‘The Mini–Festival bringing together fierce and fresh folk talent from all across the nation to the heart of the North East.’

‘A triple bill extravaganza showcasing the incredible, blooming talent of Brierdene, East Corner Trio and Gleo’

Local, firmly established young folk band Brierdene are absolutely thrilled to host 'Folk in Bloom' in their home city and at the musical heart of the North East - The Cumberland Arms. This night marks the coming together of friends to show the blooming national talent that is in the UK's ever-evolving folk scene.

Brierdene

Brierdene are a Newcastle-based group of young musicians who have grown up playing together, meeting at the Sage Gateshead in youth folk ensembles and then progressing into the EFDSS’s National Youth Folk Ensemble. All multi-instrumentalists, the band consists of a 4 piece blend of fiddle, viola, flute, guitar, piano accordion, melodeon and piano. Through these means, they bring their own character, distinctiveness and enthusiasm to live performances.

All hailing from the North East of England, Brierdene have been surrounded by its rich musical history their whole lives. Performing both their own compositions and traditional material, the influence of Northumbrian folk fuses with the close-knit Celtic traditions of Scotland and Ireland and, further afield, music of Scandinavia and the French Breton - creating the fresh sound full of youthful spirit and powerful force that is Brierdene"

Acclaimed performer Kathryn Tickell adds: "Full of exciting arrangements and rock-solid musicianship… don’t miss these fantastic young musicians at the start of their careers!"

"They create a unique sound that is both haunting and uplifting. Their performance at the event was nothing short of magical, with the four musicians weaving together harmonies that sent shivers down the spine." - A review from their Folklub Newcastle performance in February 2023

East Corner Trio

From various corners of London, the East Corner Trio began by busking in London farmers markets. Before officially forming a trio they had been playing together for years in the London/National Youth Folk Ensembles, and after only a year reached the New Roots finals. Now studying in various corners of England, they continue to create a unique sound through their eclectic musical influences and unusual combination of melodeon, banjolin, flute and pipes.

Gleo

Gleo comes from the old English word ‘Gleodream’ which describes the happy feeling you get when listening to music - which you will definitely feel when listening to this up-and-coming folk band. Performing their own compositions and traditional tunes, the unique combination of the cello, trombone, fiddle and concertina takes you on a musical journey through England, Scandinavia and the Celtic regions. All members of the National Youth Folk Ensemble. Gleo ‘demonstrate technical ability through hypnotic arrangements’ as expressed by Cambridge Folk Festival Hub Band judges.

So much Gleodream will be felt when hearing their sound!