ColvinQuarmby features the brilliant song writing abilities and energy fuelled performance skills of Gerry Colvin (vocals / acoustic guitar) Nick Quarmby (bass / vocals) Martin Fitzgibbon (drums / vocals) Allen Maslen (guitar/vocals) and Marion Fleetwood (fiddle/cello/vocals).

“A heady and potent mixture of driving acoustic rhythm, laced with liberal helpings of folk, country, skiffle, an inherent and intelligent use of the pop sensibility, topped off with some simply irresistible harmonies.” Froots Magazine

Gerry Colvin’s songs have an unmistakable English lyrical content, with the priceless ability to wittily observe seemingly ordinary and occasionally mundane aspects of everyday life, and marry them to beautiful melodies, which stay in the memory long after first hearing. The band have established a reputation as one of the best live acts around, and have played at some of the biggest festivals in the country. In 2009 they were voted second best act at the Cropredy festival (second only to the mighty Richard Thompson and ahead of Seth Lakeman).

“Gerry Colvin is a writer of great substance who is able to give us something that has been largely missing in English Music for a long time. His subjects and characters are clearly defined and his songs create strong images and stories which can make us both laugh and cry in the same breath.

Coupled with his manic delivery and performance and with the perfect band to bring these songs to life - Martin Fitzgibbon’s tight articulate drumming coupled with Nick Quarmby’s unique melodic bass style combine to create the perfect vehicle for Gerry’s songs.

This band is unique and unforgettable. The songs are brilliant. They should be a household name. Go see them.” Phil Beer, Show of Hands

ColvinQuarmby are old friends of ours and we always look forward to their concerts here, their music defies categorisation, its very different from the “folkier” acts that we usually present, it’s original, superbly crafted songs reflecting the ups, the downs and the absurdities of everyday life, with fine musicianship, five piece harmonies to die for, and a totally unique performing style. We encourage everyone to come along, it’s a great show.

Double BBC folk award nominee Lucy Ward makes a welcome third appearance at Rugby Roots.

Having supported many of the top folk artists including Seth Lakeman, Chris Wood, Tams & Coope, Phil Beer, Dave Swarbrick, Nancy Kerr & James Fagan and The Oysterband. Lucy has gone on to become a headline act in her own right at festivals and clubs all over the country.

Lucy crowned a highly successful 2011 festival season with a stand-out performance and a standing ovations to a capacity audience at Shrewsbury Folk Festival.

Having signed to Navigator Records in 2010, her debut album “Adelphi Has To Fly” was released in June 2011. It attracted very positive reviews from Mike Harding (BBCRadio 2), Verity Sharpe (BBC Radio 3) as well as publications such as The Guardian, Uncut, and Froots Mag.

Lucy is a 21 year old acoustic artist from Derby. She plays guitar and concertina but considers her voice to be her first instrument. Her sets are an eclectic mix of traditional and modern folk interpretations, interspersed with her own songs. There is a natural and easy sound to her music that is brought to life by expressive performance, breath-taking delivery and Lucy’s own brand of banter and crowd participation.

Lucy has the ability to still an audience with the strength and purity of her voice, which she uses to great effect on the unaccompanied songs that sprinkle her set. She is developing into a fine songwriter and a consummate performer who wows her audience with her genuine and sparkling personality and her stunning voice.

Lucy will be supported by Kent based young singer/songwriter Luke Jackson

Northampton and Banbury based five piece band Little Johnny England who “redefined the folk-rock map” according to Show of Hands’ Phil Beer back in the late nineties/early noughties are, after a number of quiet years while the individual members concentrated on other projects, back with a vengeance, a new line-up and a fine new album “Tournament Of Shadows”.

In the new line-up long time members Gareth Turner, PJ Wright and Guy Fletcher are joined by ex Fatima Mansion’s bass player Hugh Bunker and respected writer and producer Mark Stevens on drums. Gareth, PJ and Guy have an impressive track record having between them played with Show Of Hands, Dave Pegg, Ruby Turner, The Steve Gibbons Band, The Albion Band, The Phil Beer Bands, Tickled Pink, Dansaul and The Dylan Project.

Their unique take on traditional and contemporary folk music with a powerful rock foundation brought “folk-rock” to a wider audience and attracted the attention of audiences and press both from within the genre and beyond into the mainstream with their last studio album ‘Mercs & Cherokees’ achieving a glowing four star review in Q magazine.

Known to most people as Chopper, longstanding member of the award winning group Oysterband, Ray Cooper here presents songs from his critically acclaimed debut solo album released in 2010. Tales of Love War and Death by Hanging shows his voice off to full effect as well as his song writing and multi-instrumental skills. For this live performance Ray will be accompanying himself on cello and guitar.

The repertoire is his own style of folk music, reflecting the album title. At times dark, at times warm, and sometimes showing a musical flavour from Sweden, which is where he has been living for the last few years.

“Heavenly music, truly inspiring and what it’s all about. I have been to the well and feel nourished” – Marion Fleetwood, ColvinQuarmby

Peter Knight’s Gigspanner has been hailed by Songlines magazine as “another milestone in folk’s rebirth of cool moment”, but those in the know will tell you that there is far more to Gigspanner than meets the eye.

A Bedrock of British traditional music is to be expected from Steeleye Span’s legendary fiddle player, but Gigspanner’s musical reach probes into Eastern European, French, African and even Aboriginal influences. It is no surprise that author Terry Pratchett wrote that “Peter Knight can spin the world on his Bow”. It is music played with a potency and love that leaves audiences spellbound.

Peter is joined by Roger Flack on Guitar, and Vincent Salzfaas on Congas and Djembe, both intelligent and powerful musicians in their own right. Together they promise “a blistering pace of a flamboyant musical world tour” (Lancashire Evening Post).

Gigspanner’s Debut Album ‘Lipreading the Poet’ was named as one of the best 15 Global Albums of 2009. But leave any pre-conceived ideas at the door, and ditch the pigeonholes. If you have a taste for “music of intelligently crafted brilliance” (Songlines magazine) there is something here to nurture your soul.

Music samples can be heard at: www.reverbnation.com/peterknightsgigspanner

Further Information at: www.gigspanner.com