Steve Malley, in his Horse Loom manifestation. Dark folk tales from Northumbria. Incredible solo guitar and voice. For fans of Davey Graham, Bert Jansch and John Fahey. Northumberland's best kept secret. The Wire Unique marriage between British folk music, avant-garde guitar-playing and punk rock spirit. Supersonic Festival

This is a really unique show - we are so lucky to have this opportunity to experience a performance from this internationally acclaimed composer and improviser. Henry McPherson is a composer-improviser, artist, and researcher from Herefordshire (UK). His work explores human-environment relationships and plant ecologies, through sound, text, movement, and visual media. He is interested in interspecies kinship and forest choreography, moss music and microbiomes, deep sea listening, sonic collage, and dancing with instruments. His developing approach to ecological improvisation aims to cultivate inclusive listening and environmental empathy in and through performance. Henry's work has been performed and recorded by internationally acclaimed ensembles and artists, including the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Opera North, and Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra, broadcast on national and local radio, and presented in festivals, galleries, and performance events across the UK, France, Switzerland, Greece, the USA, the Netherlands, Canada, Brazil, Germany, Austria, Ireland, and China. Past premieres include the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (Uhte, 2016), Scottish Opera (Maud, 2017/2023), Eugene Difficult Music Ensemble (How to play Mariana, 2024), the Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra (Foutraque, 2021), Ensemble Modern (Mannequin, 2016), Ed Bennett's DECIBEL Ensemble (Opening Hands, 2018), and RedNote Ensemble (Tides, 2015). Recent installation and audiovisual works have included Colagens at Fruitmarket Gallery (Edinburgh, 2019) and Despina Gallery (Rio de Janeiro, 2018), Bryographs and Moss Verses at Galérie Analix Forever (Geneva, 2024), More Than One Thing at hcmf// (Huddersfield, 2021), and How to be a forest at Fox Yard Studios (Lowestoft, 2024), In recent years, Henry's focus has shifted from large ensemble composition toward more intimate, process-led collaborations with other artists - often improvised, site-specific, and interdisciplinary - where listening, place, and shared creativity guide the development of the work. Recent collaborative projects include IMMERSIONS (2022), an eco-arts residency with dance artists Kirstie Simson and Michael Schumacher exploring improvisation in sites at risk of sea level rise (supported by Creative Scotland); Herbarium (2023), an exploration of botanical illustration notation with Austrian composer Florijan Lörnitzo (supported by Stadt Wien and AustroMechana); Dancing with Colours (2022), an inclusive improvisational sound, movement, and painting production directed by JoAnne Haines, and produced by Mind The Gap; and Empty Dreaming (2025, forthcoming), a co-composition for piano with Joshua Brown, focusing on the performer's sensibility towards cyclical gestures and experiences of stretched time.

Tealeaf arose as a project out of session culture and a community of people living on, restoring and sailing traditional boats in Penryn. It began by discovering and interpreting traditional ballads that tied into the way communities and culture in Cornwall - where they are based - are changing. This led to writing new songs collaboratively that are a combination of original ideas and experiences and re-contextualising themes from the folk tradition that have weaved their way back into our day-to-day lives such as the housing crisis and the de-industrialisation of Cornwall. Ollie, Phylly and Tom experiment with Cello, Bouzouki, Harmonium, Banjo and guitar, alongside their voices to build music full of rich harmony, warmth and dread. Elm are a Leeds-based folk duo. As classically-trained cellists with backgrounds in various disciplines of singing, they use their broad combined experiences to create the music that they love. Elm write original music and arrange traditional and contemporary songs for voices, two cellos, and other accompanying instruments. They are influenced by the likes of Karine Polwart, Leyla McCalla, and This Is The Kit. Elm's songs focus on their shared love for the natural world and seasonal change, and they enjoy experimenting with rhythm and harmonic interest.

Featuring members of SWELT, who played a great show for Weirdshire last year, LIFTER bring crafted songs, intricate guitars and unexpected bursts of noise... And a welcome return for the excellent Return of the Spouse - bringing their off kilter indie labyrinths...

Nottingham based Ben uses acoustic instruments and voice, together with live digital processing, to create beautiful improvised landscapes. Latest album Elkwort is garnering lots of praise: A shivering seabed of sound, haunted by barely there vocals and stitched together with lo-fi production. Jude Rogers, THE GUARDIAN

Howie needs no further introduction for regular Weirdshire Society visitors - angular song structures, vocals which range from the tender to the strident, virtuosic and highly original acoustic bass guitar, stalwart of the international DIY/punk music community. Bursting with compassion and humour. Portron Portron Lopez grew up in Eastern Paris. A Beefheartian rock trio tinged with Afro-electronic influences. A freedom inherited from the best garage and psychedelic rock, whose clichés they sometimes subvert. In two words, it's a rogue and invigorating music.

Gwenifer is an absolute phenomenon - sparse American primitive instrumentals drawn from the roots music of Mississippi and Appalachia. Influenced by the likes of Skip James, John Fahey, Roscoe Holcomb and John Hurt. Ancient Hostility are equally phenomenal - they combine traditional folk singing with stories of modern day resistance and struggle, personal reflection and heartbreak, acoustic drone and a love of heavy metal. Lyrics that move from fiercely political to soberingly honest are sung in close harmony. Finding harmony in contrast, relief in honesty, and hope in the darkness, Ancient Hostility are calming songs for turbulent times.