Three time UK banjo champion and flat-pick guitar wiz, Richard Collins also tours with American artists and has even been dragged back across the Atlantic for session work in Nashville. Apart from his consummate skill as a musician, Richard has reputedly the largest repertoire of self-deprecating banjo jokes in the world. He appeared as both actor and musician in the Royal Shakespeare Company production of 'A Winter's Tale'
Simon Mayor
As well as a fine fiddler, guitarist, composer, producer and wit, Simon Mayor is one of the world's leading mandolin players. His live performances are a riot of humorous anecdotes and off-the-cuff wit alongside dazzling musicianship. Simon Mayor has an unequalled reputation in folk, bluegrass and classical circles alike. His recordings have been heralded across the media from magazines such as as Q, Vox, fRoots, Rock 'n' Reel, The Living Tradition (Scotland), Sing Out (USA), Trad Mag (France) and Cosmopolitan, to BBC World Service' BBC World Service, Radio 2 , Radio 3's In Tune and the Classic FM Artist Chart top ten.
Hilary James
Hilary James may be best known for her exquisite singing, but she's also plays the double bass, mighty mandobass and is a mean guitar picker. Her superb voice defies categorisation and has featured everywhere from the BBC's Folk on 2 to Radio 1 and Classic FM! Covering everything from folk music to blues and swing, her four solo CDs have been played on radio stations from Los Angeles to Latvia and brought an invitation to make a video with MTV award winning editor/producer Dan Lebenthal in Hollywood. Her latest CD, English Sketches, was in the Sunday Times Best Ten World Music Albums of 2011.