Artists 2025
Read all about the Didmarton 2025 artists!
Growling Old Men (USA)
Remedy Tree (USA)
Erynn Marshall & Carl Jones (USA)
Taff Rapids (Wales)
The Often Herd
The Rye Sisters
Jaywalkers
Old Baby Mackerel
Blue Lass
Chris Eaton & Flint County
Jock & Vera
Doghouse Ramblers
Ed Hicks & His Hot Cow Licks
Joff Lowson Trio
The William Bakerfield Band
Kidmarton Kids
Growling Old Men (U.S.A)
Ben Winship (mandolin/vocals) and John Lowell (guitar/vocals) are both veterans of the Northern Rockies acoustic music world, and have been performing and recording together since 1998. Together the duo presents a tight, yet relaxed set of original and traditional bluegrass songs, ballads and tunes, informed equally by the music of the Appalachian hills and the western plains.
In concert the Growling Old Men are engaging and spontaneous as they make a big sound for two guys. Their shows include a blend of well-rehearsed material and a few new songs hot off the press, they like to walk the edge of improvisational risk taking.
Ben Winship is a multi-instrumentalist and a founding member of Loose Ties, with whom he performed from 1986 to 1996. In the words of Tim O’Brien, “Ben is one of the acoustic music scene’s best writers.” In addition to the Growling Old Men, he also performs with Brother Mule, the Fishing Music Band and local Dixieland band the Jackson 6. Ben also runs a well-respected recording studio, the Henhouse.
John Lowell has been a major name in the Northern Rockies bluegrass and acoustic music scene for the past 45 years. Fronting two of the region’s finest bands – Wheel Hoss and Kane’s River – John has set a standard for rock solid guitar playing, great singing, and captivating songwriting. Minor 7th magazine said “Lowell flat-picks and sings with panache and a musicality that transcends genres”. His 2022 solo recording She’s Leaving Cheyenne was named #1 by Wyoming Public Radio and his song Angus MacKenzie won Working Cowboy Song of the Year. Most recently the International Western Music Association named John Songwriter of the Year and his recording Snow On The Wineglass was named Western Album of the Year. In December of 2024, he received the Montana Governor’s Arts Award, the highest honour bestowed upon artist working in the visual, literary or performing arts.
Remedy Tree (U.S.A)
Remedy Tree is Florida’s hard driving modern bluegrass band. Lyric driven songs, foot stomping energy and heart warming melodies define Remedy Tree, a band focused on original music, blending bluegrass, folk and old time music with new ideas, creating a truly unique modern Americana sensation. Remedy Tree, (Gabriel Acevedo – guitar, Abigail Acevedo – double bass, Nathan Beaumont – mandolin, Isacc Taylor – banjo) burst on to the scene at the 2023 IBMA Ramble Showcase, captivating audiences as one of the southeast’s hottest emerging bands, taking 2nd place at the 2025 SPBGMA Band Competition and sharing stages with legends like, Peter Rowan, Rhonda Vincent, Ricky Skaggs, Della Mae and The Steeldrivers, they’re redefining the boundaries of bluegrass and Americana. Founded by Gabriel and Abigail Acevedo, Remedy Tree’s sound is rooted in indie folk, infused with Gabriel’s Puerto Rican heritage and Appalachian influences. Born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico and raised in rural Florida, Gabriel brings a unique perspective to the genre.
Erynn Marshall & Carl Jones
Erynn Marshall and Carl Jones are old-time musicians and inspired tunesmiths from Galax, Virginia. They are married – in life and music. Southern song-duets and powerful fiddle, guitar, mandolin, banjo tunes comprise their diverse sets. Erynn and Carl play with spontaneity and vitality. While rooted in the traditional sounds of older players, this duo stays true to their own muse by composing new, tradition-rooted music. Carl’s song, Last Time on the Road was featured on the grammy-award winning album “Unleashed” by the Nashville Bluegrass Band. They have won many awards for their playing including Erynn’s 1st place fiddle win at Clifftop (The Appalachian Stringband Festival – and was the first woman to do so in 19 years) and Carl’s 3rd place fingerpicking-guitar win at Winfield – both premier festivals in the United States. They have 15 recordings between them including their duet CD Sweet Memories Never Leave. Erynn and Carl have recently toured in the US, Canada, Europe, Australia and China.
Erynn Marshall is an old-time fiddler and is known internationally for her traditional music. Erynn learned the nuances of Appalachian old-time fiddling from rare recordings and visiting 80-95 year-old southern fiddlers. Her effortless, transportive way of playing expresses joy, mournfulness and stays true to the old tunes. Her original tunes are becoming common repertoire in fiddle circles. In 2019, she won first place old-time fiddle Mt. Airy Bluegrass & Old-time Fiddlers Convention. Erynn is coordinator for Swannanoa Old-Time Week (Swannanoa, NC) and Program Director for Alleghany JAM (Junior Appalachian Musicians) a non-profit that helps children learn traditional music afterschool.
Carl Jones is an American songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, born in Macon, Georgia. He studied music near Muscle Shoals, Alabama and was influenced by seeing Roy Orbison, Steve Goodman, and Mac Macanally record there. Carl is widely respected for his instrumental talents and original songs about the joys and tribulations of day-to-day life in the South. Carl’s songs have been recorded by The Nashville Bluegrass Band, Kate Campbell, Rickie Simpkins with Tony Rice, and others. In the 1980’s he played mandolin with James Bryan, Norman and Nancy Blake as part of the Rising Fawn String Ensemble. Carl is known for his fine musicianship, charismatic teaching, sense of humor, and powerful songwriting.
Old-Time music simply doesn’t get better than this, do not miss your chance to see and hear them play!
Taff Rapids (Wales/Cymru)
Taff Rapids, Cardiff’s bluegrass sensation taking the international stage by storm. Comprising seasoned musicians Darren Eedens (Banjo/Vocals), Sion Russell Jones (Guitar/Vocals), David Grubb (Fiddle/Vocals), and Clem Saynor Bass/Vocals), the band blends traditional bluegrass classics with captivating originals, incorporating Welsh-language songs for a unique global appeal.
In 2023, they were invited to the IBMA World of Bluegrass Showcase in Raleigh, NC, USA, the first welsh group to receive such an invitation. UK, European, and Canadian tours followed throughout 2024, and a ticket to Folk Alliance International 2025 highlights their growing demand and undeniable talent. With electrifying performances, rich harmonies, and unmatched instrumental prowess, Taff Rapids are set to become a powerhouse in bluegrass and beyond, to show the world what Welsh Bluegrass is.
The Often Herd
Bluegrass band The Often Herd transcend the traditional boundaries of the genre. Although they might resemble an American string band, complete with driving energy, tight vocal harmonies and dazzling instrumental interplay, their vibrant, transatlantic sound is deeply coloured by their surroundings; the striking natural and industrial landscapes of Northern England. This unique approach won them the title of “Best European Bluegrass Band 2018” at the prestigious La Roche Bluegrass Festival in France.
Rupert Hughes (guitar) and Evan Davies (mandolin), write songs steeped in personal experience whilst drawing from a wide pool of influences ranging from old-time to psychedelia. American-born fiddler Niles Krieger and jazz bassist Sam Quintana add fiery instrumental skills to the mix, launching the band’s arrangements into the stratosphere. Together, their sound is both boldly contemporary and soothingly familiar, taking time-honoured traditions to new places with a fresh perspective.
The Rye Sisters
Lincolnshire-based, Americana duo The Rye Sisters (Ishani and Sue), perform a gorgeous mix of country, old-time and bluegrassy numbers, from upbeat dancing tunes to mournful ballads, all in close harmony to guitar and fiddle. Playing together for the past eight years, they are not only bandmates but the absolute best of friends. In December 2023 they released their latest album, ‘Distant Light’, hailed by FATEA records as a “terrific discovery” and by Americana UK as “full of intrigue and satire, heartache and resilience”. While they are loved for their story-telling, catchy originals and empowering workshops, their truest calling is the pursuit and mastery of the perfect vocal blend.
Jaywalkers
As those who have been fortunate enough to catch them in full flight will testify, a Jaywalkers show is an exhilarating experience. UK-based they may be but many from the other side of the Atlantic have complimented them on their particularly stylish delivery of this virtuosic brand of Americana. These three outstanding musicians have developed a tight bond, demonstrated through their well-crafted, tasteful arrangements and ability to bounce ideas around the stage. The combination of powerhouse bass, flame-fingered mandolin, blistering fiddle and three-part harmony pack a punch as fiery as Jay’s lead vocals and make a fuller sound than expected from an acoustic trio.
After years of touring and perfecting their craft, Jaywalkers released their highly anticipated new album, Move On, in Spring 2025 and have received rave reviews as well as multiple plays on BBC Radio 6 Music’s Cerys Matthews show. This new album has helped the band push the envelope further than ever before, fusing Bluegrass, Country, Folk & Americana with their signature virtuosity, humour & skill to create something that’s both fresh and familiar. Whether you’re a longtime listener or a newcomer, Move On is a big step forward for the band as it captivates and resonates on multiple levels.
There’s no better way to experience Jaywalkers than in person, so make sure you don’t miss them at Didmarton 2025!
Old Baby Mackerel
Old Baby Mackerel play high-energy, foot-stomping Bluegrass featuring some of the UK’s best Bluegrass musicians. Be prepared to be transported back in time to the early 20th century and across the Atlantic to North America where songs dramatised the small town fascination with locomotion, religion and the veneration of whisky and bootleg liquor. Gathered around a single condenser microphone in the true Bluegrass style, the sounds of banjo, guitar, mandolin, fiddle and double bass blend lightning-fast rhythm, virtuosic solos and evocative harmonies to get knees bouncing and elbows swinging.
In the last four years Old Baby Mackerel have been featured on BBC radio, played Glastonbury Festival twice (2019 and 2022), sold out venues across the UK and played at festivals and venues all over the UK, Ireland, Europe and Thailand.
Chris Eaton & Flint County
Dobro player Chris Eaton and the band met each other at the Worthing bluegrass jam. They share a love for the same bands, such as Hot Rize, Union Station and The Tony Rice Unit. They gig around the south coast and have found support from The Brunswick in Hove, where Chris runs a monthly jam session with the band’s mandolin player, Chris Stockel. Eaton also organised the first ever Brighton bluegrass day at The Brunswick this March, which Flint County played at, sharing the bill with The Hackney Hillpickers and The Ragged Out String Band.
Last year, Chris was the only Brit chosen to perform on the international stage at the IBMA World of Bluegrass week in Raleigh, North Carolina. This year Flint County were chosen to perform in Holland at the EWOB festival. The band features a new singer, Emma Jane, alongside established vocalist Astra Grayland, a third Chris plays guitar, Christopher McPhee, and Tom Warner is on bass.
Ed Hicks & His Hot Cow Licks
Ed Hicks and the Hot Cow Licks perform Western Swing music featuring sweet country crooning, harmony twin fiddles and hot jazz solos. Western swing (also known as hillbilly jazz) emerged in Texas and the South Western United States and was popular in the 1930s and 40s. The band are Ed Hicks (The Nightcaps, The Savoy Cabbages), Sam Draper (The Woodlanders, Holloman) and Emily Smith (Ragged Out String Band, Firecrackers).