Meet the Ensemble

Ada Wood – fiddle, North West

“I got into folk music when I was really young, being taken round music festivals like Knockengorroch. That kind of dance folk fiddle was exciting to me when I was three and the excitement never really wore off!”

Alf Steward – cello, West Midlands  

“Playing and arranging folk music makes me feel like I'm on top of the world, and even more so when I'm playing with great mates who share the same passion”

Alice Robinson – fiddle, South West

“To me, folk music is so special because I can be a part of such a brilliant community through the music that I enjoy playing. I love how everyone can add something individual to a piece and when playing together you really feel like a group.”

Barney Marshall – fiddle, London 

“It's so great to be able to play folk music with people of the same age who have the same passion for this genre”

Buffy Hughes – cello, North East

“I like playing folk because you have all the freedom in the world to make a tune personal to you so it's impossible for two people to ever play a tune the same way!”

Carl Schenker – guitar, North East

“I love folk music because of all the cool and interesting instruments not standard to other genres of music!”

Celia Douglas – flute, South West 

“Folk music allows you to fully connect with other like-minded musicians, creating spontaneous music which will never be played exactly the same again. There is something truly wonderful about hearing everyone’s unique interpretations of a 16 bar piece of music, it inspires you to become an even better musician.”

Chloe Mulhall – fiddle, Yorkshire

“I love folk music because you have so much freedom to take a tune and then make something awesome out of it that’s completely new and no one has ever played it the same way before.”

Eloise Pearce – oboe, London 

“The confrontation of a sound born from the traditions of the past with the collaborative, creative minds of today breathes life into music like few other genres. The collaborative creative process intertwined with folk music allows musicians to connect in a truly unique way; a reason I find it difficult not to love folk music.”

Eve Parker – fiddle, South West

“The reason I love folk music is because the tunes are beautiful and you can be creative in making them your own and playing them in your own style.”

Finn Harty – trombone, North West

“I absolutely love folk music because of how flexible it is and that every time you play a tune, it seems to change and grow each time you play it. Also, I feel like folk music is the best way to become more in touch with your instrument and expand your musical knowledge. It's also a great way to meet other folk musicians and I find is just a really fun genre of music to play!”

Isla Buchanan – flute, Yorkshire

“I love the fun of playing folk music by ear with lovely, brilliant people, and experiencing how great tunes change each time you play them.”

Meriel Paget – fiddle, South West  

“I love that every folk tune holds a different story and that that story can be told in so many different ways through so many different individual voices.”

Miles Cade-Stewart – fiddle, East Midlands

“Folk music for me is something I grew up listening to and still love listening to today because of its universal and organic nature – you have the ability to make a tune wholly your own as well as hearing how others have done the same. I also really want to explore the potential of folk fusions in the future combining folk with other genres.”

Naomi Sayal – fiddle, North East

“I absolutely adore folk because of how free and personal you can make it, and how wonderful it feels to create something that yourself and others have contributed to that is entirely your own as a group to be proud of.”

Orran Druitt – whistle, South West  

“I love playing folk music because it brings people together from many different backgrounds in a space where we can share ideas and inspire each other. I am learning so much from my fellow musicians, both technically and creatively.”

Oskar McIntosh – piano accordion, East Midlands

“I love folk music because you can play it however you like, without being restricted by other people's arrangements. It's so fun to take a tune - either playing solo or as a group - and improvise with it, seeing what you can do to make it your own. I'm also fascinated by the enormous variety of unusual and obscure folk instruments found across the world, and the history behind them. ”

Polly Creaton – fiddle, Yorkshire

“I enjoy playing and listening to folk music because it is relaxed and you can be spontaneous and creative. Folk tunes combine rhythms within melodies and no instrument is restricted to one part. I like hearing about the stories of tunes and where they came from and hearing them played differently by each musician and each instrument.”

Róisín Howitt – fiddle, Yorkshire

“I love folk music because it is so versatile and allows me to meet so many amazing people!”

Ruby Smith – fiddle, North East

“I absolutely love folk music because it’s the music I grew up with, seeing as the tradition in the North East is so rich. It’s also so versatile, no two people play a tune the same way and everyone can make it truly their own, which I just think is so cool and interesting.”

Shenara McGuire – concertina, North West

“I love folk music because of how freeing it is. It’s amazing to see how different folk is around the country and to play the really beautiful and diverse tunes. My favourite tunes are the ones with a really groovy beat behind them.”

Woody Nicholls – double bass, South East 

“I love folk music because it is a brilliant and widespread genre of music”

Photography by Camilla Greenwell