Ray and Duke Duval were born on the banks of the Irwell Delta. Raised on Cleavleys everglades.Their Pappas used to run Crawfish tubs off the Manchester Ship Canal and sell them down at the famous Smithfield Market. The Alligator brothers grew up tough. Fighting with the fierce wildlife of Folly brook and Quaker bridge. They grew up not even realising they were related until one day as Duke was busking on Church Street Eccles, Ray came along carrying an old guitar and sat down to play. Duke immediately recognised the family trait of having six fingers on the left hand and asked him about it. They married the same girl on 20 July 1989 and had a son, Spartacus the following year. Chlotile, their wife was a strong girl until her death. She died in child birth 4 years later when she had the triplets Billy-Bob, Bobby-Bob and Hey-Bob a reBob. The Alligator brothers music is clawed from the mud of the banks of the Bridgewater canal where they live in a shack on Dead Dogs Bay opposite the site of the UCP tripe works. Come along to some down home stomping blues with the Alligator Brothers. Kick off your shoes, relax and make yourself comfortable. Duke Duval

The concept of Animals and Friends began in the spring of 2000. Hilton Valentine had re-located to America but demand was high for the Animals. Peter Barton former Mindbender had been gigging in a band alongside John Williamson, former guitarist from Titanic. A suggestion was made to team the two units together. Pete had been involved with the Animals now for almost a decade on the management front. Due to the pedigree of the current band members the band was re-named Animals and friends. Jim Rodford was a well-known face from the Kinks and Argent. Johnnie guitar Williamson, again from his time with Titanic and Skeleton Cew had become a familiar face on the Blues and Rock circuit. Pete Barton had also served his apprenticeship alongside Wayne Fontana in The Mindbenders and with Trevor Burton from The Move. The final ingredient's to this rock & roll cocktail was of course original Animal members, Dave Rowberry and John Steel. Animals and Friends were born. In June 2003 the band had a major shock, Dave Rowberry suddenly died at the age of 63. The band knew they had to finish the new album but was not sure if they would continue as a touring unit. Mickey Gallagher who had joined the Animals in 1965 when Alan Price left took the offer to re-join John Steel after almost forty years. Jim Rodford had one year earlier been asked to team up with his old mate's Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone to perform a select number of dates. Jim obviously accepted due to his history with Rod in Argent. In the summer of 2004 it was decision time again. Argent dates and Animal dates had started to clash so Jim reluctantly left the band. Jim was a major force in the band and it was sad to see him go. He still appears on occasion as a special guest. The bands strength has grown over the last few years. Two major British tours under the belt. A major new album in the shops. A fantastic fan base, which is growing daily.

"Good British blues bands are rare these days ... and Blues n' Touble are the best I've heard in a decade." B'n'T were formed in the early 80 's by Tim Eliott & John Bruce. Constant personnel changes were to eventually lead to a permanent line-up, which encouraged the band to turn professional & saw the release of their debut album in 1985. During the next ten years B'n'T toured & guested with many blues greats including BB King, Robert Cray, Pinetop Perkins, Charlie Musselwhite, Buddy Guy & Junior Wells. They recorded with "sixth Stone" Ian Stewart, enjoying indie chart succes, and also with Lazy Lester, for which a W.C.Handy award was won! Their third album, "Hat Trick", recorded by vintage blues producer Mike Vernon relaunched his "Blue Horizon" label. Chart succes with "No Minor Keys" & "Hat Trick", along with a British Blues Connection award for "Down to the Shuffle", helped keep the band in high demand for many years, often playing around 250 shows a year all over the U.K., Scandinavia & Europe. They appeared at festivals throughout the world including the prestigious "Memphis Blues Festival". B'n'T have released 9 albums, not including re-issues & compilations. The year 2000 saw the release of a brand new studio album "Blues Graffiti" featuring all new tracks from the line up of Timmy Boy Elliot on vocals & harp, Mike Park on guitars, Scotty Scott on bass & Lucky Lox Lovell on drums. This double CD includes selected tracks from their 1987 "Hat Trick" album & the same year's live album recorded in Germany, all remastered & some previously unreleased tracks from the band's sold out "festival" shows in Edinburgh

Cold Shot were formed in 1991 by its frontman Geoff Garcia from Bolton, as a tribute to the exceptional musicianship of the late great Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. They also cover a number of songs by Jimi Hendrix - a major influence of Stevie's They are a 3 piece band with Garcia on Guitar and vocals, Geoff Fisher from Preston on Fender Jazz bass and Chris Parr from Blackburn on drums They each have over 30 years playing experience on the music circuits of UK and Europe. Cold Shot have played Burnley and Colne Blues festivals, Manchester and Aintree Guitar shows and numerous bike events including the prestigious Farmyard Party.

R&B, Jazz and Blues. Compass Roses are a collection of musicians from UK & Netherlands including lead singers Lauren Jade and Wella Sitoris. Compass Roses are a 9 person project but as a performing band can play in smaller combinations - even down to 3. The 3 Dutch members of the band will be flying to the UK just to play the Monton Music Festival before the whole band flies to Italy to play in the Pistoia Blues Festival.

Eccles College Jazz Funk Band was set up in September 2007 by their musical director Owain Roberts. It comprises of the College’s top instrumentalists and vocalists, providing them a platform to display their talents. The band repertoire consists of jazz standards as well as up-beat funk and soul numbers. Following their first proper public performance at the Lowry during Easter 2008 the band were offered numerous professional gigs in and around the Salford area

The Genes are Ian Shoreman – Voclas & Guitars, Danny Hayes – Drums & Percussion, Mark David Lambrou – Lead Guitar and Paul Higson – Bass Guitar and all hail from Bolton and Manchester ‘BOLCHESTER’ Clint Boom XFM 2006. The Genes formed in November 2004 where they met at DOA studios in Bolton all brought together by Paul Higson. Paul worked with Ian and Jay and had been in a previous band with Danny many years ago! Ian being a singer song writer had loads of material to get the lads started, and a month down the line the lads had produced a sound and style they all wanted and a new band was born. In general discussion Danny quoted to Ian that ‘Music must be your genes mate’ for the quality and style of his songs that he had put forward to the band in the first few weeks of getting together…. and there came the name as Paul shouted Genes, that’s a cool name…. The Genes signed a Management deal in early 2006 with David Kay of Red Brick Productions now 'Qudramedia'. Mark David Lambrou became a Gene in Jan 2008 with the departure of original Lead Guitaris Jay Hartley......The Genes have returned in 2008 with a slightly new approach, line up and sound!

The Golborne Brass Band is one of the oldest 'village' Bands in the country, which was originally formed in 1867. We have a photograph in the 1880’s of the founder band. In 1914 the Band ceased to exist because of the First World War and was not in the position to reform until 1922 at which time the name changed to 'Golborne Public Subscription Band'. James Mort reformed the band in 1950, which had been disbanded due to the 2nd World War. The Band won its first prize at Rhyl contest in 1955. Many prizes followed under the guidance of James, so the band changed its name in to ‘Golborne Prize Band’. After his death in 1965, Joe Houlton took over the baton and success continued. In more recent times the band has won prizes under the baton of Geoff Williams. In 1990 the band toured Holland and in 1994 toured France.

Formed 20 years ago The Harpbreakers have kept fresh the bouncy blues and energy of the Chess artists of the 50’s and 60’s, pumping new life into it with superbly sculptured originals. Compared on many levels with the modern day west coast swing of Kim Wilson, Rod Piazza and James Harman these guys know how to rock the house. The Harpbreakers have appeared on many of the main stages at blues festivals over the years and are renowned for their exciting and energetic stage performances as much as their music. Press reviews have always highlighting the skill, energy and sophistication of their shows. After a sabbatical of 3 years + they are back with the original line up and twice the enthusiasm. Catch them soon. You won’t be disappointed.

21st century blues man Expressed through a distinctive bitter-sweet vocal delivery and harrowing guitar work, Ian's songs hold nothing back. His ability and willingness to share with his audience, naked honesty and genuine emotion, is what sets him apart. Drawing on an eclectic range of influences, this young man is fast becoming Britain's best loved blues/roots performer. A songwriter genuinely literate, sometimes almost literary, Ian is an original craftsman rooted in the blues but not trapped by any desire to replicate the past. He is without doubt a relevant contemporary blues man. 'WHERE I BELONG' released in January 2007, was recorded in Cheltenham, and produced by Matt Butler, whose extensive CV includes none other than Sir Paul McCartney. Recorded analogue to tape, the album has the rich and warm sonic characteristics associated with the pre-digital age, but there is nothing retro about this release. 'WHERE I BELONG' has something for all blues fans, purists and progressives alike. It catalogues the pronounced growth and self-discovery of a modern blues artist who is here to stay.

Jonathan Ashton is an actor and workshop leader from Manchester, who has been leading drama workshops in Liverpool for the last two years. He was Co-President of Liverpool University Drama Society winning various society awards in the process. Recent work includes directing Liverpool’s first 24 Hour Play - a play devised in 24 hours, Assistant Director on a National Youth Theatre Intake Course as well as various acting roles with the company, and Assistant Director with ‘Let’s Go Global’ for a film project in Salford. Recent acting roles include Raskolnikov (Crime and Punishment), Dan (Closer), and Lucentio (Taming of the Shrew) as well as appearing in music videos for The Twang and Alexis Blue. Currently Jonathan is working as a freelance workshop leader and developing a brand new play with his new theatre company ‘Northern Monkeys Theatre’ a company consisting of National Youth Theatre alumni.

Salford born tenor Jon Christos began his studies at Chetham's School of Music and graduated as a Major Scholarship recipient onto the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Since leaving the RNCM Jon has taken leading operatic roles at home and abroad in operas such as Puccini's La Boheme, Mozart's The Magic Flute and Rossini's The Barber of Seville, the last at the prestigious Aix-en-Provence music festival. Since the release of his debut album "Northern Light" in 2006 Jon has been a regular fixture on British TV and Radio and has performed regularly on BBC 1's Songs of Praise, ITV's Easter and Christmas Services and Radio 2's Friday Night Is Music Night while also hosting his own radio show on BBC Radio Lancashire. Jon has performed at numerous high profile sports events including the Powergen Rugby Cup Final at Twickenham, the Heineken Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and was the first artist to perform at the new Wembley Stadium. In 2007 Jon toured the UK and Europe with conductor Carl Davis performing Carl's "Sports Symphony". Now recognized as one of the worlds leading tenors, Jon performed for the launch of the new Cunard ocean liner The Queen Victoria in Southampton in December 2007 as one third of the new "Three Tenors". So far in 2008 Jon has performed at the opening ceremony of the 2008 FINA World Swimming Championships in Manchester and at the PFA Footballer of the Year Awards on April 27th. Jon will again perform with Carl Davis and the CBSO at Symphony Hall in Birmingham on June 6th. Jon is currently recording his new album which is due for release later in the year.

Kojo is a five-piece band combining elements of jazz, funk and soul to produce an uplifting and inspiring sound. Unrivalled in musicality, the repertoire combines catchy originals with ingenious Kojo reworks of popular songs of yesteryear. In its two year history, it has established numerous prestigious residencies in venues around the North West, and is now one of the busiest outfits performing in the area. The band is fronted by the charismatic Simon Kodjo Sackey, who combines soulful vocals with sublime jazz voicings on acoustic guitar. Bandleader, musical director and master of ceremonies, Simon also writes Kojo's original material. He is joined on vocals by young beauty Alicia, whos sultry vocals float effortlessly over the Kojo sound

Lorelei Loveridge is a published songwriter, performer, world-traveller, teacher, arts manager, coach, consultant, writer, photographer, director of theatre, marketer, and jill-of-all-trades in the wonderful world of independent music making. She originally hails from Canada and is on the move after 11 years in Saudi Arabia. Loveridge is the founder of Orderly Bazaar Records & Publishing, an artist-owned boutique label specialized in ‘roots, rock, ethnic, jazz, fusion and other travel-related shenanigans'.

The Manchester Chorale is one of the most accomplished and versatile choirs in Britain. It was originally founded and funded by the BBC in 1979, but for the last 15 years has been totally independent. The Musical Director Jill Henderson-Wild. 2006. The Chorale has toured Norway, France and Germany, and will come to the festival having just returned from a tour in Germany. Their performances include pretigeous events such as supporting Wilhelmena Fernandez and José Carreras, and in September 1995 supporting Luciano Pavarotti at the Manchester Arena On television, The Chorale has become one of the best known names in the Sainsbury's Choir of the Year Competition. In addition the Chorale has made a number of other television appearances: As diverse as providing a chorus of Elvis Presleys for a Granada TV game show, and a church choir for an episode of the BBC's Comedy-Drama "Common as Muck". In 1998 the Chorale broadcast live from the chapel of Lyme Hall for a Sunday morning magazine "Lent in the Park", and in 2001 was the chosen choir for a special edition of BBC1's "Songs of Praise" and are regularly asked to sing for Radio 4's Daily Service

Natalie Ashton, soprano, was originally in the National Youth Choir with whom she performed on their World Tour and recorded Karl Jenkins The Armed Man (which topped the Classical CD chart). In 2003, Natalie sang the role of Belona in Calderón's La púrpura de la rosa. She has also sung with the Halle Choir and is currently with Voce Scura.

Notability is a choir of around 16 people based in Manchester. The choir is distinctive in several ways: Having no conductor means that instead the choir look to the audience instead of a conductor. .. and they talk to the audience having a number of fine raconteurs who introduce sets of songs, always informatively, often humorously. Here is a choir who aim to entertain.

The Pendleton College Chamber Choir was founded in 2005 and is also made up of 32 singers from the college. The choir has perfomed at Salford Cathedral, Manchester Cathedral, St. Ann's Church, Clare College and Girton College (Cambridge) and a three city tour of Romania. The choir sings a wide ranfe of folk music, madrigals and spirituals as well as religious music and specialises in classical music from the Ranaissance to the present day

The Pendleton College Contemporary Choir was founded in 2006 and is made up of 32 singers from the college. The choir performs pieces from the 20th and 21st century, specialising in Gospel and Pop/Rock. Concerts include St. Ann’s in Manchester, Manchester Cathedral and Clare College, Cambridge. The pieces are arranged specially for the choir and are tailored to suit these specific singers. Most of the singers have a musical theatre background and can easily adapt to the many different vocal styles that the choir performs. They have performed many genres of music - Jazz, Gospel, Musical Theatre, Pop, Rock, Metal and Classical.

Pendleton Saxophone quintet are a new ensemble made up of students from Pendleton College. The group have very diverse previous experience, with both Jazz and Classical players in the group. They enjoy exploring the available repertoire and play in many styles. Recently the group took part in the National Festival of Music for Youth.

The Precious People Voices Gospel Choir are a Manchester church based choir who sing with fervour and excitement. The choir sings on a solid foundation of rhythm based on piano, bass and drums.

Chris & Brian Blackburn - Chris sings a wide variety of songs with a powerful voice that makes you sit up and listen. Classically trained he has starred in operas and does an excellent Tom Jones Tribute. Brian has a lighter voice and tends to sing more of the pop/rock/swing songs and when the two sing together the voices compliment each other giving excellent harmonies. A wide variety of popular songs from a ‘Rat Pack’ to 70’s and 80’s tribute, it is guaranteed there will be a lot of waving hands and dancing at end of the night.

One of the most original and exciting bands currently playing on the blues circuit........ Led by the cutting edge guitar sound of identical twins, Chris and Tony Roach, the band play their self composed material with style and humour.

VS8 are a mixed voice octet taken from the Manchester based Chamber Choir Voce Scura, a young innovative choir formed originially by friends from both Sheffield University and the National Youth Choir of Great Britain. They perform a varied repertoire from Polyphony to Pop. The singers are a mixture of Undergraduate's from all Manchester institutions and young professionals - including teachers, accountants and our very own H.R. guru.