Since the start of Goosfest in 2007 we have had the pleasure and honour of hosting many highly talented performers and artistes in our festival. They have brought much enjoyment to many and have enriched the life of our community; for this we are truly grateful. We have selected a number to be in our Goosfest Hall of Fame.
John Bishop
Top British comedian and host of the 2013 Royal Variety Performance. Completed a 40 date “Supersonic Tour” of the UK and Ireland.
Sarah Millican
Winner of the Comedy Award at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2008 and a regular on television, having completed two series of “The Sarah Millican Show” for BBC2.
Hank Wangford
British country & western legend.
Gordon Giltrap
Guitar virtuoso. His 1977 album “Perilous Journey” was acclaimed as “a record of the year” by the Sunday Times.
Harvey Andrews
UK Folk singer/songwriter, who has performed at festivals worlwide and appeared on the iconic BBC2 alternative rock programme The Old Grey Whistle Test.
Louis de Bernieres
International bestselling author of “Captain Corelli’s Mandolin”.
Alan Garner
Living in the environs of Goostrey, Alan Garner is a literary national treasure. Famed for his children’s fantasy novels, including “The Weirdstone of Brisingamen” and “The Moon of Gomrath”, which are firmly rooted in the history and folklore of his native county of Cheshire.
Isabelle George and Frederick Steenbrink
International cabaret stars, who divide their time between Paris and the UK. Their 2013 show “Broadway Enchante” received critical acclaim at the Edinburgh Festival, playing to full houses at the Assembly Rooms, the premiere Fringe venue, for three weeks.
Georgie Fame
Influential R&B musician, whose hits “Yeh, Yeh” and “Getaway” in the sixties, with his band the Blue Flames, and “The Ballad of Bonnie & Clyde” as a solo artist made #1. In later years he has become a feature on the Jazz circuit and in 2009 headlined the Jazz World Stage at Glastonbury.
Ben Osborne
Honorary Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society and 2007 Wildlife Photographer of the Year. He has undertaken many ambitious projects and was the “stills” photographer on the acclaimed BBC Wildlife programmes “The Blue Planet” and “Planet Earth”.
Jeremy Sassoon
Established as one of Manchester’s most formidable and respected Jazz and Blues exponents, he has headlined “The A-Trane” Jazz Club in Berlin, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London and was a featured artist on Jazz FM’s Discovery Show. (Also nominated for his appearance in 2014)
Paul Jones
Successful recording artist in his own right and as lead singer and harmonica player with Manfred Mann. Starred opposite Jean Shrimpton in the 1967 cult movie “Privilege” and sang the role of Peron in the original recording of “Evita”. Presenter of Blues programmes on BBC radio.
Simon Armitage CBE
One of the UK’s most appreciated contemporary poets and former Sunday Times “Author of the Year”, he received his CBE for services to poetry and his work has been extensively published.
Gervase Phinn
Raconteur and writer, who has published five volumes of memoirs, collections of poetry and a number of books about education with a particular interest in children’s literature and literacy.
Carlo Curley
International organ virtuoso, dubbed the “Pavarotti of the Organ” by the American press, he was the first man to play an organ recital in the White House. Sadly, since appearing at Goosfest, Carlo Curley has died.
Tayo Aluko
Nigerian born play-rite, performer and singer. His play “Call Mr Robeson” won the Argus Angel Award for Artistic Excellence and best male performer at the 2008 Brighton Festival Fringe and two merit awards for Excellence in London 2010.
Showaddywaddy
International retro Rock & Roll exponents, who have recently celebrated 40 years in music. They had ten Top Ten singles, with their only #1 “Under the Moon of Love” – released in 1976 – charting for 209 weeks in the UK Singles Chart and selling more than 985,000 copies.
Jonathan Dimbleby
A member of the broadcasting dynasty and one of Britain’s best known journalists, who has chaired BBC Radio 4’s “Any Questions?” since 1987.
Nicholas Parsons
Star of radio and television, who has set broadcasting records. He appeared as either chairperson or as a panellist on every one of the 800+ broadcasts of radio’s “Just a Minute” over a 45 year period. He also hosted the long running TV series “Sale of the Century”, whose weekly audience peaked at more than 25 million viewers.
Jacqui Dankworth
Daughter of the jazz musician, arranger and composer Sir John Dankworth and the singer Dame Cleo Laine, she began her career as an actress with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre, before turning to recording. She recently appeared in the film version of “Les Miserables”.
Miriam Margolyes
International character actress, known to a new generation as Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter series of films. In 1994 she won a BAFTA “Best Supporting Actress” award for her role as Mrs Mingott in the Martin Scorsese film “The Age of Innocence” and showed her talent for comedy as the Spanish Infanta, Lady Whiteadder and Queen Victoria in three series of “Blackadder”.
Nigel Ogden
Organist and presenter of the “Organist Entertains” on BBC Radio 2.
Kiki Dee & Carmelo Luggeri
Most famous for her solo hit “Amoureuse” and her duet “Don’t go breaking my heart” with Sir Elton John, Kiki Dee performed at Goosfest ’13 with songwriter, producer and guitarist Carmelo Luggeri
Ian McMillan & Tony Husband
Ian Mcmillan, poet and regular BBC Radio contributor and Tony Husband “Catoonist of Year” and creator of the “Yobs” in Private Eye.
Edwina Hayes
Singer-songwriter, who has supported Nanci Griffith and Loudon Wainright III and played the acoustic stage on the final day of Glastonbury.
Also nominated for her performance in 2015 at “Folk in the Marquee”
Christopher Cromar
Acclaimed as one of the most brilliant organists of his generation, performing recitals at Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, King’s College Oxford and Notre Dame in Paris.
On The Radio
In 2014 Goosfest was covered by our friends at Beartown Radio (sadly no longer broadcasting). To hear the interview with headliner Hazel O’connor and Beartown Radio’s view of Goosfest 14 , click on the adjacent photograph.
Hazel O’Connor
Singer-songwriter and actress, who starred in the cult movie “Breaking Glass”, for which she received the Variety Club “Best Film Actor” Award and was nominated for BAFTA awards.
Foden’s Brass Band
Foden’s Brass Band were British Open Champions and National Champions of Great Britain in 2012. They have a world-class reputation for their traditional, yet unique, style played with panache.
Sir Andrew Motion
English poet, novelist and biographer, who was Poet Laureate from 1999 to 2009. President of the Campaign to Protect Rural England and founder of the Poetry Archive – an online resource of poems and audio recordings of poets reading their own work.
Tom Loughlin
Young “up-and-coming” tenor from St Helens. Those who attended his Goosfest ’14 concert will take great pleasure in coming years of boasting “I was there”. A star of the future – watch this space.
Pacific Curls
International music trio, who entertained with a mix of Pacific sounds and actions and Scottish tunes and reels, as part of their 2014 British Tour which included the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Beverley Craven
Brit-Award winning singer, who had a worldwide hit with “Promise Me” in 1991 – selling more than 2 million copies – and followed up with a string of hits in the 90’s, including “Memories, “Holding On”, “Woman to Woman” and “Love Scenes”.
Craig Ogden
Classical Guitarist and Fellow of the RNCM, Craig Ogden’s charm and virtuoso performance at Goosfest 15 highlighted why he is a firm favourite on Classic FM and BBC Radio 3.
Sunny Ormonde
Well darlings….where to begin? Sunny Ormonde (the “Archer’s Lillian Bellamy”) enlivened Goosfest with an evening that not only lifted the lid off “Ambridge”, but included a wonderful selection of favourite poems and readings.
Eric Knowles
Antiques expert Eric Knowles, Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, who has featured regularly on the Antiques Roadshow, Antiques Master, Going for a Song and Going, Going, Gone.
Jez Lowe
Internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter, double nominee for the 2015 BBC Folk Awards and 2008 BBC Folk Singer of the Year. He has recorded almost 20 albums and his songs are among the most widely sung and recorded by other performers, including long-established acts like Fairport Convention and The Dubliners.
Boo Hewerdine
Widely regarded as one of the UK’s best singer- songwriters, his songs have been recorded by over 50 other artists, including Eddi Reader, kd Lang, Natalie Imbruglia, Hepburn, Marti Pellow, Swan Drive and Suggs.
China Crisis
Eddie Lundon and Gary Daly brought their “Autumn in the Neighbourhood” Tour to Goosfest and entertained the audience with their back catalogue and new album, laced with some outrageous humour!
Jacob Phillips (Baritone) and High Millington (classical Guitar)
Jacob Phillips and Hugh Millington performed a programme of Operatic Arias, Schubert lieder and Italian songs in the delightful surroundings of the Yellow Broom.
Richard Digance
Richard Digance, BAFTA Nominee and Gold Award winner from the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters, poet, singer, songwriter, virtuoso acoustic guitarist, displayed his full repertoire of talents at Goosfest 16.
Froncysylite Male Voice Choir and Linda Richardson (guest soprano)
The Froncysylite Male Voice Choir and distinguished soprano soloist provided another memorable evening to add to the Goosfest archives.
Fiona Coffey (A Touch of Mrs Robinson)
Fiona Coffey, through her alter-ego Mrs Robinson provided a musical treat, supported by Michael Roulston on keyboard and Jonathan “Kitch” Kithching provided a musical treat – a musical legend in her own leopard print!
India Electric Co
Making a return visit to Goosfest, Cole Stacey and Joseph O’Keefe (India Electric Co) provided a memorable rendition of Springsteen’s “I’m on fire” in a great set!
Adam Bulley and Chas Mackenzie (Wingin’ it)
One of the stand-out performances at “Folk in the Marquee” in 2015, Adam Bulley and Chas MacKenzie returned to headline Goosfest 2016.
Steve Ashley
Steve Ashley opened Goosfest 17 with his engaging personality and reflective music, contemporary in content, but full of traditional folk influences.
Arthur Smith
The comedian and television personality Arthur Smith had a full house rolling in the aisles with his mixture of anecdotes, poems, and readings.
Chroma Harp Duo
Lucy Nolan and Becki McIlroy enchanted the audience at the Yellow Broom with a programme of music for harp, which was simply “sublime”. Perhaps 2017’s standout event?
Martin Taylor & Alison Burns
Martin Taylor and Alison Burns brought their internationally acclaimed “Ella at 100” – their tribute to Ella Fitzgerald – to Goosfest 17 and thrilled the audience with a “night to remember”.
Owdyado Theatre Company
The Owdyado Theatre Company’s production of “A View from the Edge” cemented Goosfest’s reputation for promoting high quality drama. A great night.
“What I learned from Johnny Bevan” – Luke Wright
Continuing the tradition of promoting the “After the Watershed” series of plays, Luke Wright delivered an outstanding performance, highly charged performance in this one-man play.
Judie Tzuke
Supported by daughter Bailey and guitarist Chaz Thorogood, Judie Tzuke closed Goosfest 17 with a memorable concert to a sell-out audience.