O'Hooley & Tidow

One of the most exciting acts on the contemporary folk scene today; Belinda O’Hooley and Heidi Tidow are accomplished interpreters of everything from Massive Attack to traditional Irish ballads, but it's their own boundless songwriting and exquisite harmonies that truly shine. Lyrically and musically, Belinda and Heidi’s powerful, deeply moving, and at times spine-tingling performances are infused with an honesty and empathy that will disarm even the hardest of heart.

Coope Boyes & Simpson

In 1993, three blokes from South Yorkshire and Derbyshire, with a name like a firm of solicitors, released an album of acappella songs full of social comment and (in the words of Folk Roots) ‘harmonies you could chew’.

They were, of course, Coope Boyes and Simpson, and the album was Funny Old World. Q Magazine named it as their Roots Album of the Year in 1994.

Twenty three years later, with a career that has encompassed at least a dozen albums, numerous tours and festival appearances, as well as a Folk Awards nomination, Coope Boyes and Simpson released Coda, their final studio album.

Commoners Choir

Founded by Boff Whalley in 2017, Commoners Choir are a strange yet open and inclusive choir that meets in Leeds. They come from all over the place, and try to act more like a band or a gang than a choir.

They sing their own songs, about the world immediately around them, about inequality, hope, and Tory politicians. They have released two albums on No Masters and have a Commoners allotment!

Narthen

Narthen are Jo Freya of Blowzabella/Moirai, 5 time BBC Folk Award nominee Jim Causley, Fi Fraser of The Old Fashioned/ Polka Works, and – until his death in 2021 – Barry Coope of Coope Boyes and Simpson.

The quartet was previously known under their own names for Christmas shows and as part of shows with the author Michael Morpurgo.

They became an all year group performing songs in four part harmony, but also instrumentalists and augmented some of the repertoire with accompaniment on piano, accordion, fiddle, soprano sax, and whistles.

Ray Hearne

Born in Rotherham of Irish parents, Ray Hearne still lives and works in the town and tries in his songs to bring the two cultures together; Irish and South Yorkshire; contemporary songs in a traditional idiom.

His most recent album, Umpteen, was releasd in May 2016

Jo Freya

Jo Freya is a musician and composer. Known as the 'mistress of reinvention' she continually astounds by being involved in many new and varied projects. She has been at the forefront of the UK folk music scene for many years with numerous bands

Chumbawamba

Anarcho-punk pop-folk funsters Chumbawamba joined No Masters in 2005 and released four albums on the label.