Ragged Bear Festival
25th October 2025
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Featured Acts
Ragged Bear Festival is proud to present a fantastic line up for 2025 with some of the most exciting bands on the festival scene today accompanied by food traders and traditional dancing.
The Men They Couldn't Hang
Founded in 1984, TMTCH evolved from the Shepherd’s Bush squatting and busking scene to make their debut supporting Poguemahone at the Electric Ballroom in Camden in the Easter of that year.
Swiftly their uproarious and engaging style, coupled with keenly contemporary songs, gained a passionate national following, leading to a 40 year career filled with much loved music, a dedicated fan community and high octane performances.
Touring continually throughout their career, TMTCH have crossed the globe by way of Europe, Canada, USA, Iceland, Egypt and Estonia. They have appeared at festivals such as Glastonbury, Roskilde, Reading, Pink Pop and Cambridge Folk and have appeared with a roll call of International artists such as David Bowie, Van Morrison, Bo Diddley, The Smiths, Elvis Costello and the Oyster Band to name a few.
Their recordings have been acclaimed in print, on radio and online; from their definitive version of the anti war classic Green Fields of France to the anti fascist anthem Ghosts of Cable Street and the epic historical ballads, Ironmasters and The Colours. Recent albums The Defiant (2014) and Cockahoop (2018) have seen TMTCH rise again into prominence; their vitality undimmed.
Devastated by the passing of friend and founder member Stefan Cush during the Covid lockdown, TMTCH are responding in the only way they know how; writing, recording and playing live to their ever loyal and growing community of fans. An anniversary tour is planned for 2024 when they will celebrate their 40th year of raising hell with special events and a ‘Best of’ release, then in 2025 they will be releasing a brand new album.
Greenman Rising
Inspired by the tradition, driven by interpretation, Greenman Rising are much more than a festival band, though they are a damn fine festival band.
Think of them as purveyors of social history with great vocals and top drawer instrumentation all underscored by earth resonating bodhran and a passion for supporting the underdog, Greenman Rising will get the feet moving and the heart pumping.
Magpie Arc
The UK’s Folk/Rock “Supergroup“ (said the BBC!)
(Tom A. Wright, Nancy Kerr, Findlay Napier, Alex Hunter)
Some Press
“Folk/rock with Led Zeppelin vibes” (Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2)
“Just the right amount of Black Sabbath for folk/rock” (Rockslam Podcast)
Biography
The Magpie Arc is a cross-Border band out of Sheffield, Arran and Edinburgh featuring the multi-award-winning talents and wide musical influences of Nancy Kerr, Findlay Napier, Tom A. Wright, Alex Hunter
Formed from the idea of bringing together a group of established folk musicians who would mix their unique song-writing styles and musicianship in a full-on electric band to create exciting new music and update the classic 60’s and 70’s British folk/rock sound, the possibilities of The Magpie Arc, which also included founder member and guitar legend Martin Simpson, being something special and unique on today’s folk scene became obvious very quickly.
Having three strong writers the focus has naturally been on new material, however they’ve also tackled some great covers plus their own re-workings of traditional songs. There’s folk, rock, a bit of country and even some prog-rock elements, but whatever the genre the band are their own musical mix of everything you could expect from such a line-up, with excellent songs, lush harmonies, scything electric guitars, gorgeous fiddle lines and rock solid bass and drums.
The buzz about seeing the band live and the anticipation among those in the know all became clear as they hit festival stages during the summer of 2022, where only their fifth gig was the Main Stage at the Cambridge Folk Festival, and 2023 kicked off in style with a live session on Mark Radcliffe’s 10th Anniversary BBC Radio 2 Folkshow, followed by a trip to the Costa del Folk Festival on Ibiza and summer festival appearances which included main stage slots at the Sidmouth Festival and Friday headliners at FolkEast.
Their first full length album, Glamour In The Grey, was released in November 2022 and has enjoyed an unbroken run of fourteen months in the UK Official Folk Chart where it debuted at number 9 and was punningly compared by Mojo magazine to the first ever album of the folk/rock genre in 1969 from Fairport Convention as being “Liege and Lief affirming” and also “an elemental racket”.
Since then it’s been regular gigs and festivals around the UK together with their own festival The Indoor Festival of Folk which has now become an annual event and is held every February at Cecil Sharp House in London with five artists performing and an interview slot with some of the great and the good of British folk. Previous interview guests have included Maddy Prior, Ashley Hutchings, Peter Knight, Joe Boyd and John Wood
Founder member Martin Simpson announced his intention to step down from the band after their 2025 summer festival commitments and joining up as tour guitarist for future gigs is the award-winning UK folk artist Sam Carter.
More Press
“The possibilities The Magpie Arc offer are very enticing indeed. You owe it to yourself to catch this band as soon as you can. Capability, flair and originality rarely come so well wrapped.”
(Spiral Earth)
“Everyone in the band brings their own talents but the synergy makes them much more than the sum of their parts. It takes “folk-rock” to a new and exciting level.”
(Fatea Magazine)
Gaz Brookfield
Since winning Acoustic Magazine's singer/songwriter of the year back in 2010 he has spent his time on the road, building a strong and loyal following all over the UK and beyond.
He was the first independent musician to sell out Bristol's, The Fleece, (450 cap), and The Bierkeller, (750 cap), and SWX, (1000 cap).
Gaz has an impressive back catalogue of nine studio albums. The latest of which, Morning Walking Club, went straight in at #1 in the Official UK Folk Album Charts, #3 in the Official UK Indie Breaker Charts, #6 in the Official UK Download Charts, #10 in the Official UK Indie Album Charts, and even #37 in the Official UK Album Sales Charts.
Not a bad result for this fiercely independent musician, with no record label, no manager, and no agent - just a guitar, a van, and a steadfastly belligerent refusal to give in.
Pons Aelius
At the start of their second decade as a band, Pons Aelius are a fixture of the folk scene in their home city of Newcastle and further afield, known for their powerful sound, intricate arrangements and high energy live performances. With two critically acclaimed albums behind them, 2017’s ‘Captain Glen’s Comfort’ and 2019’s ‘Fire Under the Bridge’, 2025 sees the release of ‘The Keelman’s Way’ – the beginning of a new chapter in the band’s story.
From village halls to festival main stages, a Pons Aelius gig is guaranteed to bring people together, get them dancing and send them away with a smile on their face. Get involved!
Jordan Aikin – Highland Bagpipes/Whistles
Tom Kimber – Mandolin/Tenor Banjo
Bevan Morris – Double Bass
Sam Partridge – Flute
Alasdair Paul – Guitar/Bouzouki
Callum Younger – Bodhran Kit
Jon Palmer Acoustic Band
Jon Palmer writes songs from the heart that draw on the best of the traditional and the contemporary folk world. A master of the unforgettable chorus, you will find it difficult to leave one of his performances without a song or two lodged firmly in your head.
Accompanying Jon (guitar, vocals) is his band (Adam Hopkins - cajon, vocals; Wendy Ross - violin, vocals; Eddy Green - bass, vocals; Iain Cunningham - keyboards, vocals; Lee Wellbrook - mandolin, vocals) who are a tight-knit unit that revel in playing venues from small intimate folk clubs to full size festival stages. They are fully in tune with Jon’s songwriting and perform them with passion, enthusiasm and not a small amount of joy. Together, they have established a formidable live reputation which is hard to beat.
“Energy filled folk-rock spilled from a 6-piece that hit the audience straight between the ears right from the start, rarely letting up” - Fatea
“...their joy illuminated the venue with feel-good folk-rock with spirit and a conscience” - At The Barrier
Leatherat
Hi-Octane folk-rock — loud.
Purveyors of hi-octane folk-rock, festival favourites Leatherat formed in 2005 and quickly established a reputation that preceded them. All original music, unapologetically delivered with fiery passion; the five-piece act plays a blend of the traditional, canvassed on a wall of rock.
Roving Crows
Roving Crows are an Irish Folk Rock band who deliver the goods with unbounded amounts of riotous energy and banter .
The Crows started their journey when a guitarist from Kildare and a fiddle player from Cheltenham, via Donegal, met at a festival in 2007. The music flowed and they’ve not stopped since, with 4 albums under their belt and several national and international awards, this, now 4 piece, are an awe-inspiring force on stage – unstoppable and passionate.
This Irish group seamlessly marry humour, provocative lyrics , traditional Irish tunes and rock to entertain and bring the listener on a ride that they won’t want to get off! They make a hell of a noise for 4 people!
The band, now based in Herefordshire & Worcestershire, have wowed crowds at festivals and venues across the UK, Australia, France and the Netherlands! They are a MUST SEE live act; a mix of fiery fiddle playing and conscious lyrics alongside driving drums and bass.
Roving Crows are – Paul O’Neill (guitar and lead vocals); Caitlin Barrett (fiddle & vocals); Laurence Aldridge (drums & vocals) and Jim Smith (bass & vocals).
Their passion and energy on stage is infectious, never failing to deliver a great time with their vibrant live show! Their music pushes the boundaries of the Irish Folk genre, the jumping jigs and reels will get you dancing whilst their enquiring and provocative lyrics will make you think.
The Kahunas
Four to the floor Euphoria”, Durgy, Underground, Urban Folk rock. The Kahunas live a Nomadic life on the road, taking there sound to festivals, venues, parties and clubs up and down the country. UK based, with strong links to Manchester, Bristol and The South West, The Kahunas released their debut album (self titled), recorded at Bink Bonk studios with Mat Sampson (in Bristol in 2023). This self titled album was two years in the making, a culmination of their experiences on the road, the people they have met and the places they have visited.
The Kahunas have released 3 singles from their second album (due to be released early summer 2025), their sound and recording process is growing and evolving all the time.
The Kahunas love to travel in their converted van making the most of living on the road with their dog “Roadie”, seeing new places and entertaining music lovers everywhere.
Full 2025 Lineup
Ragged Bear is excited to present the full line up for 2025, we've been holding onto to this for too long. We hope you are as excited for this years line up as we are.
Keep checking back here for our full 2025 Poster.
Festival Activities
It's more than just music.
Hungry Bear
Ragged Bear will have dedicated food stalls to power your dancing.
In 2023, Jonny Stewart, all around great bloke and chicken maestro brought the goods.
Announcement incoming for our 2024 guest...
Ragged Bear Dances
Erstwhile Border Morris are a mixed side with a modern twist but still keeping the tradition alive. They started the side because of a passion for Morris dancing and folk tradition in general.
Some members are new to Morris and those that have experience support and help them but all show raw enthusiastic and keen to learn. The name Erstwhile means from a ‘time before’ which we think is appropriate and original. Erstwhile's style is ethereal and earthly.
We are thrilled to have Erstwhile back with us in 2024.
