CoCo & The Butterfields @ Sidmouth Fringe
CoCo & The Butterfields @ Sidmouth Fringe
02 - 06 August 2025
Monday 5 August: 'Middle Monday' Sessions
Curated by 'Artist in Residence' Jonah Hitchens
Gates open at 1.00pm (Monday only). Sessions commence from 2.00pm until 11.30pm (approx)
Please note: Artist performance times may vary.
14.00 Lily Ballard
Devon-born folk singer, Lily Ballard, draws inspiration from the rich tapestry of her homeland's natural landscape. She delves into a deep well of tradition while infusing her own songs with a subtle contemporary edge.
Lily studied under the tutelage of Nancy Kerr and Lauren Kinsella at the Leeds Conservatiore, with mentorship from Emily Portman.
Accompanied by fellow Devonian musician Frazer Kerslake on guitar and bouzouki, together they explore themes of emigration, heartache, and the eternal search for belonging.
15.00 Leonian Dream
Leonian Dream is a 4 piece Indie-Rock band from the South West of England, comprised of Swiss Singer-Songwriter Leonie Prater and Black Country born guitarist Thomas Rogers. With a nod to current Indie-Rock legends such as Wolf Alice and Wet Leg in their current debut single; they take influence from 90s Grunge, European Folk and Australian Indie Pop/Rock to form a new dynamic sound.
16.00 Martin Skews
Martin Skews is a singer-songwriter and composer from Falmouth, Cornwall. Having written and performed extensively as a folk/rock singer-songwriter his musical interests and influences gradually expanded to incorporate classical, jazz, world and musical theatre styles. He has worked professionally as a composer and musical director for theatre over the past decade, his own songwriting has moved into the theatrical and carnivalesque stylistically, with with influences such as Kate Bush, Jethro Tull, St Vincent and the work of Danny Elfman. There is another side to his work however, a more meditative acoustic sound, with a focus on states of mind and themes of nature. Primary influences being, John Martyn, Joni Mitchell, Scott Matthews and Jeff Buckley.
17.00 Harry Dowell
Presenting a fresh project blossoming from Devon's jam scene, lead by saxophonist, composer and general noodler Harry Dowell. Harry is joined by some of the finest jazz musicians in the scene, each bringing their unique voice to choice standards and original music.
18.00 Will Edmunds
Guitarist/singer Will Edmunds is a mainstay of the South West music scene, working over the years with some of Bristol's finest including Moscow Drug Club, Elles Bailey and The Carny Villains.Will is most in his element when playing the blues, and his deft guitar work fuses influences from the likes of George Benson, Robben Ford and BB King with a strong vocal and powerful live energy. His trio blends elements of jazz improv with heavy grooves and the sounds of the Delta to provide a tour-de-force of modern electric blues.
19.00 Kiki Mora
Kiki Mora a Metal Trio from UK/Norway with chaotic fusion-esque improvisations, provocative chord-melodies and unkempt fuzzed out doom.
Influences in equal proportions from Sabbath-inspired stoner, 2nd Wave Black Metal, Prog and Jazz Fusion
20.00 Jonah Hitchens
"Once again booking himself for the Fringe (and writing his own bio) is the incredible Jonah Hitchens. Seeing him and his band play is truly an unmissable experience. You are surely in the right place at the right time when you're watching Jonah and his band play. These guys are gonna be huge one day, you better get a good look whilst you can.
...And if that's too much just say they will be playing some nice tunes!"
21.00 James Morton & Friends
James Morton is one of the most exciting saxophonists of his generation and has performed and recorded with some of the most prolific artists in the music industry.
From a young teenager he cut his teeth in the Bristol music scene and went on to tour internationally and play with Pee Wee Ellis, Fred Wesley and The New JB’s, George Clinton, Andy Sheppard, The Herbaliser, The Allergies, NPG Horns (Prince), Pendulum, Kasabian, Roni Size, Jazz Jamaica, Cee Lo Green and Raphael Saadiq to name a few.
James also held the title of Ambassador of Music for the city of Bristol.
Funk and soul maestro Anders Olinder from Swedish heritage (Glen Hughes/ Deep Purple and Pee Wee Ellis) on Hammond Organ is one of the most sought after musicians in the UK and a long time collaborator with James. Anders lays down funk and soul from behind the hammond organ which he is celebrated for internationally.
Christopher Chikwanah is a rising star on the UK music scene. Influenced from a background of gospel music he has the ability to create power house grooves with virtuosic technique and sensitivity to devastating effect .
Expect lyrical, funky, soulful saxophone, deep heavy grooves and a musical journey from New Orleans to the urban streets of Bristol