Meet the team
The people behind Folk for All are friends who met through the music scene in Otley. We are a community organisation, working together to design and deliver the event. We are grateful for the support of Otley Folk Festival, Otley Town Council, Leeds City Council, and for the many favours by friends and family.
Hannah Walker plays violin, guitar, and sings. As a child and teenager she danced with and played for local morris sides, played at sessions and on-stage whenever she was offered the chance, and later played in a folk-rock band with friends. She now plays at sessions and at Otley Folk Club, and occasionally works with friends on their musical projects.
Steve Fairholme is the curator of the Otley Folk Festival and a member of the Otley Folk Club team. He plays melodeon and bass guitar, played for local morris sides for many years, and now makes award-wining appearances at the Festival National D’accordeon de Val-Cenis-Termingon.
Nick Hall is a singer, songwriter and guitarist best known as a member of the acclaimed duo Plumhall and as half of The Hall Brothers. He has toured globally as a member of Magna Carta and, as a session guitarist, has toured with Ian Prowse & Amsterdam. Nick has had the pleasure of performing onstage with many of his heroes, including Fairport Convention and Ralph McTell.
Tess Leslie is a musician, singer, and dancer. She plays guitar, violin, five-string banjo, piano, and more. For many years Tess sang with the highly regarded a capella trio Yan Tan Tether. Tess dances with local morris sides Flash Company and Kitchen Taps, and is one half of the Americana duo Trash Panda.
Janice Bunyan dances with Clogaire, a step clog group based in Shipley in West Yorkshire who practice and perform a variety of styles. She is a keen supporter of local music, and a longstanding supporter of Otley Folk Club and Otley Folk Festival.
Gabi Scurfield plays fiddle and was a member of the much-loved local band Bayou Gumbo. She is a regular at local tunes sessions, bringing beautiful tunes from Irish, French, and American traditions to our repertoire.