Blair Dunlop (UK)

Doors 6.30pm, show 7.30pm – all seated show

One of the UK’s most exciting singer songwriters, with his band and support from Australian, Liz Stringer.

Blair Dunlop

Blair Dunlop, award-winning British singer-songwriter and guitarist, comes with a great musical heritage – his father is renowned bassist, songwriter, arranger, band leader, writer and record producer, Ashley Hutchings (Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, Albion Band) and mother is the great folk singer, Judy Dunlop.

Blair has now released 5 albums, 1 live album and toured around the globe. All of this in a relatively short career is astounding alone but what sets Blair apart from his peers is the lyrical and musical maturity with which he writes. His third album ‘Gilded’ was released in May 2016 on his own label – Gilded Wings – and was widely acclaimed gaining BBC Radio 2 Playlist status for the two single releases (‘The Egoist’ and ‘356’). Prior to this Blair released his acclaimed album ‘House Of Jacks’ in mid 2014 which lived up to the promise of his 2012 debut ‘Blight and Blossom’ (the quality of which contributed to his winning the BBC Radio 2 Horizon Award).
Blair has now cemented his place as one of Britain’s most exciting talents. 2025 will see the release of his latest album.

‘The busy crowd… is testament to Dunlop’s talents. Dunlop brings an air of tenacity while displaying a fine repertoire of well-crafted songs spanning traditional and contemporary. He’s determinedly taking the traditions of folk in his own direction’ - The Independent

‘Dunlop is by far one of the finest singer-songwriters to appear from these shores in the 21st century. If that waasn’t enough, he’s also one of the finest guitar players’ - Americana UK

Liz Stringer

Liz Stringer is one of Australia’s most admired and versatile songwriters and instrumentalists. With a career spanning seven studio albums and a slew of honours including Port Fairy Folk Festival's 2023 Artist of the Year and the Woodford Folk Festival 'Emerging Legend of Australian Song' in 2020, Stringer is a venerated guitarist and vocalist, her notoriously powerful live performances and melodically rich, story-based songs earning her a unique place among the most important Australian songwriters of the modern era.

In Summer 2023, Stringer worked with Grammy nominated/Ivor Novello Award winning producer/engineer Beni Giles (Lianne La Havas,) at Iguana Studios in Brixton, London, to complete her most accomplished offering yet. The Second High sees Stringer branch into a wider range of her musical influences, using jazz, soul and funk as a canvas on which to squarely centre songs which draw on themes of self-actualisation, social inequity and the dogged pursuit of truth and authenticity.

‘…one of Australia’s most quietly devastating songwriters... an undeniable showcase of her ability to craft deeply personal yet socially resonant songs’ - Backseat Mafia

‘Liz Stringer has released her finest yet... (her) wonderfully untroubled rejection of genre is evident across these ten songs.’ - CLASH