Performers you may remember from past St Albans New Roots folk competition are returning for a folk concert at the Maltings Arts Theatre.

Performers include singers Dan Raza, duo Danny Pedler and Rosie Butler Hall and solo melodeon player Saul Bailey.

Dan Raza, who was a New Roots finalist in 2008, has since established himself as a well-known singer songwriter across the UK folk roots scene.

He has been feted by artists such as Chris Farlowe, Said Cleaves and Jackie Oates and also had a song included on Neil Young’s Living with War website. Of mixed Indian and British origin, Dan grew up in the Home Counties and moved to London in his late teens.

He has opened shows for Joan Armatrading, Badly Drawn Boy, Alejandro Escovedo, Cara Dillon and The Sadies, amongst others. Dan’s debut album, released in spring 2012. His long awaited second album Two is finished and will be released this year.

Danny Pedler and Rosie Butler-Hall are young folk musicians, with roots based in both English and French tradition, formed as a duo in late 2011 and were New Roots finalists in 2012. Danny (from Essex) plays Hurdy Gurdy and Accordion and Rosie (from Wiltshire) plays five-string fiddle and sings.

Their music is characterised by flowing melodies, intricate harmonies and strong rhythms while keeping the flavour of the traditional style. 

They have performed at many folk clubs and festivals, including Sidmouth Folk Week and Shrewsbury Folk Festival. In 2014, they recorded their taster album Bold with John Dipper in Rosie's local church in Wiltshire.

Saul Bailey, from Steeple Morden in North Hertfordshire, mainly plays English traditional music on melodeon and English concertina and was a New Roots finalist in 2015 and 2016. He enjoys experimenting with old and new folk tunes mainly from England, with some influences from overseas. He describes his repertoire as “a mix of dance stuff, fast stuff, furious stuff and ridiculous stuff”.

The Maltings Arts Theatre, Level 2, The Maltings, St Albans, AL1 3HL, Friday, March 3, 8pm. Details: 0333 666 3366