The Full English is the combination of folk stars; Seth Lakeman, Martin Simpson, Fay Hield, Nancy Kerr, Sam Sweeney, Rob Harbron and Ben Nicholl, performing music inspired by The Full English, the world’s biggest digital archive of English traditional folk music and dance tunes, which is due to launch in June. Commissioned by EFDSS, The Full English concert features new music and arrangements inspired by material Fay Hield found within The Full English archive.

Multi award-winning duo O’Hooley and Tidow are now one of the most popular and unique acts on the contemporary folk scene. Their latest album The Fragile garnered 4-star reviews from The Guardian, Mojo, Uncut and Songlines. The duo’s beautifully unusual songs touch on every human emotion; drawing on love and loss, dark and humorous folk tales and everything from the invisibility of the elderly, through to ecology, rumour-mongering and the global economy.

Stu and Debbie Hanna are the husband and wife duo Megson. Three times nominated in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and double winners of the 2011 Spiral Earth Awards they draw heavily on their Teesside heritage to create a unique brand of folk music. Their infectious sound is a mix of heavenly vocals, lush harmonies and driving rhythmic guitars and mandolas.