Headliner Martyn Joseph is a powerful and entertaining songwriter. His songs are pictures, and stories, and feelings all put to music and delivered by a master craftsman.  Built around memories and observations alike, his work is inspired by all that’s good in the world and also that with which society often falls short. In addition to a past gong at the Welsh Music Awards, he has also received many humanitarian plaudits and awards, with themes of social justice being a constant presence throughout his music. Martyn gives a concert and a workshop about his songwriting.

Martyn has fond memories of the Bournemouth International Centre where he once enjoyed the mixed blessing of supporting Dame Shirley Bassey. We await his tale about the experience!

The festival also features other top songwriters Martha Tilston with her band The Woods and Emily Barker with the Red Clay Halo; virtuoso players Andy Cutting and young harp and guitar duo Mike Dawes and Amy Turk. Korasong Radio and the supremely danceable Grupo Lokito provide an African element along with prog-folk stars The Moulettes, Anglo-Spanish firepower from the Urban Folk Quartet and hoedown mayhem from Cutashine.