Their name is a play on words referring simultaneously to their "Frenchness" and "artiness", the '60s new wave of cult French cinema, the source of their songs, all covers of punk rock, post-punk, and New Wave songs, and their use of '60s Bossa nova-style arrangements, bossa nova meaning "new wave" or "new beat" in Portuguese. On their first album, Nouvelle Vague, the group resurrected classics from the New Wave music era, and reinterpreted them in a bossa nova style. The songs were stripped back to acoustic arrangements with lithe shaker rhythms achieved by gathering a parade of chanteuses from all over the world, six French, one Brazilian and one New Yorker, to cover bands including XTC, Modern English, The Clash, Joy Division and The Undertones. The various female singers on Nouvelle Vague only performed songs they had never heard before, to ensure that each cover would have a unique quality. Nouvelle Vague in concert at Le Cargö.Their second album, Bande à Part, includes versions of "Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)" by Buzzcocks, "Blue Monday" by New Order, "The Killing Moon" by Echo and the Bunnymen and "Heart of Glass" by Blondie. Members, former members and contributors include many French artists who are now very well known on their own and considered as part of what is now called the "Renouveau de la chanson française" (the "Renewal of French chanson"): Anaïs Croze, Camille Dalmais, Phoebe Killdeer, Mélanie Pain and Marina Céleste. (back to top)

While other folk metal bands began with metal before adding folk music, Korpiklaani started with folk music before turning metal. The roots of Korpiklaani can be traced back to a Sami folk music group under the name of Shamaani Duo, an "in house restaurant band" created by Jonne Järvelä in 1993. An album of folk music was released under this name before Järvelä relocated and formed a new band Shaman. The folk metal act Shaman was based on the folk music of Shamaani Duo. Two albums were released in 1999 and 2001 before Shaman changed their name to Korpiklaani. The change in name was accompanied by a change in the music. The traditional yoik vocals and the use of the Sámi language were dropped while the synthesizer was replaced with real folk instruments. Jonne Järvelä credits his work with Finntroll as the catalyst for the shift in emphasis from folk to metal. According to Jonne Järvelä, Korpiklaani's music would be seen as "old peoples music with heavy metal guitars" in Finland. There has been some amount of collaboration between Korpiklaani and Finntroll, as Samu Ruotsalainen of Finntroll provided session drums for their debut album Spirit of the Forest and Järvelä provided the yoiking for the title track of Finntroll's album Jaktens Tid. (back to top)

Peter Gabriel, Johnnie Walker and Bob Harris are all agreed - Show of Hands are one of the great English acoustic bands. An alchemist couldn't have come up with a more potent, magical mix than that of Phil Beer, who can, as The Scotsman observed, "play nearly every stringed instrument known to man" and the inspired Steve Knightley, described by Mike Harding at BBC Radio 2's 2007 Folk Awards as "one of England's greatest singer songwriters". 2007 was a milestone year for England's most popular roots duo - notching up a third sell out gig at the Royal Albert Hall; nominated for Best Duo and Best Original Song (for Roots) at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards; headlining at some 20 major UK festivals from Glastonbury to Cambridge and being invited to support Peter Gabriel at the Eden Project; embarking on solo tours and a German tour and then back home in the UK for two autumn/winter tours. (back to top)

There aren't many rock bands on this planet that wouldn't like to be regarded as unique. Of course, in these times of nostalgia and endlessly recycled ideas, very few actually deserve that description. Finland's Apocalyptica deserve it more than most. Utterly original in every respect, these classically-trained merchants of genre-shattering metal sound quite unlike anything or anyone else in musical history. (back to top)

The 90s witnessed The Saw Doctors emerge as the most successful Irish rock band since U2. The Washington Post referred to the Saw Doctors as "one of the world's most appealing roots-rock outfits." The Saw Doctors had their initial success with their second single, I Useta Love Her, which became the biggest-selling single in Irish history and spent nine weeks at the top of the Irish charts. Following its success, the Saw Doctors' first single, N17, too became a number one hit. The Saw Doctors' debut album, If This Is Rock and Roll, I Want My Old Job Back, released in 1991, also reached the top slot on the Irish charts. Same Oul' Town, the Saw Doctors' third album, was released in 1996 and fared well reaching number six on the British charts. (back to top)

Jason has been on the circuit for over five years. He is based in the Nothe West and despite being a whipper snapper has regularly performed at the country's top comedy clubs including 'The Comedy Store' and 'Jongleurs' as well as abroad. He started his comedy life as a lowly pot collector at Manchester's longest running comedy club, The Buzz. After an act didn't turn up one night, Jason offered to step in and went on to do a very promising set in front of a demanding audience. Then, after only five weeks and four gigs, he won the prestigious North West Comedian of the Year Award, previously won by Caroline Aherne, Johnny Vegas and Peter Kay. Jason has warm and natural stage presence, and his act is a friendly one. He is naturally funny and has a strong, original set with wry observations and a genuine respect for the old comedy greats. Jason is equally adept at compering, opening or closing shows, he also does many corporate gigs as well as TV warm-ups. (back to top)

An expert at being himself, Stephen K Amos is supremely warm and wickedly funny with an ability to charm onlookers right into the palm of his hand. He creates weird and wonderful connections within his audience who are drawn into his own personal world and thoughts brought to life by his chatty delivery, his ability to become the characters he's talking about and his fantastic energy and warmth. (back to top)