2025 David Hall Music Acts

The Rigmarollers pack out shows with their joyous take on the blues. They have risen quickly to become festival headliners and are growing their following all the time.

Cery Matthews recently highlighted them on her Radio 2 Blues Show, while Jazz FM’s David Freeman praised them on his Blues & Boogie Show. Blues in Britain Magazine featured the band with an interview and album review in March 2025. 

It takes just three of them to make a massive sound, blending vocals, harmonica, guitar, sousaphone and percussion.

Newquay based indie-folk duo ‘Our Atlantic Roots’ are fast becoming one of the most popular artists in the South West,  Their songwriting is honest, poetic and reflective. . Originating in North Carolina, the duo creatively blend roots music with cinematic instrumentation, leaning into more traditional sounds for some releases and merging genres such as indie-pop or americana for others. 

Partners in life and music, dynamic Devon-based duo Harbottle & Jonas are one of the most exciting acts on the UK folk circuit today. They seamlessly blend the richness of traditional folk with their own original and powerful songwriting, creating a distinct and compelling signature sound.

Blending concertina, harmonium, banjo, stomp box, acoustic guitar, and cittern – and their beautiful, closely intertwined vocal harmonies, Dave and Freya captivate audiences with every performance.

Piskey Led are four young musicians who formed in Cardiff in late 2021; they showcase a highly entertaining and absorbing mixture of original and traditional music, influenced by the folk traditions of Cornwall, Northern England and Ireland. The personnel are Cornishwoman Katie Lower on flute, whistles and piano, Lancastrian Josh Goodey on double bass, harmonium and mandocello and two Ulstermen, guitarist James Bower and Chris Mercer on mandolin, bouzouki, harmonicas and bodhrán; 

The Farey Family perform a variety of music, ranging from original songs to traditional folk, gospel and old-time country. The family are a huge part of the local community, bringing their music to many of the fundraising events and concerts in the area. 

Most songs are accompanied by guitar or piano with harmonica and tin whistles, but their main accolade is their voices, which have a natural blend of strength and empathy. Lots of their songs are sung in three or four parts, the effect of which is well demonstrated when they put down their instruments and sing unaccompanied.

After a successful 2024 performing at a variety of festivals including Swanage, Purbeck, Wimborne and Bridport, Arquebus Trio are delighted to be back again at Petherton to kick off the Folk Fest at The David Hall.  Come and enjoy the banter and fun with Sam on Bouzouki and vocals, Alex on fiddle and Sarah on Bass and Mandolin.

They will be performing self-penned and traditional songs alongside foot stomping tunes all with the energy of a band that loves entertaining and playing with foot pedals!

Bhangra folk dance is a fusion of folk dance and music which originates from the Punjab region of India and Pakistan. Traditionally a song and dance of the harvest festival. Modern Bhangra music is influenced by western musical styles and features in many Bollywood films. Avtar will lead an audience dance-a-long,  Fun, easy steps to follow along. All ages welcome

Enigma is a Border Morris side based here in South Petherton formed in the Autumn of 2014. 

Wyvern Jubilee are a mixed Cotswold Morris side, dancing all over the West Country.  They were formed for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee and are still welcoming new members. Practices are held at South Cadbury village hall during the Winter. They can be seen dancing at pubs and festivals from April to September.

Dr Turberville’s Morris is a mixed Morris side who originated in Crewkerne, Somerset in 1982. Now based in Ash. They dance Cotswold Morris & some Border.

Glastonbury Border Morris formed in 2016. Glastonbury Border Morris embodies the wild, theatrical, jovial side of the great Border Morris tradition. Our dances celebrate the turn of the seasons, the wild huntress and the crow ancestors.  You can often find us at the Glastonbury Market Cross and the surrounding streets, hills and orchards. 

The Blackrock School of Irish Dance, traditional Irish dance group based in Yeovil. Dancers range from 3-18 both boys and girls. Dance classes are on a Saturday morning 10-12 for beginners 10-13.30 for seniors.

Sweet Coppin are a clog dance team based in Taunton, Somerset who dance a mixture of clog stepping, North West team dances and a selection of other, traditional 'soft shoe' dances from across the British Isles.

Bootstrap Border Morris are an enthusiastic and energetic Border Morris side based on the Somerset Devon border near Wellington. Their repertoire includes traditional and contemporary border morris dances drawing on local inspiration from our historic and industrial heritage.

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The Knights of King Ina are a Morris dance team specialising in the Solo and Duet dances known as Jigs in the Morris genre. The dances are drawn from many of the morris traditions and include dances choreographed by us using the styles and steps collected in the early 20th century. 

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With its roots in the Appalachian Mountains of America, Appalachian dancing provides a lively colourful display. The steps used are distantly related to both tap & English clog dance. Appalachian dancing is even sometimes called “clogging”, although clogs are not actually used. Instead, shoes with taps are used.

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Founded in 1983, largely by members of Queen’s Delight, a Cotswold Morris team, who wanted to establish a North West Morris team in Somerset. Although Queen’s Delight has since folded, Treacle Eater North West Clog live on!  The dances originate from the cotton mills of the north, imitating the rhythms and the patterns of the machines in the factories. Clogs would have been worn by the workers and are a distinguishing feature of this style of dance.

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  Blackdown Morris is a brand new folk arts community group based in Chard. They currently focus on Rapper (sword) and Border Morris dancing, as well as Mummers plays. They are learning and performing a mix of traditional dances as well as creating their own dances inspired by the beautiful Blackdown Hill they’re named after.  

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Wessex Women is a small women’s choir based in the South West of England. Our members, who come from Dorset, Devon and Somerset, meet on a regular basis to sing and perform songs from around the world. Our repertoire is varied and includes a capella versions of folk songs, protest songs, original compositions, blues, jazz, pop, gospel, and a smattering of comic songs. We often choose songs that are relevant to women’s lives both past and present. 

Christine Morphett and Peter Franche are Telenn Tri.  Interweaving an interesting blend of old and new melodies with dexterous harp playing and sensitive bouzouki/guitar arrangements. Performing with an obvious passion for the music, they draw on traditional Irish, Scottish and Breton as well as original and contemporary music for their inspiration. They have performed at various festivals around Australia including the National Folk Festival and Port Fairy Folk Festival. Their third CD 'Macquarie Street' was a finalist for Traditionalist Folk Music Album of the Year in 2022 in Australia.

A local singer songwriter Sam plays the guitar and sings a wide variety of music. Composing original music from life's trials, tribulations and positive moments. Sam also covers a broad spectrum of music from songs you'll know and be able to sing along to and pieces of music that may be completely new to you. She has been performing for 20 years and after touring with Big Country and getting record deals. She is now enjoying village life with her daughter and sharing her talents with the local community. 

Performing laugh-out-loud funny songs, parody songs and also heartbreakingly poignant songs, Polly Morris is a whirlwind of entertainment. Her songs have clever lyrics and catchy melodies and with her eighth album of original songs to be released this year, she is never short of something new to make you smile. Prepare to be engaged from start to finish, or as one audience member put it “She took me through every emotion I had - from tears to laughter!”  

The Stanchester Quire is a community choir set up by Folk South West about 20 years ago.   What makes them more unusual is their commitment to songs from their area – not just English songs but songs from the South West of England.  Their repertoire is based on songs from the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire.   

Inspired by Artists such as Taylor Swift, John Martyn, Ben Howard and The Breath, TROI takes her own approach on songwriting telling thought provoking stories through metaphor and philosophical contemplation 

Oconee Bell perform an entertaining, toe-tapping mix of transatlantic music that draws upon a variety of influences including Americana, folk, and bluegrass.  Having performed in the David Hall earlier in the day, they will do a follow up performance at Holm.

Newquay based indie-folk duo ‘Our Atlantic Roots’ are fast becoming one of the most popular artists in the South West,  Their songwriting is honest, poetic and reflective. . Originating in North Carolina, the duo creatively blend roots music with cinematic instrumentation, leaning into more traditional sounds for some releases and merging genres such as indie-pop or americana for others. 

Originally from South Wales, Bob is wellknown on the live music and festival circuit for his passionate lyrics and emotional, soaring vocals.

For three decades Somerset folk musician Will Cann has performed in various bands, as a solo singer-songwriter and busker. With several albums featuring his original songs, His lyrics draw upon history, folklore and the cycles of Nature to express heartfelt emotions, while live sets include a range of songs and tunes from the traditional music of the British Isles and beyond..