many others.

Kim has contributed backing vocals on albums by Trisha Yearwood, Ryan Adams, Shawn Colvin and Jason Isbell to name a few.

Kim’s songs have been featured in films and television series over the years ranging from recent placements in NASHVILLE (three songs) and Bones to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dawson’s Creek and many more.

Martin Stephenson began his career as a busker aged 15. He then spent three years plying his trade as the guitar player in various bands in the North East of England .

He developed his song-writing technique by firstly learning a few licks from a Spanish guitar book and repeated the process with Jazz, Blues, Country, SkifFle, Reggae etc. Eventually, this glorious collision of styles would become the trademark which Martin has carried through his career of almost 40 years.

Martin formed his band The Daintees, who became busking sensations and were signed by Kitchenware at around the same time as Prefab Sprout and Hurrah!

The band, and indeed Martin, have always been known for their incredible range of styles, each album covering a multitude of genres, tempos and moods.

The Daintees went on to release four critically acclaimed albums between 1986 & 1992; Boat To Bolivia, Gladsome Humour and Blue, Salutation Road, and The Boys Heart.

Kathryn Williams is a Liverpool born; Mercury Music prize nominated singer songwriter with 16 albums under her belt.

Before her last release, Night Drives (which entered the official folk album charts straight to number 2), the label One Little Independent celebrated her career thus far with a 20 CD, two book, box set anthology strewn with her art.

She has written a novel ‘The Ormering Tide’ which received high praise and was listed in The Bookseller as a best seller for the north of England. She hosts her own popular podcast “before the light goes out” which was put in the top ten best music podcasts by the Guardian.

Kathryn tutors in Creative Writing at Arvon Foundation, Moniack Mhor, The Writing Squad and writes songs with many diverse artists around the world including Paul Weller, Ed Harcourt, Beth Neilsen Chapman and Michele Stodart.

It was the start of 2020 when Robert’s third LP, the critically-acclaimed ‘In This Town You’re Owned’, was released by Thirty Tigers and walked straight into a worldwide pandemic. Despite stalled promotional plans and tours, the record resonated enough to win the Americana Music Association UK’s ‘Album Of The Year’ award for 2021. Receiving critical acclaim, the record also charted at number 2 in the UK Americana Charts and American Songwriter Magazine named ‘In this Town You’re Owned’ in its top 20 albums (every genre) of 2020. “I had to try to take the positives as an artist’ Robert says when recalling the experience of lockdown. “I hadn’t had any time off from performing in many years and that gave me a bit of a reset…but I’m now looking ahead to a successful year and excited to be playing new songs to people”.

It was Vincent’s powerful and soulful voice that attracted acolytes such as Bob Harris, Paul Carrack and Mary Chapin Carpenter. In 2016, Harris awarded Robert with his ‘Emerging Artist’ of the year award at the inaugural UK Americana Awards show describing Vincent as “absolutely magnetic” and “the real deal”. In 2018 following the release of ‘I’ll Make The Most Of My Sins’ (AMAUK Album of The Year 2018) Robert was invited to perform on the BBC ‘Old Grey Whistle Test, For One Night Only’ closing the show. It was this performance that would propel him to number 1 and 2 in the iTunes Album and Singles Charts.

“A phenomenal, spiritual listen” - Sunday Times Album Review

Joe (he/they) is a queer, Jewish, Northern, Offie award-winning writer, performer, producer, drag artist and comedian.

Performing credits include Jersey Boys (International Tour), Sleep No More (Punchdrunk), Oklahoma! (Gordon Craig), Wishmas (Secret Cinema), Ghostbusters: The Gates of Gozer (Secret Cinema) and The Best of Wham! (UK Tour).

TV Credits include The Last Leg (Channel 4) and Britain’s Got Talent (ITV).

​Joe has written lyrics, script and jokes for productions appearing in the West End, Las Vegas, on UK Tours and on primetime television.

As a writer, Joe is passionate about stories that centralise queer, Northern voices and that honour his Jewish heritage and is passionate about accessibility in theatre, and in celebrating narratives that authentically represent disabled voices and experiences.

Joe is also a qualified yoga teacher, pilates instructor, personal trainer and sports masseur. His hobbies include fitness, vintage menswear and accidentally killing his houseplants.

Hailing from Vancouver, Canada, The Fugitives are an acoustic folk-roots group headed by songwriters Adrian Glynn and Brendan McLeod. They’re joined by banjo player Chris Suen (Viper Central) and violinist Carly Frey (The Coal Porters).

Over their first five albums, they’ve amassed a JUNO nomination, numerous CFMA and WCMA nominations, and toured extensively through Canada, Europe, and the UK. Performance highlights include most major Canadian folk festivals, a slot at Glastonbury, and a tour opening for Buffy Sainte-Marie.

In 2020, the band created “Ridge”, a WW1-centered theatre show, which was named a Globe & Mail “Top Arts Pick of the Year”, and has toured to over 30 theatres across Canada. The band has earned a reputation for unforgettable live shows, brimming with complex harmonies, infectious storytelling and top-notch musicianship.

Their most recent album is Trench Songs. It was nominated for a JUNO Award for Traditional Roots Album of the Year and two Canadian Folk Music Awards— Ensemble of the Year and Vocal Group of the Year.

Their 2018 album, The Promise of Strangers, was also nominated for Canadian Folk and Western Canadian Music Awards, and won Best Folk Album of 2019 from the German Music Critics’ Association..

Martin is a 25 x Platinum-Award winning songwriter, record producer and accomplished multi-instrumentalist with over 32 years of professional experience in the music business.

His outstanding career has seen him work with global major-label artists including Backstreet Boys, Celine Dion, LeAnn Rimes, Sir Cliff Richard, Mike & The Mechanics, Kim Wilde, Mica Paris, Des'ree, Blue, Super Junior, Lena, Garou, Michael Patrick Kelly, Heather Small, Lulu, Lisa Lois, Till Bronner, Toyah Wilcox, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, and multiple winners of The Voice around the world.

BBC Folk Awards ‘Best Musician’ nominee Dan Walsh combines ‘virtuoso playing and winning songwriting’.

Describing what Dan does is no easy task but at the heart of it is British, Irish and American folk music delivered with a healthy dose of funky grooves – all performed with his unique and dazzling take on clawhammer style banjo helping to challenge all preconceptions about the instrument.

Walsh has recorded five albums to much critical acclaim and he is an in demand performer with a hectic touring schedule in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and throughout Europe.

Both solo and as a member of the award winning Urban Folk Quartet, this unique and eclectic musician has stunned audiences across the world.

His banjo playing is second to none in the UK and he’d put many to shame in the US too – RnR Magazine

Cat is an accomplished and much sought- after songwriter, producer and session vocalist with 3 iTunes No.1 records already under her belt.

Cat is in constant call to collaborate with Grammy Award-winning and Multi- Platinum songwriters and producers, and has achieved numerous sync placements.

With a voice strangely reminiscent of Eva Cassidy's purity, the heat of Stevie Nicks and smokey tones of Miley Cyrus, Cat reaches into your soul and gives it a massive hug with her deep authenticity and profound positivity.

Kairen has been an actor, singer, producer, broadcaster, presenter, PR guru and mentor.

She is known for her passion for great music and her empathy with artists. She is a producer and presenter for the BBC on the Introducing The South unsigned music show as well as guesting on other shows on the station and presenting a regular podcast for Reverb Radio.

She has also worked in the commercial broadcasting sector on other stations. Her passion has been the development of all artists at all levels including unsigned artists.

Liz Lenten (aka Auburn) is a British singer-songwriter known for an eclectic mix of Americana, blues, and roots music. . Her collaborations with Grammy-nominated producers and performances with legendary musicians have solidified her international reputation. In 2022, she was honoured with the British Empire Medal (BEM) for her contributions to music and education.

She also presents the Behind the Scenes of an Indie Artist podcast, where together with her PA (and podcast producer) Daisy Gilham, she reconnects with collaborators from the past 25 years to share stories, creative and industry insights, and behind-the-scenes conversations about the logistical realities of being an independent artist.