Dr A's Blues Consortium (Main)

If you enjoy the very best of British and US Blues, then this 6 piece band will keep you enthralled with their eclectic selection of some of the great classics and many favourites, past and present. A great blues band to kick of this year’s entertainment. I know it’s early in the week, but not to be missed.

Back Porch Band (Main)

From the depths of darkest Suffolk, The Back Porch Band’s unique variety of foot-stomping acoustic blues with a Southern States tinge has seen them build a strong following over the past few years. Their music regularly features on local radio and they are well known in the thriving East Anglian live music scene. The unusual line up features the strong, melodic vocals of Mike Rushmore, (with his right foot on bass drum anchoring the band), world class lead guitar Jonny Miller, the extraordinarily powerful and evocative mouth harp of Steve Graham, with 12-string Tony and the incredible Washboard Dik on guylerphone providing the rhythm.

Nimming Ned (Support)

“It’s infectious high energy folk” says Spiral Earth. “It’s gutsy acoustic folk rock” says Folkwords. It’s the sound made by two old gewgaws, who dared to crawl out of the seedy morass of the shires, to tell their tales of Nedling folklore. Played on electro acoustics guitar & fretless bass - this duo captures the sound of the bars & the underground. They both heard the call: “Tell them about the scarecrows, and the Bogey men too! They will listen. For the spirit of Nimming Ned is with you.”

Touchstone (Main)

This five-piece prog/rock/alternative influenced band was formed in 2003 by Rob Cottingham & Adam J Hodgson. Paul Moorghen joined on bass in 2006,Al Melville joined on drums in January 2007, and to complete the line up Kim Seviour joined on vocals in April 2007. With two successful albums already behind them, their latest album, Wintercoast, was recorded and mixed at Outhouse during February-March 2009. Oscar-winning actor, Jeremy Irons, also features as a very special guest performing the prelude narration. The album was launched at the Rights Of Spring festival in Philadelphia May 2009 and was featured in Classic Rock magazine June 2009. They return to the USA in October, with a full UK tour towards the end of the year and a Poland tour being planned.
Jeff Wayne (War Of The Worlds) - “stunning, passionate music, wonderful singing... ”
Rick Wakeman - Yes - Planet Rock Radio - “Really great new band and great tracks...”

Symptom (Support)

Fronted by local real ale drinking lead vocalist. Picture this, Robert Smith on stage with Bono, Jimmy Page and that bloke with the funny voice from Crash Test Dummies…The lead vocalist has a deep incredibly powerful voice that sticks with you after the last wail of electric guitar has faded… Symptom are literally electric” The Page

The League of Mentalmen (Main)

The League of Mentalmen was formed in March 2002 – prior to Mark joining the band, they were performing similar types of songs with a female singer (Shammi & the Leathers) but knew a male singer would give them more scope for the type of material they wanted to murder!! (then came the idea of wearing women’s clothes for a laugh and they couldn’t have a singer who looked better than them!!).
Like many bands LoM try and take a song and make it their own – in their case taking a standard pop song or ballad and making it faster and rockier than the original, though they have been known to slow it down and add a reggae feel! Plus, of course the odd original punk/metal cover for good measure…..anyway enough said their reputation precedes them.

Convulsions (Support)

Based in Lancashire, the Convulsions have developed a repertoire combining 1960’s riff based up tempo British RnB stylings with punk rock energy. This sound is a dream come true for founding member Benjamin Ruth, ex-pat from Lancaster, England, who moved to Chicago in 1993 to learn more about the roots of urban blues, 50’s rock and roll, and 60’s soul/RnB. An explosive stage presence and upbeat tempo performances mark all their shows. Since Oct. 2005 the Convulsions have become based in the UK where they work the British RnB / Blues festival and club circuit to considerable acclaim with annual visits to the United States.

One Step Behind (Main)

One Step Behind are the UK’s PREMIER MADNESS tribute band. The band was formed in Spring 1993 and has achieved widespread recognition in an unusually short time. At first they played low profile venues in their native London, but quickly progressed and were invited to play larger and more prominent venues such as The Grand, The Venue and The Marquee.
Each member of One Step Behind grew up as a Madness fan and for each, perfecting his portrayal of his original Madness counterpart has been a labour of love. They strive to match every detail of the original, both musically and in appearance.
Like Madness, One Step Behind are well known for their on-stage antics with which they build up an authentic 'Nutty' atmosphere.
This is One Step Behind's philosophy - to carry forward the Mad mantle into the noughties and beyond. They feel that by replicating one of the nation's best-loved institutions, they are keeping alive the spirit that inspired a whole generation, and still enjoys enormous popularity today. One Step Behind see themselves as perpetuating the popularity of Madness, who now rarely appear in public."

angryman (Support)

Following their inspirational set last year, angryman had to be the come back band in 2009. How do you describe angryman is a question often asked? Acoustic Rock is a favourable term they seem to have settled on although it doesn't describe all that goes in to the mix. Throw together Acoustic guitars, a mix of rock and percussive drumming with low end chugging bass lines, effect boxes and passionate hauntingly emotional lyrics sung with real grit and you've about summed up the angryman experience. The new line up of the band consisting of Scott, Steve, Julian and Chris have been gigging constantly since November 07 and are now on the verge of greater things after recently signing a management deal to push their music further a field into the future.

Shake Hands Eric (Support)

Shake Hands Eric is a Peterborough based band. Recently nominated for Internet Radio Magazine's Best New Independent Band of 2009. They are gaining a reputation for delivering self penned sweet harmonies wrapped in a hot steak presentation, coming in with a side salad of eighties covers played with relish.