BIG MAMA FUNK
Acclaimed singer and entertainer Big Mama Funk (BMF) returns to WAMfest for the second year and will headline the spectacular Saturday night launch event at La Vida Showbar.
She says her absolute favourite thing to do is make events unforgettable and we can't wait to welcome her back to Felixstowe.
Suffolk's very own Christina Johnston, nicknamed “The Nightingale”, is an internationally renowned soprano. She appeared at last year's WAMFest and has sung leading roles at the Prague State Opera, including the Queen of the Night in Mozart's The Magic Flute and has performed for audiences all over Europe, Asia and South America.
CHRISTINA JOHNSTON
STELLAR ACAPPELLA
Stellar Acappella is a new and vibrant group of women who love singing and can’t resist sharing it with others.
UKULELE LADIES
Ukulele-ladies are members of 'The Ukulele Band' based in Felixstowe.
The Uke Band perform for free all over Suffolk. They are guaranteed to bring you sunshine.
A female vocal group singing swing, jazz, rock & pop and songs from the light classical repertoire and musical theatre.
FELIXSTOWE HARMONIES
ELLY TREE
Elly Tree brings us unusual and original songs in an acoustic/indie folk/world style. Expect toe-tapping, spirit-lifting original acoustic-ish songs from this popular one woman show.
Ruth Dugdall is the author of seven novels, and a Royal Literary Fellow at Essex University. Her books are published internationally, and her debut novel won the prestigious Crime Writer’s Association dagger award. Previously a probation officer, she draws on real cases to inspire her writing, most of which is set in Suffolk. Ruth lives in Felixstowe, and is delighted to be involved with WAMfest.
RUTH DUGDALL
Gill Blanchard is a professional family history and house history researcher, writer, and tutor. She set up her own research business called Past Search in 1997, qualified as an adult education tutor the following year, and has conducted much background research for authors, journalists and academic researchers, including the BBC Who Do You Think You Are? television series.
GILL BLANCHARD
JEMMA WAYNE
Jemma Wayne is the author of After Before, Chains of Sand, To Dare. and When I Close My Eyes. She has been longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, and shortlisted for both The Guardian’s Not the Booker Prize and the Waverton Good Read Award.
ELSKE HOWELER
Elske is a single mum and test lead for a small software house. She is also the author of historical novel Left Behind set in Amsterdam during the last few months of World War 2.
Being from Amsterdam herself, the setting the novel is a personal one. And so is the story, which was inspired by her grandmother who, during WW2, saved the life of a Jewish girl by hiding her in her attic.
BROOKE TELLING
Brooke Telling is an acoustic singer/songwriters from East Anglia. Raised in a family with a pub industry background, Brooke has always been exposed to the live music scene and was encouraged to perform from an early age.
KATIE MITTON
Teenage singing sensation Katie Mitton loves the performing arts and has been wowing audiences with her stunning voice and infectious enthusiasm for music.
Colombian illustrator and visual artist Catalina Carvajal is based in Suffolk and has been involved in WAMFest from the start.
Her beautiful murals can be seen in the town centre and she brings her creativity to the WAMFest posters and marketing material.
CATALINA CARVAJAL
Belinda Gillett is a world-class indie-folk artist from Suffolk. Her admirers include Queen's Brian May and folk-punk icon Jeffrey Lewis, both of whom have shared her videos within the last year.
Belinda's voice regularly draws comparisons with Sandy Denny, Joan Baez and Weyes Blood. She creates atmospheric, ethereal, vintage landscapes with her honest songs of love, nature and life and cites Nick Drake, Radiohead, The Sundays and Frightened Rabbit among her influences.
BELINDA GILLETT
VICTORIA PETCHEY
Victoria Petchey is a local artist who owns mobile art studio The Gallery Box and will be hosting a new event, Art at the Beach, at Beach Street, Felixstowe on Saturday, September 10th.
MIKAELA RACKHAM
Mikaela Rackham is a local artist & photographer, who recently launched her own business Illuminate, at Brightwell Barns. Mikaela will be hosting the exhibition at 142 Galleryand has helped create the WAM fest website & social media.
Ipswich Reggae Choir was started by Pat Bruce-Browne in August 201. Pat loved to sing and loved reggae, but there wasn't any other choirs that sang what she liked so she decided to set up her own group.
IPSWICH REGGAE CHOIR
Lydia Angelica returns to WAMFest for the second year.
LYDIA ANGELICA
Gabby Rivers is a 19 year old singer/songwriter performing upbeat indie/alternative originals with soulful and powerful vocals. So far in her musical journey she has performed at festivals and venues across East Anglia, including Latitude music festival, Sundown music festival, Wildpaths music festival, The Cambridge Junction and the Apex in Bury st Edmunds and more. She won the Bury sound competition in 2019. She has also released her debut EP in 2020 - 'HEADACHE' it has received support from BBC introducing and one of the tracks from the EP has been played on BBC 6 Music. She is currently working on brand new music which will be released at the start of 2022.
GABBY RIVERS
Grace is an 18 year old singer-songwriter from Essex who writes tongue-in-cheek indie pop songs about her life and it's highs and lows! She says: "I like to have fun with my songs and take a light hearted swipe at the disasters I contribute to!"
She plays piano and guitar and has performed at Latitude Festival, at a pre-match event at Ipswich Town Football Club. This summer she will appear at Into The Wild, Great Yarmouth Sounds and Hometown festivals and, of course, WAMFest.
GRACE CALVER
14-year-old singer Annabelle Taylor recently won the prestigious Jack Petchy award for her community work. She is currently learning to play the guitar and has ambitions to be a professional singer.
ANNABELLE TAYLOR
The Three Chordettes formed in May 2015 when asked to perform 1940s music for a murder mystery production in September 2015, their first public performances.
Since then, they have performed at the 100 Club and the War and Peace Revival with The Jive Aces, Duxford Imperial War Museum with the Galaxy Big Band and Barham Hall Picnic Concert with Essential Sounds big band to name a few.
Each member has an extensive background in music performance and dance to bring you the ultimate music entertainment.
THE THREE CHORDETTES
Aimee Iris is a singer songwriter from Ipswich, Suffolk who has recently released a new single, 'Dancing On Tables'. It is a summer track that's all about
letting go and living with no regret. Her music is heavily influenced by
the pop/musical theatre fusion of artists such as Sara Bareilles and Ben
Platt.
The track makes you want to jump up, sing along and most importantly; dance on tables!
AIMEE IRIS
Kristina (aged 18) & Angelina (aged 19) Karpenko are two sisters who arrived in the Uk in May this year having fled their home in Mariupol at the start of the War with Russia. They are keen dancers and have already performed several times in the Uk including at the end of term concert at Suffolk New where they attend English lessons at the college. They have settled into their new life in Felixstowe with their mother and younger sister and, as well as working part time at a local hotel, have also volunteered in the community. They spend many hours rehearsing new dance routines and are looking forward to being a part of Wamfest.