Honey & the Bear have been a tour de force on the UK Folk Festival circuit in recent years. The British folk and roots duo combine delicately interweaving vocal harmonies with emotive and evocative songwriting. With a diverse range of sounds and textures, and rhythms that flow from the fast and furious to gentle ballads, their live performances are spirited and dynamic. Conjuring stories in song, they tell tales of Suffolk folklore, courageous people they admire and their passion for nature which has been enchanting audiences up and down the country.
The multi-instrumentalist, husband and wife team comprised of songwriters Jon Hart (guitar, bass, bouzouki) and Lucy Hart (guitar, ukulele, bass, banjo, mandolin & percussion), are often joined on-stage by band guest Toby Shaer (Fiddle/Flutes/Whistles) who features on all three Honey & The Bear studio albums. Together they have played at many revered venues and festivals across the UK as well as travelled across the channel. In November 2023 they released their latest album ‘Away Beyond the Fret’, their most personal album yet, featuring stories and folklore of all things close to their heart including their home in Suffolk, nature, family, history and community. The album has received much critical acclaim including 5 stars from the Morning Star. Shortlisted as FATEAs best band of 2023.
Sam Kelly is a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winning musician, singer, songwriter, and producer from Norfolk, UK. Described by legendary folk broadcaster Mike Harding as ‘one of my favourite singers ever’ and by Cara Dillon as ‘an amazing singer with so much soul’, Sam has become one of the most accomplished and well-respected performers on the UK folk scene. His band The Lost Boys are festival favourites across the UK and beyond, and as an accompanist on guitar and Irish bouzouki, his portfolio includes playing with the likes of Kate Rusby, Seth Lakeman, John McCusker, Phil Beer, and Katherine Priddy. Sam has become respected by peers and audiences alike as a unique and innovative arranger and pioneer of traditional folk song, and has produced albums by The Changing Room, Kitty Macfarlane, Chris Cleverley, Ainsley Hamill and more. He is also is a published songwriter, with his music being used on Sky Sports, Sky Arts, Channel 4, Channel 5, as well as BBC Radio 1, 2, and 3. A captivating and versatile performer with impressive prowess as both a vocalist and instrumentalist, Sam showcases varied material from all the projects he has been involved with, with a sound that is strongly influenced by his Irish heritage. He sings songs in the English language as well as Cornish and Gaelic, and is known for his self-deprecating, cheeky humour and amusing anecdotes in between songs.
Doors Open 7pm and on stage at 7:30pm
