Artists 2026
The Mike Mitchell Band (USA)
Joe Newberry & April Verch (USA/CAN)
The Michael Prewitt Trio (USA/UK)
The Original Five (SWE)
Brooks Williams & Aaron Catlow (USA/UK)
Flats & Sharps
Dan Walsh
The Often Herd
Hippy Joe’s DBC Mofo’s
Foggy Mountain Breakup
Caution Horses
Joff Lowson Trio
Paul Armer & The Dawn Chorus
The Charlotte Carrivick Band
Rocking Horse Money
Green Tree
Kidmarton Kids
The Mike Mitchell Band (USA)
The Mike Mitchell Band (USA) features masterful fiddle work, strong harmonies and rising young pickers. Their dynamic performances blend tradition, family and original songwriting into a compelling, modern bluegrass sound. The current configuration of the Mike Mitchell Band reflects Mike’s passion for mentoring the next generation of bluegrass artists, carrying forward the style, discipline and joy of traditional music. Mike’s commitment to education led him to establish The Floyd Music School, where he has taught hundreds of young musicians.
The six piece band Mike is bring to Didmarton includes: Mike Mitchell – lead vocals, fiddle, James Mitchell – guitar and harmony vocals, Sydney Christian – rhythm and harmony vocals, Jeff Daugherty – mandolin and harmony vocals, Sam Guthridge – banjo and Trish Imbrogno – bass.
Throughout his career, Mike has collaborated with some of bluegrass music’s most respected artists and his recordings have featured top-tier talent from the genre. His album, “Fathers & Sons”, became a milestone project, not only because of its deeply personal theme, but also because it was the final album session for the late Jason Moore. The release elevated Mike’s national profile, earning airplay on Sirius XM’s Bluegrass Junction and top chart recognition across the bluegrass industry.
With a wealth of critically acclaimed music to choose from and new bluegrass album out this year, “Love Songs, Torch & Bluegrass”, produced by Darin Aldridge, you can expect The Mike Mitchell Band to be a highlight of Didmarton 2026.
Joe Newberry & April Verch (USA/CAN)
Growing up, Joe Newberry and April Verch absorbed traditions of home and hearth – in his Missouri Ozarks and her Ottawa Valley of Canada. Newberry comes from a family of singers and dancers. He took up the guitar and banjo as a boy and learned fiddle tunes from great Missouri fiddlers. Verch grew up listening to her Dad’s country band play for dances in the Ottawa Valley. She started step dancing at age three and fiddling at age six.
In a Newberry & Verch show, delighted audiences see first hand the roots of their music, their love of performing and their strong musical connection. Original songs join timeless classics. Stories warm the heart and give audiences a chance to understand where the music comes from. Lively fiddle and banjo numbers combine with traditional dance steps to illustrate happy times when people made their own fun.
Known around the world for his clawhammer banjo playing, Newberry is also a powerful guitarist, singer and songwriter. The Gibson Brothers’ version of his song “Singing As We Rise,” won an IBMA “Gospel Recorded Performance” Award. With Eric Gibson, he shared an IBMA “Song of the Year” Award for “They Called It Music.” A longtime guest on A Prairie Home Companion, he was a featured singer on the Transatlantic Sessions 2016 tour of the U.K. and at the Transatlantic Session’s debut at Merlefest in 2017. Also a sought-after instructor, he plays and teaches at festivals and workshops in North America and abroad.
Before launching her professional career, Verch was the first woman to win both the Canadian Grand Masters and Canadian Open Fiddling Championships. She has recorded 18 albums, receiving JUNO, Canadian Folk Music and Independent Music nominations and awards for several of those releases. She has also released an instructional stepdance DVD, a book of original fiddle tunes and a Canadian Fiddle tune teaching method for Mel Bay. Verch was one of 6 fiddlers who represented the Canadian fiddle tradition to the world at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, as part of a segment called “Fiddle Nation” featured in the Opening Ceremonies.
Whether it is the power of two voices lifted in harmony, or the sound of traditional tunes calling people to get up and move, these two masters of tradition put on an unforgettable show. When their feet kick up the dust in perfect rhythm and those two voices become one, Newberry & Verch help remind folks why this music existed in the first place.
The Michael Prewitt Trio
Hailing from the hills of East Kentucky, Michael Prewitt, known for his creative and hard-driving approach to the mandolin over the last few years with Grammy-nominated and IBMA award-winning bluegrass band Special Consensus, has journeyed all around the world and now come home, releasing a debut vocal album of original songwriting, titled Something He Can Handle.
On this album, which Bluegrass Today termed “a brilliant effort,” he showcases his fresh, inventive take on bluegrass songwriting. In his live shows, these original songs are paired with many detours onto the bluegrass back roads of forgotten B-sides, respectful covers, and old fiddle tunes, forming a unique blend of thoughtful lyricism and hot picking that has been enthusiastically received by audiences at dive bars, festivals, rock clubs, theaters, listening rooms, and breweries across the USA, Canada, and Europe.
Michael will be joined on stage at Didmarton by Kieran Towers on fiddle and Eleanor Wilkie on double bass.
The Original Five (SWE)
The Original Five mixes traditional Bluegrass with their own material, more well-known, crowd-pleasing country songs and musical excursions into both folk music and gospel. A wide spectrum of musical experiences that are held together by the band’s solid bluegrass background.
The band started in 2010 as a Jam session at Far I Hatten in Folkets Park in Malmö, but since then the music has taken them around to festivals and gigs all over Europe and of course the homeland of bluegrass, the USA. Five own studio albums and many collaborations with other musicians over the years, e.g. a live album in collaboration with a Swiss chamber orchestra.
For the past decade, The Original Five, perhaps one of the world’s smallest quintets, has consisted of: Dan Englund – double bass, vocals, Jonas Svahn – guitar, vocals, Johan Malmberg – banjo, fiddle, vocals, Daniel Olsson – dobro, vocals.
Brooks Williams & Aaron Catlow (USA/UK)
Brooks Williams & Aaron Catlow are equal parts Americana, folk and country blues and create joyous and virtuosic music that not only tugs at the heart-strings, but also gets you up on your feet. AmericanaUK writes, “How such a complete and sensational sound can come from just two voices and two instruments is awe-inspiring.”
Aaron Catlow is half of the Bristol-based duo Hawes And Catlow, with guitarist-singer Kit Hawes. He is also the fiddler in UK festival favourite Sheelanagig. Catlow’s other credits including playing with Grammy Award-nominated Yola, Mad Dog Mcrea and Afro Celt Sound System.
Cambridge UK-based, Georgia US-born, Brooks Williams has a long-standing solo career in both North America and the UK and is also known for his collaborations with Boo Hewerdine, Dan Walsh, and Rab Noakes, among others. He is named one of WUMB-FM Boston’s Top 100 All-Time Artists.
The music this duo create with just a guitar and fiddle is not to be missed!
Flats & Sharps
Flats & Sharps are a five-piece British bluegrass band originally from the deep southwest… Cornwall. They’ve been thrilling audiences with tasteful musicianship, powerful harmonies and high energy for over a decade. From their humble beginnings busking on the rainy streets of Penzance as teenagers to playing sell out shows across the globe and incredible venues such as The Royal Albert Hall. The boys have played hundreds of major festivals across the UK, Europe, Australia and the U.S., they’ve built a reputation as one of the UK’s standout acts.
Known for their mix of traditional bluegrass roots and fresh original songwriting, their live shows are a blend of virtuosity, humour and raw passion that leave crowds smiling and wanting more. Looking ahead, Flats & Sharps are embarking on their most ambitious chapter yet. With new music in the works, fresh collaborations on the horizon and tours planned at home and abroad, the band remain dedicated to bringing their music to new audiences while keeping their long-term fans dancing, laughing and singing along. Their story is one of friendship, grit and a deep love of music. Flats & Sharps are charging full steam into their most exciting chapter yet.
Dan Walsh
Dan Walsh’s virtuoso picking, emotive songwriting and infectious charm have seen him gather international acclaim. The BBC Folk Award nominee has playfully explored the full breadth of folk, breaking boundaries and winning new converts to the potential of the banjo – an instrument he has made his own – on multiple continents. Well known as solo artist, band member, in-demand session musician and star teacher, his new album returns to one of his first loves, American country music. In fact, Dan is making his most joyous, surprising and above all entertaining music yet.
The Often Herd
The Often Herd transcend the traditional boundaries of bluegrass music. 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. Flock to the herd, you won’t be disappointed.
Hippy Joe’s DBC Mofo’s
Hippy Joe’s DBC Mofo’s (aka Dead By Christmas) current line-up includes: Hippy Joe – mandolin/vocals (Hayseed Dixie), Luke Donovan – guitar/vocals (Hackney Hillpickers), Paul Bishop – banjo (Sea Grass), Jolene Missing – Doghouse Bass (Leaves of Life).
The band came about 20 years ago when a group of like minded hard drinking bluegrass musicians met in a late night jam at a festival and stayed picking & drinking until the sun came up! Pints of Bloody Mary’s for breakfast and special brew (kept cold on the ground under the tent) was the groups only sustenance. Hard partying and all night hellfire picking mixed with high functioning alcoholism (and in some cases occasional mental illness/drug abuse) meant that the band never achieved a lineup long enough to play a booked gig due to one or more of the band passing away before gig could be put in place! It wasn’t until July of 2025 that the above mentioned band got to play a gig whilst playing at previous banjo player Nick Burrage’s funeral. The result was dynamite! A great send off to yet another DBC/MOFO banjo player but also the first gig and the start of greater things to come. Each gig they play is in honour of their fallen comrades.. the list of which will inevitably continue to grow.
Dead By Christmas previous members R.I.P: Roger blackbourne (banjo), Glynn Morriss (banjo), Alex Mihailovic (fiddle), Jerry Alsford (fiddle), Bob Winquest (fiddle), Barry Nelson (banjo), Ray Tassey (mandolin), Bill Titley (guitar), Phill Morley (banjo), Arthur Robinson (mandolin), Dave Bresnan (banjo), Joe Mackivenny (banjo), Dick Embery (bass), Gill Harrison (Bass).
Foggy Mountain Breakup
It’s difficult to tell who’s in this band because they’re shrouded in thick fog and mystery. So far we’ve only caught a brief glimpse of the banjo weilding Richard Collins (Hayseed Dixie), we will bring you more news as the fog clears.
Caution Horses
Born from a bluegrass blood-pact, and rounded out in the wee hours at Didmarton 2024, Caution Horses play across genres and county lines with reckless abandon. Shuttling between Leeds, Bristol, the Welsh borders, and the villages of Hampshire, upstarts Michael Warburton (mandolin), Hawk Howard (guitar) and Adam Pegg (fiddle) blend old-time, string jazz and bluegrass into a strong cocktail — and occasionally end up spilling it all over the dancefloor.
Wheeling between tender mountain ballads, fiddle tunes smuggled out of late-night sessions, and the odd stab at a Django number, the Horses are outside favourites to win the Didmarton Derby… Let’s just hope they don’t fall at the first fence.
Joff Lowson Trio
With stunning original material and excellent musicianship, the Joff Lowson Trio are taking Bluegrass in a completely new direction. Described by Fatea magazine as “An incredibly well written dig at political corruption and billionaire greed justification… without feeling preachy,” their first single “All the Bananas,” has been played on radio all over the UK including Radio 5 Live.
Joff Lowson headlined the first Didmarton festival back in 1987 and since then has played banjo on Glastonbury Festival main stage and live on BBC Radio 1. He is joined by good friends Dave Brown (guitar, vocals) and Mike Pryor (double bass, vocals), two brilliant musicians who have toured and performed extensively all over Europe and the UK. You will be astounded by the range and depth of sounds conjured up by this exciting three piece!
Paul Armer & The Dawn Chorus
Paul Armer & The Dawn Chorus have a rare combination of honest, meaningful songwriting and virtuosic instrumental talent. Already no stranger to the folk scene, Paul Armer has been making waves on the bluegrass circuit and wowing audiences up and down the country. The Dawn Chorus – Paul Armer – guitar, Chris Lord – banjo, Noel Dashwood – Dobro and Pete Thomas – bass – was formed when the four met at one of the UK’s finest traditional bluegrass festivals and went on to win the scratch-band competition. It was immediately obvious they had something special and they’ve been working non-stop ever since, writing new music and refining their sound.
The Charlotte Carrivick Band
With a shared passion for modern bluegrass, The Charlotte Carrivick Band brings together four of the most exciting musicians in the UK today. Charlotte Carrivick is a flatpicking guitarist of international renown, sought for her inventive lead playing and regarded as an expert fiddle tune interpreter on the guitar.
Joining Charlotte is long time collaborator and in-demand fiddler, Kieran Towers (Pet Yeti); master of tone and taste, Evan Davies, on the mandolin (The Often Herd); and the firm hand of fellow Midnight Skyracer bassist, Eleanor Wilkie. Together, their music is at times joyous, poignant, dark, pensive or exuberant with virtuosic instrumentals and close harmony singing.
As a founding member of IBMA award nominated, Island Records signed bluegrass powerhouse band, Midnight Skyracer, and one half of the more folk infused and award winning duo The Carrivick Sisters, Charlotte’s taste covers the breadth of the genre as well as taking influence from old time and jazz. It was during the recording of her debut solo album, showcasing her guitar playing and tune writing, that the band was formed.
If you are lover of new acoustic music, bluegrass, old time and swing you won’t want to miss this band.
Rocking Horse Money
Formed on the 4th of July, Rocking Horse Money draw on their individual worlds of bluegrass and rock and roll to reinvent their own independent take on traditional country music. Oliver Seymour – guitar/vocals – With a background in early rock and roll, Ollie knows how to put on a show. His original songs stretch across time from nostalgic Americana to the modern day, and he delivers them with warmth and integrity. Laura Carrivick – fiddle/dobro/vocals – Laura’s passion for all things bluegrass and country music is brought to the fore in this band, with her fiery fiddle, tasty slide playing, and duet vocals adding plenty of colour to the trio. John Breese – double bass – John’s dependable bass lines keep the band rock solid and firmly rooted. A man of many talents, you may also catch him playing some hard driving bluegrass banjo or adding some melodious nylon string guitar.
Green Tree
With this Tree being so Green and thick, we have yet to espy the band themselves, however, with any luck and a little careful pruning, we’ll be able to bring you all the latest information soon…
Kidmarton Kids – Feat. Rockfield Drive
After the success of the last two years Kidmarton performances, the Didmarton Kids will once again have the chance to perform on the stage at this year’s festival. The Kidmarton workshop is a chance for all young musicians to come together in the morning and learn a song or two and then share their results in the afternoon concert. Last year was fantastic and we’re looking forward to more of the same this year. This year’s Kidmarton will once again feature a set by the young bluegrass band Rockfield Drive.
Rockfield Drive are a young three piece Bluegrass band from Cheshire. Eve, Fred and Freya play a variety of instruments including, double bass, guitar, banjo, mandolin and vocals. They play a mixture of bluegrass and related roots music but also expect to hear some Tina Turner and Amy Winehouse in the mix!
Young musicians are the future of this music, so please come along and support all of the young players in their performance.