Dan Wilde

Dan and Gráinne have been friends for years, and for the first time they come together to share the stage in The Portland Arms, ahead of Gráinne's Cambridge Folk Festival debut. Dan Wilde Dan Wilde has been performing his own brand of richly observant folk both in the UK and around the world for the past ten years. In that time, he’s developed a growing fan-base and a reputation amongst those who know as "a fantastic songwriting talent who without a doubt will deserve and demand your attention” (Eclectically Challenged). Three albums in, the evidence is clear he’s an extraordinary songsmith, while his ‘stunning’ guitar playing (Maverick Magazine) has led to an endorsement from Fylde guitars. Previous releases, ’This Is The Place’ (2010), ‘With Fire in Mind’ (2013) and Rhythm On The City Wall (2016), have cemented his reputation as a fine songsmith. He is currently working on a new release that is expected in Winter 2023. It is his profound lyrics, melded with a unique melodic sensibility, which shows the writer maturing into a poetic commentator and keen observer of everyday life’s patterns and tapestries in his songs akin to Damien Rice and David Gray. Dan’s words have been described as “deeply personal and introspective but engrossing and charismatic” (Folkwords) and they reflect his peripatetic restlessness. Originally from Blackpool, Dan now lives in Cambridge — but his wanderlust has taken him touring through the USA, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Holland, the Czech Republic and Russia. Dan has supported Rick Astley, Ethan Johns, Cara Dillon, Karine Polwart, Sam Carter, John Smith and Martin Taylor to name a few, and performed at some of the UK’s best-loved folk festivals — Cambridge Folk Festival, Kendal Calling, Beverley Festival and Galtres. Intimate and moving, Wilde’s work has a lyrical grace which is hard to match. Allow the song ‘Pieces’ to pin you to the wall and you won’t want to come back down. Gráinne Hunt ‘A natural performer, Grainne Hunt commands an astounding voice that will melt your heart. No crowd can resist.’ Declan O’Rourke Songwriter, Author Gráinne Hunt is a contemporary nu-folk singer/songwriter with a rich background in performance and songwriting. As well as touring throughout Ireland, the UK and Europe, Gráinne has shared the stage with some of Ireland’s foremost musicians- Glen Hansard, Liam O’Maonlaí, Damien Dempsey, Kíla. Recently she’s supported Glen in Belfast, and Aly and AJ (USA), and she’s opened for legendary Irish singer Mary Black, joined Declan O’Rourke, and she’s also opened for Eagle Eye Cherry, Kane Brown, John Smith, and the Bay City Rollers. Her biggest highlight was opening for Gladys Knight for two nights in Dublin’s Olympia. Her voice is incredibly powerful - there’s a husky element but also a vulnerability, which is present too in her lyrics. This combination has gained her a reputation as one of Ireland’s most outstanding female vocalists and songwriters. Some have compared her to Tracy Chapman, Natalie Merchant and Dolores O’Riardan. Gráinne’s two albums Firing Pin (2015) and This Secret (2019 - recorded in Nashville, with Grammy nominated Thomm Jutz) both dig deep into her personal history - she writes from a powerful place with lyrics that tell of pain, hurt, desire, all the hallmarks of scarred relationships making her truth resonate with her listeners. The albums feel like a cathartic expression that have enabled her to move on, move forward. Gráinne is one half of Gráinne and Brendan - a new folk/classical/trad crossover project in collaboration with award winning guitarist Brendan Walsh. They released ‘Songs From Ireland’ in 2019. She is also half of new folk duo Hibsen, a project with Jim Murphy, based on James Joyce’s book of short stories, Dubliners. They have written 15 songs, one for each of the stories and the album released as part of the Bloomsday programming in June 2023. Gráinne is the quintessential singer songwriter, and while the pandemic put her 2019 release and touring schedule into chaos, she’s moved on, collaborated, diversified and is getting ready to record her third album.