Oli Matthews Band + John Kelly + Honey and the Bear

A late night show as part of the Manchester Folk Festival from:

Oli Matthews Band

Oli Matthews is a UK Folk-Funk instrumentalist and tunesmith, writing gripping melodies, punchy brass sections and funky bass lines, delivered with an energetic vibe often compared to artists such as Trombone Shorty, Elephant Sessions and Peatbog Faeries.

He writes his music, crafting together his folk roots heritage, with his passion for jazz funk brass riffs and adventurous bass lines, bringing the excitement of his music to life on stage seamlessly changing between Soprano Sax and Melodeon. His debut EP ‘Summit’, released last year highlights his seamless mix of musical styles, blending folk melodies with jazz funk grooves.

John Kelly

John Kelly is a warm, funny, passionate musician with over 30 years’ live experience. He is a lover and a (non-violent) fighter for equality, inclusion and human rights.

His songwriting sits alongside that of his heroes and peers; containing all the compassion & conviction of Woody Guthrie, the fiery passion of Billy Bragg and the imaginative storytelling of Ian Dury & The Blockheads.

Honey And The Bear

Honey & the Bear were a tour de force on the UK Folk Festival circuit in 2022. 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.

For every festival show, we have set aside an allocation of tickets for wristband holders, so all you need to do is turn up and you’ll be let in. However, for particularly popular shows expected to sell out, we recommend arriving early to secure entry, as this would be the only instance where admission might be limited.