Scratch Band Membership
Anyone under the age of 21 can apply for scratch band membership. All applicants will be invited to stay in our Scratch Band Village and 20 lucky ones also get to perform in the Saturday Night Gala!
The Scratch Band Village is the centre of our festival site, a safeguarded community arranged round a communal picking area, everyone gets to join in the fun!
Stu Williams
One of the most important and influential bluegrass and old time teachers in the UK. Stu sits on the BBMA board with a special interest in attracting, supporting and teaching youngsters in their journey through bluegrass and old time.
Without Stu's support and enthusiasm the Saturday Night Gala might never have existed!
Question is, does Stu have what it takes to beat his colleagues on the Saturday Night?
Simon Robinson
Oh man, if you know you just know! Simon doesn't just play old time he is old time! Old time learned from a renegade music lecturer at Huddersfield Poly, that well known hot bed of South Appalachia! With his own old time session in Leeds and part of the eponymous Sugarwell Hill Gang we feel Simon's gonna rip this festival apart. Good luck bringing old time youngsters to the masses, Simon, we're looking forward to chearing you on at the Gala!
Jay Bradbury
They said it couldn't be done, "... go git us the best damned fiddler and singer in the British Isles". We scoured high and wide and found the answer in our own back yard of Cheshire. Jay Bradbury, jeepers creepers, we say, you wanted it you got it.
Jay's band, The Jaywalkers, have led the very best in British bluegrass for a few of years now.
Soooo, excited, Jay, can't wait to hear your band, best of luck!
Eleanor Wilkie
In a perfect world, they said, "who would you most want to have as a scratch band leader?". And we all replied "Eleanor, the goddess of bluegrass and old time double bass"."Ask and you shall get", said the Xmas fairies and we are sooooooooo stoked!
Eleanor plays bass for Midnight Skyracer, teaches at Sorefingers, runs the Crossover Festival, they don't come more exulted than this!Great to have you on board, Eleanor, we just know you'll do your utmost to take the honours at the Saturday Night Gala!
Jack Foster
Down from the lands where the excoriating winds scour the millstone grit of the Pennines comes the mighty Jack Foster! Jack studied at Newcastle with many of today's bluegrass and old time alumni. Bluegrass or old time, Jack just seems to have it in his bones!
His session in Castleton, Rochdale attracts the best pickers from the north and from as far away as Colorado! We're stoked to have you with us, Miami Jack. Best of luck for the Gala!
Saturday Night Gala
Five of the finest young bluegrass and old time musicians in the British Isles lead five scratch bands made up of youngsters 21 and below for your delictation and delight! Followed by a one off performance from the same five great musicians. Fabulous comperes and an awards show to cap it all off!
It's the firework show for 4th July! It's time to bring bluegrass and old time back to the British Isles!
SHOW OF THE YEAR!
We already have two great prizes for the Saturday Night Gala, Sessions and Sail have offered a bursary position for their Americana sailing week in September and an anonymous donor is offering to cover full costs for Sorefingers 2027. Awwww man, this is gonna be great! If you're under 21 get your applications in now!!!!
Saturday, 4th July, Marquee, 8pm start
Stu Williams
Banjo & Guitar
One of the most important and influential bluegrass and old time teachers in the UK. Stu sits on the BBMA board with a special interest in attracting, supporting and teaching youngsters in their journey through bluegrass and old time.
Without Stu's support and enthusiasm the Saturday Night Gala might never have existed!
Question is, does Stu have what it takes to beat his colleagues on the Saturday Night?
Simon Robinson
Clawhammer & Dulcimer
Oh man, if you know you just know! Simon doesn't just play old time he is old time! Old time learned from a renegade music lecturer at Huddersfield Poly, that well known hot bed of South Appalachia! With his own old time session in Leeds and part of the eponymous Sugarwell Hill Gang we feel Simon's gonna rip this festival apart.
Good luck bringing old time youngsters to the masses, Simon, we're looking forward to chearing you on at the Gala!
Jay Bradberry
Fiddle & Guitar
They said it couldn't be done, "... go git us the best damned fiddler and singer in the British Isles". We scoured high and wide and found the answer in our own back yard of Cheshire. Jay Bradberry, jeepers creepers, we say, you wanted it you got it.
Jay's band, The Jaywalkers, have led the very best in British bluegrass for a few years now.
Soooo, excited, Jay, can't wait to hear your band, best of luck!
Eleanor Wilkie
Double Bass & just about everything else
In a perfect world, they said, "who would you most want to have as a scratch band leader?". And we all replied "Eleanor, the goddess of bluegrass and old time double bass".
"Ask and you shall get", said the Xmas fairies and we are sooooooooo stoked!
Eleanor plays bass for Midnight Skyracer, teaches at Sorefingers, runs the Crossover Festival, they don't come more exulted than this!
Great to have you on board, Eleanor, we just know you'll do your utmost to take the honours at the Saturday Night Gala!
Jack Foster
Guitar & Banjo
Down from the lands where the excoriating winds scour the millstone grit of the Pennines comes the mighty Jack Foster!
Jack studied at Newcastle with many of today's bluegrass and old time alumni. Bluegrass or old time, Jack just seems to have it in his bones!
His session in Castleton, Rochdale attracts the best pickers from the north and from as far away as Colorado!
We're stoked to have you with us, Miami Jack. Best of luck for the Gala!
Youth Fund
Rainford Junction Festival is about sponsoring youngsters on their journey through bluegrass and old time music. The Saturday Night Gala is the showcase of this initiative but the fund also supports individual tuition, residential courses, online lessons and any other forms of education and research. £14 of your ticket money goes directly to this fund.