Returning by popular demand we have the virtuoso folk band 4Square

Since humble beginnings in a freezing farmhouse on the outskirts of Rochdale in the winter of 2006, outspoken alternative-folk quartet 4Square has accomplished an incredible amount in a relatively short space of time. Not only has 4Square’s music matured into the most unique and exciting sound you shall hear from the British folk music scene today; they have also shared stages with the likes of Steve Winwood, Fairport Convention, Richard Thompson and Seth Lakeman.

“4Square…who are they?” very much sums up the words on the lips of festival-goers before Fairport's 2009 Cropredy Convention took place. Despite this, after an astounding 80 minute set and encore before an audience of 20,000 people, 4Square then went on to sell every last one of their debut album, 20.20 Manchester, becoming The Cropredy Convention’s 2nd biggest selling band of all time! 4Square played at a total of 11 festivals during the summer of 2009, and in past years have appeared at festivals such as Shrewsbury Folk Festival, Towersey Village Festival, Warwick Folk Festival, Bromyard Folk Festival, and Spratton Folk Festival

Nicola Lyons

Nicola began her playing career with Fosbrooks in Stockport, where from an early age she learned to play, dance and even do both at the same time!

In her teenage years she was in a successful duo with accordionist and pianist, Jamie Schofield. This was a stint of three years which included performances at many festivals worldwide, as well as two recordings.

She also attended The Folkworks Summer School in Durham for several years, wowing many with her virtuosic dancing and playing.

Nicola is currently a dancer with The Demon Barbers, who won the 2009 BBC Folk Award for "Best Live Act."

Having studied for a year in Belfast, she now studies music at the UCL in London.

Jim Molyneux

Jim played percussion from the age of seven, and soon took up the piano and accordion. Later on, he became a pupil at Chethams school of Music, and in his first year won the LSO Award for Promise.

In 2008, Jim made it to the Grand Final of the BBC Young Musician of the Year on percussion, televised on BBC2 to 1.1 million people, resulting in solo recitals at the Wigmore Hall, London and St George’s Hall, Bristol.

Nowadays he can be seen playing in several line ups on various instruments; notably drumming for Seerauber Jenny (with Neil Claxton of Mint Royale fame), and Turkish folk musician Dogan Mehmet's band: "The Deerhunters." Jim also performs occasional solo accordion slots, supporting Swedish band Dungen on their UK tour.

He currently studies percussion at the RNCM in Manchester.

James Meadows

James has been interested in music from an early age. At the age of six he learnt the violin at school, playing in the school orchestra. As a teenager, James took up the mandolin, which naturally led to the banjo; the instrument he now considers to be his main focus. He is entirely self taught on both.

In 2006, at the age of sixteen, James was a semi finalist in the BBC Young Folk Awards as a soloist, and has also played in duos with Jack Rutter and Steve Lacey.

Although not officially studying it, he continues to work hard at his music, but is also a skilled woodworker, having undergone a course at the Chippendale School of Furniture, Edinburgh.

Dan Day

Dan started playing percussion when he was three years old. He attended Chethams School of Music and sang with the Kinder Children's Choir of the High Peak. In 2008, Dan reached the percussion category finals of the BBC Young Musician of the Year.

Since the BBC competition, Dan took the opportunity to perform a short set to open a drum clinic with the established American session drummer Russ Miller at The Manchester Drum Centre (in connection with Yamaha drums and Zildjian cymbals). Dan went down a storm to an audience of two hundred eager drummers.

He is now studying percussion at The Royal College of Music in London.

Tickets: £20 (students £14) (including Ploughman's supper)   Book Tickets