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Ríoghnach Connolly & Honeyfeet

Super excited for this gig featuring one of the greatest voices on the planet PLUS Emsworth’s own Biff Roxby on trombone!

🎶 Ríoghnach Connolly & Honeyfeet 🎵
🗓️ Friday 20th November
📍 Westbourne Community Hall (AKA Westbourne Club), River Street, Westbourne, West Sussex, PO10 8TG
🕗 Doors open 7.30 for an 8pm show, unreserved seating
🍷 Licensed bar serving Langham Brewery 🍻

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

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Rioghnach Connolly & Honeyfeet move with ease and confidence between swampy jazz, raucous brass, fractured funk, blues balladry, and gorgeous folkloric textures. Connolly’s powerhouse vocals lead the charge, blending mischief, protest and vulnerability into something fiercely human and utterly live. Honeyfeet holds all of this together with a groove and a commitment to musical freedom. The lineup consists of Lorien Garth Edwards on bass, Ellis Davies on guitar, John Ellis on keyboards, Biff Roxby on brass, and Phill Howley on drums, forming a fluid and fearless musical unit.

At the heart of Ríoghnach Connolly & Honeyfeet is the indomitable Ríoghnach Connolly, whose voice is equal parts fierce, tender and fearless, connecting ancestral song traditions with contemporary storytelling. She has won the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Award for Best Folk Singer and BBC Radio 2’s Folk Singer of the Year. In early 2025, she joined Annie Lennox on stage at the Royal Albert Hall for “Sisters: Annie Lennox and Friends,” a landmark concert that raised funds for The Circle, Lennox’s global feminist organisation. Sharing the bill with artists including Celeste and Nadine Shah, Connolly brought her singular presence to a night that celebrated the transformative power of music and collective voice.

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As always, we’ll have our licensed bar serving delicious beers from Langham Brewery 🍻 as well as wines, local cider, nonalcoholic beers, & soft drinks

WemsFest is an entirely volunteer-run community interest company. All profits from bar and ticket sales are reinvested into our local community, delivering musical workshops in local schools each October in celebration of Black History Month

This year our charity bucket on the bar is supporting relationships & sex education in local schools, delivered by Options Chichester – please do help us support this important work

If you require special assistance or have mobility difficulties, please contact us in advance at adwesmfest@gmail.com or 07802 500 050 and we will do our very best to accommodate you so that you are comfortable.

Blazin’ Fiddles

The Blazers are comin’ back!

Blazin’ Fiddles
Tuesday 17th November
St James Church, Church Path, Emsworth, Hampshire, PO10 7DP
Doors open 7.30 for an 8pm show, unreserved seating
Licensed bar serving Langham Brewery

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

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From the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, they’ve been literally blazin’ a trail for nearly 30 years. The Blazin’ Fiddles comprise fiddlers Jenna Reid (Shetland), Kristan Harvey (Orkney), Rua Macmillan (Highlands), joined by the driving accompaniment of Angus Lyon (piano), and Anna Massie (guitar).

Multi-award winners as individuals, and collectively, ‘The Blazers’ are the finest exponents of their native Scottish fiddle styles and always up for the craic !

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As always, we’ll have our licensed bar serving delicious beers from Langham Brewery as well as wines, local cider, nonalcoholic beers, & soft drinks

All profits from bar and ticket sales are reinvested into our local community, delivering musical workshops in local schools each October in celebration of Black History Month

This year our charity bucket on the bar is supporting relationships & sex education in local schools, delivered by Options Chichester – please do help us support this important work

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.

TARRAN

TARRAN are an exhilarating contemporary folk group from Glasgow, with roots in both Ireland and New Zealand. We saw them perform at Celtic Connections and we are so excited to be bringing them to WemsFest!

TARRAN
Saturday 13th June
The Old Malthouse AKA Chidham Village Hall, PO18 8TP
Doors open 7.30 for an 8pm show, unreserved seating
Licensed bar serving Langham Brewery

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

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TARRAN are: Sophie Joint (keys), Breanna Wilson (fiddle), Malachy Arnold (harp) and Rory Stark (whistle/bodhran). Using elements of funk, blues and contemporary rhythm, the band create a lively and innovative twist on traditional music. Award-winners and title holders, they’re very much on a rapid rise to the top !

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As always, we’ll have our licensed bar serving delicious beers from Langham Brewery as well as wines, local cider, nonalcoholic beers, & soft drinks

All profits from bar and ticket sales are reinvested into our local community, delivering musical workshops in local schools each October in celebration of Black History Month

This year our charity bucket on the bar is supporting relationships & sex education in local schools, delivered by Options Chichester – please do help us support this important work

The East Pointers (support from Anouska Assisi)

We are delighted to welcome The East Pointers back to WemsFest in January 2026!

JUNO Award-winners The East Pointers are innovators within the ever-evolving genre of modern folk, crafting a joy-conjuring, dancefloor-shaking, roof-rattling fusion of folk, pop, and dance music. In the studio, six records have captured the furious energy of their live shows, adding to the legacy of East Coast folk while lighting a path for a new generation of music lovers.

Already internationally acknowledged as musical trailblazers, on their newest offering, Schoonertown, to be released January 23, 2026, The East Pointers have come home. Equal parts origin story and statement of craft, Schoonertown captures the moments that shaped their youth: nights out with the boys, the dizzy romance of first love, sprawling families and small towns, two weeks on in a bleak winter, kitchen parties and vinyl records and tape decks, every mistake, every late night, every long drive, beer and cigarettes and fights, laughing until you can’t breathe, ambition rising like a king tide, the piss and vinegar of youth, the sun emerging so bright over the horizon you have to shield your eyes–the devastation and exhilaration of all of it.

Since their debut album, Secret Victory, took home the 2017 JUNO Award for Traditional Album of the Year, The East Pointers have cemented their place as a defining voice in contemporary folk music. Their music, streamed millions of times over each month, has been featured on television, film, and broadcast, and their acoustic performances on social media have been shared by the likes of Ed Sheeran and Mumford & Sons. They regularly light up stages across Australia, Japan, the UK, Europe, Mexico, New Zealand, the USA, and Canada, and each fall they bring that energy back home to Prince Edward Island, where they host Goolaholla!, a festival celebrating music, community, and the spirit of the East Coast.

Acoustic pop singer-songwriter Anouska Assisi blends a broad range of musical influences into a distinctive and engaging sound. Her songs combine catchy hooks with thoughtful, relatable lyrics, creating music that truly connects with listeners. Inspired by pop icons such as Ed Sheeran and KT Tunstall, Anouska uses a loop station to build original music live on stage, performing across the UK. She transforms songs from a single guitar strum into a full production within minutes, using only her voice, guitar, and pedals.

In November 2025, Anouska released her much-anticipated second EP, You’re My Light. The EP captures the extraordinary, ever-changing emotions of being in love, with tracks featured on BBC Introducing. We can’t wait to hear these tracks live!

In 2026, WemsFest adds Room 12 to its quiver of venues. Formerly The Vestry, Room 12 is Chichester’s brand-new destination for live music, DJ events, comedy, and alternative nightlife, bringing a fresh and exciting energy to the city’s entertainment scene. Designed with a sleek, monochrome aesthetic and an edgy, underground vibe, the venue is built for those who crave exceptional live performances, high-quality sound, and an unforgettable atmosphere.

Please note that this is an 18+ show only. Licensed bar til late.

The East Pointers (support from Anouska Assisi) will play Room 12 (20-23 Southgate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 1ES) on Monday 26th January

Doors open 6.30pm for a 7pm start (Anouska Assisi) before The East Pointers come on stage at 8pm
Unreserved (minimal) seating with plenty of room for dancing

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 in the local community – AKA musical workshops in local schools during Black History Month.

We will also be shaking the bucket for our chosen charity this year, raising money for Cardiac Risk in the Young 💪🏽❤️💪🏽- please help us support this vital charity, in memory of Koady Chaisson who is deeply missed on stage!

Barry ‘The Fish’ Melton & his band

Founding member of legendary Californian psychedelic rock band Country Joe & The Fish – Barry ‘The Fish’ Melton on lead vocals and guitar, plus Rob Beckinsale on keyboard and vocals, Canadian guitarist Natalie Martel on rhythm guitar, Steve Browning on bass, Parisian Stephane Missri on guitar and vocals, and Bernie Fox on drums.

A rare opportunity to savour some of the music of one of the finest psychedelic rock bands in the world, in an incredibly intimate venue in the heart of Chichester !

Over fifty years ago, during the “Summer of Love” – 1967 – Barry “The Fish” Melton celebrated his 20th birthday in June 1967. A few days later, he and his band, “Country Joe and the Fish,” were rocketed onto the world stage at the Monterey Pop Festival with such luminaries as the Jefferson Airplane, the Mamas and the Papas, Otis Redding, Ravi Shankar, Simon and Garfunkel, The Who and a relatively unknown guitarist named Jimi Hendrix. And fifty years ago, in 1969, Barry appeared at the historic festival in Woodstock, New York and also appeared in the movie bearing the same name: “Woodstock.”

Barry began the 1970’s with an album for Columbia Records produced by legendary guitarist Michael Bloomfield, Barry took up part-time residence in the United Kingdom and recorded two albums at Rockfield Studios in Wales; and he toured extensively in the U.K., France and the Netherlands; Barry and ultimately returned home to San Francisco to record his fifth album of the decade.

In the 1980’s, Barry put together San Francisco’s historic supergroup, “Dinosaurs,” featuring Barry and John Cipollina (Quicksilver Messenger Service, guitar), Spencer Dryden (Jefferson Airplane, drums), Peter Albin (Big Brother and the Holding Company, bass), and Robert Hunter (Grateful Dead songwriter, guitar). Other members of the band later included Merl Saunders and Papa John Creech. “Dinosaurs” recorded its debut album and opened for Tony Bennett at the 50th Anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge celebration in 1987.

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

Tickets available at Bookends and Harbour Records in Emsworth village, and online at www.WeGotTickets.com/WemsFest

Le Vent du Nord

Le Vent du Nord are firm friends of WemsFest, and their local audience continues to grow despite the likelihood that many listeners won’t understand a word that’s being sung – it doesn’t matter! If you’ve seen them before, you know. If you haven’t, take a chance on something different – you will not regret it!

The multi-award-winning and highly acclaimed Le Vent du Nord is a leading force in Québec’s progressive francophone folk movement. The group’s vast repertoire draws from both traditional sources and original compositions, while enhancing its hard-driving soulful music with a broad range of global influences.

Since its inception in August 2002, Le Vent du Nord has enjoyed meteoric success, performing well over 2,500 concerts over 4 continents and racking up several prestigious awards, including a SONGLINES MUSIC AWARD -Americas (UK, 2023) Grand Prix du Disque Charles Cros (France), two Junos (Canada’s Grammys), three FÉLIX at ADISQ (Québec), a Canadian Folk Music Award, and been awarded Artist of the Year at the Folk Alliance annual gala.

The group exhibits great finesse and flexibility, appearing regularly on Canadian, American, French, and UK television and radio, and participating in a wide variety of special musical projects. They’ve collaborated and performed with a diverse range of artists including: Väsen, Sharon Shannon, Harry Manx, singer Julie Fowlis, Dervish, The Chieftains, Yann-Fañch Kemener, Québécois roots legend and master storyteller Michel Faubert, Apiary fiddle band, Breabach and many more. Not content with standard approaches to tradition, Le Vent du Nord has also created since 2007 a symphonic concert that, according to Voir Montreal, “puts all traditional folk naysayers to shame.”

As an amazing live performance quintet, Le Vent du Nord continues to explore new sounds with stunning vocal arrangements. On stage these 5 friends create intense, joyful and dynamic live performances that expand the bounds of tradition in striking directions.

THE BAND
Nicolas Boulerice – vocals, electro acoustic hurdy-gurdy, piano
André Brunet – fiddle, foot-tapping, vocals
Réjean Brunet – basses, diatonic accordion, jaw harp, piano, vocals
Olivier Demers – fiddle, guitar, foot-tapping, mandolin, vocals
André Gagné – vocals, bouzouki, guitar

On stage these 5 musicians create intense, joyful and dynamic live performances that expand the bounds of tradition in striking global directions. This is the modern sound of tradition, a music of the here and now.

Unreserved seating
Doors open 7.30pm for an 8pm show
Licensed Bar helps support WemsFest – As always, we’ll have our licensed bar serving delicious beers from Langham Brewery 🍻 as well as wines, local cider, nonalcoholic beers, and soft drinks. All profits from bar and ticket sales are reinvested in the local community.

Tickets available now at Bookends and Harbour Records and online here

The East Pointers (with special guests Saije)

JUNO Award-winners, The East Pointers, are redefining the ever-evolving genre – modern folk – with dancefloor-shaking, ceiling-rattling, electro-trad breakdowns, and a glorious combination of folk, pop, and dance music. Already internationally acknowledged as musical trailblazers, their latest EPs House Of Dreams and Safe In Sound capture the furious energy of their live shows and push the boundaries of East Coast folk while lighting a path for a new generation of music lovers.

Fans of The East Pointers have Koady Chaisson to thank for being the kinetic force behind the JUNO-Award winning indie-folk trio since the group formed in 2014. The dancefloor-shaking, electro-trad glorious combination of folk/pop has brought so much joy to audiences around the world. And now, even posthumously, Koady’s energetic fire continues to blaze the musical trail onward.

It was on January 6, 2022 that Koady Chaisson of The East Pointers passed away from an unexpected heart aneurysm at 37. Those who were lucky to have been influenced by his creative and generous soul felt like a black hole had suddenly formed where the supernova of Koady’s light had been.

But before his passing, Koady, Tim Chaisson, and Jake Charron, had recorded most of the tracks for two new EPs. Unlike any of the The East Pointers’ material to date, these precious songs are shiny and melodic, nostalgia-flared, folk experimental pop but with the same driving trad hooks for which the band has become known and revered.

The first EP, House of Dreams, was released in September 2022 and was nominated for a JUNO Award in 2023. The second EP, Safe In Sound, was released in November 2023.

The East Pointers have toured extensively in the UK, USA, Japan, and Australia, in addition to their native Canada, and have become firm festival favourites around the globe. Their debut album Secret Victory won the 2017 JUNO Award for ‘Traditional Album of the Year’, their 2017 album What We Leave Behind and their 2022 EP House Of Dreams were nominated for JUNO Awards, and they have developed loyal fanbases in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the UK, Europe, Mexico, the USA, and Canada.

Our WemsFest audience were lucky to experience one of the last concerts The East Pointers played as a trio, in November 2021. We are delighted to welcome Tim and Jake back to our stage for the last date of The East Pointers’ UK Spring 2025 tour.

For this show only, The East Pointers will have support from special guests Saije!

Saije is an award-winning, indie-folk duo whose soulful harmonies, dynamic guitar-lines and percussive breakdowns breathe life into heartfelt stories. Their songwriting is crafted from the depths; stirring melodies bound together with graceful lyricism, and through multitasking techniques, the pair create a full-bodied sound enriched by flavours from their travels around the globe.

After being awarded Folk Alliance Australia’s ‘Young Artist of the Year 2019-2021’, Saije has toured extensively in Australia, throughout Canada in 2020 and most recently two 50-plus-date Europe and UK tours in 2023 and 2024, playing a plethora of sold-out performances and festival appearances, including at Woodford Folk Festival (AUS), Galway Folk Festival (IRE), Surfana Festival (NL), Magpies Nest (UK) and a Folk Alliance International Official Showcase (US). Saije have supported some of Australia’s most renowned singer songwriters such as Ziggy Alberts, Kim Churchill and Steph Strings. They continue to uplift both national and international audiences through their unifying performances and a warmth that fills small halls and overflows from large festival stages.

Doors open 7.30pm for an 8pm show.

Licensed Bar helps support WemsFest – As always, we’ll have our licensed bar serving delicious beers from Langham Brewery as well as wines, local cider, nonalcoholic beers, and soft drinks. All profits from bar and ticket sales are reinvested in the local community.

Tickets available now at Bookends and Harbour Records and online here

If you require special assistance or have mobility difficulties, please contact us in advance and we will do our very best to accommodate you so that you are comfortable.

The Barleycorn Tavern, which is a stone’s throw from the Village Hall, are very kindly offering ticket holders 2 for 1 meals before the concert. You’ll need to call them and book at least 3 days before the event, and will need to show either your ticket or your WeGotTickets.com email.