An evening with Holly Carter and Lewis Pugh

Holly Carter

‘Holly brings masterful skills as a musician and composer, along with an engagingcommitment to music’s rich tradition of accompanying social change. Go see her!’ Martyn Joseph

'A prodigious talent' - AmericanaUK

Holly Carter is a singer-songwriter and multi-award-winning instrumentalist who has already established a reputation as one of Bristol’s leading fingerstyle guitarists and as one of the UK’s only professional female pedal steel players.

Drawing inspiration from a varied musical upbringing, her musicality entwines aspects of folk, roots and Americana to create a mix that echoes everything from the likes of Gillian Welch to Chet Atkins.

Holly has graced stages around the UK and Europe and in June 2025 was invited by Billy Bragg to join him for one of his ‘Radical Roundups’ on the Leftfield stage at Glastonbury. In Oct 2025 her debut full length album, ‘Leave Your Mark’, was released, which was dubbed ‘One the best debut albums this year’, by Fatea Magazine and received 8/10 stars from Americana UK. The release was accompanied by a run of UK and EU shows, culminating in a sold-out home town show at The Hen & Chicken in Bristol in Nov 2025.

Her live shows are a masterclass in using joy, humour and music to foster a sense ofcommunity and hope, creating a profound sense of connection with the audience; it’s easy to see how she has drawn comparisons with others for whom music is innately connected with social activism, such as Billy Bragg and Marisa Anderson. Her extensive work in community music settings and for charities such as Live Music Now has informed an approach to music as a right, not a privilege, and Holly is a proud advocate for the importance of keeping music accessible for all.

www.hollycartermusic.com

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Lewis Pugh

"Tragically Beautiful Left of Centre Insurgent Folk From the Wild West of the People’s Republic of Yorkshire." Rocking Magpie"

You might even call him the cowpunk Billy Bragg!" At The Barrier

Lewis Pugh is a prolific songwriter with influences ranging from bluegrass, country, folk through to skiffle and punk.

Spring 2026 sees the release of Pugh’s 4th solo effort, entitled ‘Heretics & Heritage’. Spanning influences from bluegrass, country through to English and Irish folk, FATEA magazine has said:“Consistently turning out music that is at once catchily infectious with nagging hooks and choruses, strong vocals, solid playing and engaging lyrics, Pugh should be a far more recognised and bigger name than he is, both on the folk circuit and more widely ”

Brought up going to bluegrass and folk festivals with his family who were often performing, such as Cambridge Folk Festival and Edale Bluegrass Festival, Lewis' appreciation of roots music came at a young age. After playing in countless punk and metal bands from age of 12 until 26, Lewis gradually shifted back to the music of his upbringing. Self-releasing his first solo album in 2017, he has since released 'Dark Wheels turn Above Our Heads' in 2020 and 'Bullets for Bread' in 2024, finding a sound between country, folk and bluegrass with a distinct political slant. In between albums there have been countless singles & EP's, often raising money for homeless outreaches or food banks.

Pugh has supported the likes of Ferocious Dog, The Mary Wallopers, Bob Log III & The Legendary Shack Shakers. He has performed at the legendary Topic Folk Club in Bradford and Otley Folk Club. He has appeared at Maverick Festival, Orwell Bluegrass Festival, Hexham Bluegrass Festival and Strummer Camp. Previous albums have received rave reviews Saving Country Music, FATEA Magazine, Celtic Punks and the Rocking Magpie.

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