Tom Robinson first became known in the 1970s as a musician and LGBT activist. Now a full-time broadcaster with BBC Radio 6 Music, he has just released his first album in 19 years.

Born in 1950, Tom first became known in the late 1970s as a musician and LGBT activist with the Tom Robinson Band. TRB’s best known hits were 2-4-6-8 Motorway, Don’t Take No For An Answer, Glad To Be Gay and Up Against The Wall. The band were also early supporters of Rock Against Racism and Amnesty International, and their debut album Power In The Darkness went gold in the UK and Japan.

Between 1975 and 2001 Tom has released 19 albums with various bands, and co-written songs with Elton John, Dan Hartman and Manu Katché among others. As a solo artist he had further solo UK hits in 1983 with War Baby and Atmospherics: Listen To The Radio (co-written with Peter Gabriel).

Now a full-time broadcaster with BBC Radio 6 Music, he has won two Sony Radio Academy awards and served for 15 years on the Ivor Novello Awards committee. In 2015 he released his first new album in two decades, Only The Now - which featured collaborations with John Grant, Billy Bragg, Nadine Shah, Ian McKellen, Nitin Sawhney, Lisa Knapp, Martin Carthy, Colin FIrth and TV Smith among others and was produced by Gerry Diver.

MERRY HELL: BIOGRAPHY As proud purveyors of energized folk-rock and original songs MERRY HELL prepare to release their fourth albumBloodlines on 1st November, here’s the story of the band so far… MERRY HELL is an eight-piece folk-rock group with a history, a pedigree and a bright future. Founded in their England in 2010, they have risen to become festival favourites, their albums finding favour with critics, broadcasters and music fans alike. The band was forged in the smouldering embers of 90s folk/punk band, ‘The Tansads’. Following an emotional series of reunion concerts in 2010, its members chose to re-take the stage under a new name in order to reflect their new impetus, new songs and new members. While MERRY HELL retains a nucleus of five former ‘Tansads’ members, brothers John, Bob and Andrew Kettle (guitar, mandolin and vocals respectively), along with keyboard player Lee Goulding and drummer Andy Jones, the addition of vocalist Virginia Kettle (wife of John) helped create a new identity, purpose and spirit in their music. Her prolific, ingenious and insightful song writing has perfectly complemented a group which has taken particular pride in penning original material (Bob, John and Lee have also been consistent contributors of new songs). Bassist Nick Davies has since offered his rock-solid sense of rhythm and perceptive musicianship to the service of the band. The current line-up was completed by fiddle player Neil McCartney, a school friend and teenage bandmate of the Kettle brothers. He returned home to Wigan after a musical career which saw him enjoy hit records and tour the world with ‘The Big Geraniums’. His violin virtuosity has added yet more colour and texture to MERRY HELL’s rich and emotive sound. The group have continued to develop their reputation as on-stage favourites, enjoying appearances at many prestigious festivals. They have released 5 self-produced videos, including a film celebrating their live energy and the exuberance of their fans. October, 2011 saw the release of their debut album, BLINK.. and you miss it to universally excellent reviews. Their second album, Head Full of Magic, Shoes Full of Rain, was released in May, 2013 to similar critical acclaim, gaining 5 star reviews, album of the year nominations and awards. Increasingly widespread radio airplay, especially on the specialist folk/roots shows, was also gratefully received. March, 2015 saw the release of MERRY HELL's third album, There’s A Ghost In Our House and other stories..., to even greater critical enthusiasm both at home and, increasingly, around the world. The completion of the Bloodlines album represents the band’s most mature and innovative work to date. Its call for togetherness as the antidote for personal and political division will resonate with existing fans and new listeners alike. THE MEMBERS OF MERRY HELL ARE:

Andrew Kettle: Vocals Virginia Kettle: Vocals John Kettle: Guitar Bob Kettle: Mandolin, Bouzouki Nick Davies: Bass Lee Goulding: Keyboards Neil McCartney: Fiddle Andy Jones: Drums

TRADarrr

It’s 45 years since Liege & Lief almost single-handedly created the genre folk-rock. Since then, that simple marriage of traditional music and electric instruments had been suborned and sidetracked, dissected and documented, Oystered, Albioned and Steeleyed.

Time for a fresh approach. Enter TRADarrr.

Punningly recalling the assault of the new which Fairport’s 1969 LP represented, they have reimagined folk rock, painting from a much larger palette, introducing the tints, tones and textures of a whole panoply of musical genres. As you’d expect, here are the precision percussion, searingly tasteful guitars, melodic basses and fiery fiddles that one associates with the genre. But in addition, one finds brass in truly British styles – the dazzling brightness of Purcell, the oomph of Elgar, the emotive richness of a Yorkshire brass band soloist - but also hints of jazz, trad and modern, and even the occasional mariachi riff), string sections, and countless astute references to a long legacy of pop and rock in its many forms. Not to mention 5 class vocalists, taking turns to deliver stand out performances.

With members including PJ Wright, Guy Fletcher and Mark Stevens, Marion Fleetwood , Gregg Cave and Gemma Shirley, they have understandably been called a ‘Folk-Rock supergroup’. Leave that for audiences to decide, but they have acquired a reputation as a great festival band, clearly enjoying what they do and delivering it with energy and style.

Band biog courtesy of Nigel Schofield

After the critical acclaim of their debut album, Cautionary Tales, the band have competed their second studio album, 'Further Tales of Love! Death! and Treachery!'

Reviews:

‘richly layered, expansive and continually rewarding’

Living Tradition

‘TRADarrr, as their name suggests, aren't re-inventing the wheel but what they are doing is making it a damn site more interesting and exciting to watch as it goes round!’

Fatea

‘a great band’

Folking.com

‘ambitious, imaginative and startling. It sizzles from start to finish. Essential listening.’

Spiral Earth

Website:

www.tradarrr.com

“…echoes of Dylan, Tom Paxton & Leonard Cohen” Robin Denselow, The Guardian

"A brilliant singer-songwriter and true troubadour with a social conscience." Mark Radcliffe BBC Radio 2 Folk Show

Reg Meuross was introduced by Mike Harding onto the stage of the Albert Hall as one of this country’s “finest singer songwriters”.

In the mid-1980s Reg Meuross formed the Panic Brothers with Richard Morton, mixing Americana with humour and slick harmonies. Then came the Flamingos, Hank Wangford, and now 11 solo albums have established his songs as ‘the hinges upon which swing the doors of perceptive English folk’ (Folkwords).

Reg is a true modern day troubadour, commenting on life as he sees it, with some of theReg Meuross December most beautifully disarming songs and lyrics ever written, bringing wide ranging stories from the ghosts of WW1 soldiers to the ravages of dementia and some of the most beautiful love songs ever written. Reg has that rare gift of being able to touch people, through his songs and performance, on a really human level. His words and music paint pictures that remain with the listener long after the song has been sung.

Reg is touring with Faraway People and Songs About A Train www.regmeuross.com

Peter Donegan is the son of the lead great Lonnie Donegan who was the inspiration for all of Britain's major artists from The Beatles to the Rolling Stones. Peter is an accomplished singer/songwriter in his own right and is currently touring and promoting the arrival of his upcoming new album. With his positive and energetic performances coupled with his unique songwriting style, Peter is gaining a following at an alarming rate.

Recent update: Due to Peter's years in the entertainment industry and high quality performances and dedicated charity work, he has been invited to and now is a new member of the Grand Order of Water Rats (G.O.W.R) joining the likes of Rick Wakeman and Brian May.

Peter's reputation for being an excellent artist is not a secret. Currently preparing for an autumn tour including solo dates where Peter plays four instruments, sings a wide range of styles and engages the audience in jovial conversations.

During these tours Peter frequents not only local and local BBC radio stations but also guesting on BBC Radio 2.

Also taking part in recent musical documentaries such as "What a Performance" with Franks Skinner. Following this up with appearing on ITV's documentary "Jim Carter: Lonnie Donegan and Me" alongside Roger Daltrey, Ringo Star, Van Morrison, Jack White etc....

The Salts 4th and final performance at the Tall Ships Regatta. Come and listen to them as the Ships sail down the Thames and out to sea