The Mark Hummel Trio – with Bob Hall & Dave Peabody (SOLD OUT)

Mark Hummel is one of the premier blues harmonica players of his generation. He is a multi-award winning performer and recording artist, as well as a nominated author.

In the company of 2 great stalwarts of the British blues scene:

Bob Hall on piano – he cut his teeth with Alexis Korner, Peter Green, Charlie Watts, and, of course Savoy Brown.

Dave Peabody on guitar – awarded UK Acoustic Blues Artist of the Year on 3 occasions and highly respected for his work with Honey Boy Edwards, and Charlie Musselwhite.

In short – a fabulous evening of blues in a very atmospheric venue.

The Mark Hummel Trio will play The Havana, Chichester, PO19 1PH for an evening show at 8pm on Thursday 26th March.

Doors open 7.30pm for an 8pm show.
Unreserved seating

The Havana’s licensed bar, cosy seating, and brilliant sound system make for a very enjoyable musical experience!

Tickets on sale now at Bookends and Harbour Records in Emsworth village, at The Westbourne Cafe in Westbourne Village, and online at www.WeGotTickets.com/WemsFest

All profits from ticket sales are reinvested into our local community

If you require special assistance or have mobility difficulties, please contact us in advance at adwemsfest@gmail.com or 07802 500 050 and we will do our very best to accommodate you so that you are comfortable. Please note however that unfortunately this venue is not wheelchair accessible.

John Fiddler – Medicine Head (POSTPONED DUE TO ILLNESS)

**UPDATE – GIG POSTPONED DUE TO ILLNESS – ALL TICKETS WILL REMAIN VAILD FOR THE NEW DATE, TO BE ANNOUNCED ASAP**

One half of one of the most original outfits of the time, John Fiddler co-founded Medicine Head back in 1968 and signed to John Peel’s Dandelion label. Medicine Head’s ‘One and One is One’ is one of those timeless songs that brought them to the attention of the masses and paved the way for an ongoing career dipping into the blues but consistent in its accomplishment.

John Fiddler and Medicine Head have a new album ‘Heartwork’ featuring ten brand new songs, a fresh and vibrant set of blues rock that once more centre the band’s founder John Fiddler and Medicine Head in the core of this wonderful tradition. ‘Heartwork’ follows the very well received ‘Warriors of Love’, album which was the first new album in a decade.

Medicine Head began life in 1968 when singer and guitarist John Fiddler and harmonica player Peter Hope-Evans began performing in the Midlands. They quickly came to the attention of John Peel and – at the insistence of John Lennon – the DJ signed the band to his own Dandelion Records label. Eric Clapton and Pete Townshend were also early cheerleaders. Peel declared the band’s debut 1968 single ‘His Guiding Hand’ to be one of the classics of all time – and a copy featured in his legendary Record Box.

Medicine Head released three albums via Dandelion Records, with Hope-Evans leaving and returning to the fold during that time. The first album, 1970’s ‘New Bottles, Old Medicine’ featured ‘His Guiding Hand’ and was recorded in a two-hour session and Medicine Head toured with the DJ at many of Peel’s shows. The band followed that with the single ‘(And The) Pictures In The Sky’ and then a second album in 1971, ‘Heavy On The Drum’; produced by the Yardbirds’ Keith Relf. After their 1972 album, ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ [yes, before Pink Floyd), the band signed to Polydor.

Medicine Head then released ‘One & One Is One’, the single charted at No.3 in the charts and the album of the same name garnered them more fans. The following album ‘Thru’ A Five’ gave them more hits with “Rising Sun” and ‘Slip and Slide’. Soon after that the band became a duo again, releasing the fittingly titled album ‘Two Man Band’ in 1976. The following year, Peter Hope-Evans left for the final time, although John Fiddler (with Peter’s blessing), continues to work, and record as Medicine Head – releasing two critically acclaimed albums in the last 3 years. “WARRIORS OF LOVE” and “HEARTWORK” 2024.

John Fiddler has retained his voice and his musical freedom: this is an artist and a band with pedigree and a story. ‘Heartwork’ is cut through with experience and integrity and sits well within that Medicine Head catalogue.

In 2025, WemsFest adds The Havana to its quiver of venues. The Havana is an atmospheric subterranean venue in the heart of Chichester. Easily accessible by public transport, come enjoy an evening out in Chichester’s premier grassroots music venue. The Havana’s licensed bar and cosy (unreserved) seating will ensure you are comfortable. Apologies however that this venue is not wheelchair-accessible.

Max & Veronica

Passionate playing by this Italian duo who stunned everyone when they played The Old Malthouse in Chidham last year. Hip, cool, and highly entertaining, this duo enjoyed a hugely successful UK tour last year and are back for more! Country blues, and ragtime, hokum, jug band and rural music from the 1920s and 1930s and beyond.

“Good time blues is alive and well and residing in… Milan, Italy. A band with a mission” – Folk & Roots Magazine

Veronica Sbergia & Max De Bernardi passionately play country blues and ragtime, hokum, jug band and rural music from the 20’s and 30’s. They like to keep this precious musical heritage alive faithfully reproducing its original sound whilst playing it with a modern twist.

Using strictly acoustic instruments such ukulele, washboard, kazoo, resophonic guitars and doublebass their passion for this music is perfectly represented on their last CD “OLD STORIES FOR MODERN TIMES”, that also sees contributions by other leading musicians and friends, Sugar Blue (a legendary harmonica player in the past with the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Willie Dixon and Frank Zappa) and the world master of resophonic guitar, Bob Brozman.

The album is an overview of the American popular music from the early years of the last century with the Red Wine Serenaders reinterpreting great songs by artists like Big Bill Broonzy, Memphis Minnie, Jimmie Rodgers, Sidney Bechet, Lucille Bogan, Bo Carter, and the Delmore Brothers in their own unique style.

With their trio called ‘Veronica & The Red Wine Serenaders’ they won the European Blues Challenge 2013, an important international contest held in Toulouse in March. Thanks to this result they performed at the prestigious Notodden Blues Festival in Norway and Lucerne Blues Festival in Switzerland.

Veronica & Max regularly perform in the USA, France, Switzerland, Hungary, Norway, Spain, England, Italy and Poland. Veronica is also the first Italian artist ever invited to the Mustique Blues Festival (2012 and 2013), in the Caribbean.

In 2025, WemsFest adds The Havana to its quiver of venues. The Havana is an atmospheric subterranean venue in the heart of Chichester. Easily accessible by public transport, come enjoy an evening out in Chichester’s premier grassroots music venue. The Havana’s licensed bar and cosy (unreserved) seating will ensure you are comfortable. Apologies however that this venue is not wheelchair-accessible.

Doors open 7.30 for an 8pm start

Cindy Kalmenson & Florence Sommerville

California meets Essex in this special country-Americana tour, featuring California singer-songwriter Cindy Kalmenson along with fast-rising Essex-based rootsy country singer-songwriter Florence Sommerville.

Cindy Kalmenson, one of the finest singer-songwriters currently working the West Coast club circuit, undertakes her second UK tour this June in support of her long-awaited HOME AGAIN fourth album. Droll and spirited, this talented lady displays an inner toughness with a sense of humour as well as a sense of perspective.

She has won many prestigious songwriting awards including most recently, the Rocky Mountain Folks Songwriting Contest last summer. With new vitality as a solo artist and with her new Trio as she continues to pursue her love of songwriting and performing. On stage she is very personable and engaging, using her natural humour and banter to win over an audience and then knocking them over with her dynamic voice and vivid songs.

Florence Sommerville released her latest single, (I’ll Be Your) Best Broken Heart to widespread acclaim and extensive radio plays this past January. There’s a raw rootsy quality to Florence’s music that belies her youthfulness. She doesn’t arrive as the next ready-made country star beauty figure Barbie doll. There is an unquestionable realness about the way Florence makes sense of life through her music. But she exhibits a surety of mind beyond her years, to create music that connects and inspires, and that will inflame a growing fire. An assured performer, she takes total command of any stage from the outset and allows her crystalline vocals to shine on her well-crafted original songs.