“Ashley Hutchings is the single most important figure in English folk rock” So says Bob Dylan who refers to him as ‘Million Dollar Ash’.

With a line-up curated by Ashley’s son Blair Dunlop, the concert will feature a host of artists representing many of the bands and collaborations that Ashley masterminded and nurtured over a career spanning six decades. What started when he was only 15, gathering school friends around him to emulate the music of the time, his career moved from the very early days of rock n roll to laying the foundations of modern day folk music.

Confirmed to appear are:

Richard Thompson, Martin Carthy, John Tams, Phil Beer, Simon Nicol, Ric Sanders, Jim Moray, Blair Dunlop, Chris While, Julie Matthews, Kellie While, John Kirkpatrick, Cathy Lesurf, Simon Care Graeme Taylor, Joe Broughton, Polly Bolton, Bex Mills, Judy Dunlop, Ken Nicol, Jo Hamilton, Joe Topping, Mark Hutchinson, John Shepherd, Dave Whetstone, Fred Claridge, Jj Stoney, Guy Fletcher, Mark Jolley, Michael Gregory, Pete Bullock, Neil Marshall, Michael Maloney

Music of many genres has been the binding element of every path that Ashley’s career has taken. With a seemingly never ending thirst for knowledge he has always been open to new ideas and inspirations delving into theatre, dance, poetry and literature to continue broadening his creative ideals.

Such is the scope and importance of his work that Ashley has received many awards – The EFDSS (English Folk Dance and Song Society) Gold Badge Award, and an MBE for his services to music, the Italian Premio Ciampi Lifetime Achievement, the BBC Radio 2 Good Tradition award, and along with his former Fairport band mates, the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards ‘Most influential folk album of all time’ for "Liege & Lief".

Ashley Hutchings’ career has been long and successful; this very special concert will give an insight into a lifetime’s work.