Mr Happy Chainsaw are a 4 piece rock band from Essex. They were formed in early 2005 born into a local music scene dominated by metal and emo with a band name based on the Alkaline Trio song “Mr Chainsaw”.

Practising and recording at Nathan Wacey’s new Long Track Studios, Mr Happy Chainsaw have found themselves in a situation where the lyrics, chords and drum beats flow and this has made the line-up of Martin, Scott, Mike and Ben, the most complete line-up of Mr Happy Chainsaw.

2009 will see the release of Mr Happy Chainsaw’s most unique and mature sounding CD to date. Aptly titled “We Appear To Be On Fire” was recorded in March with a May release date.

We are Press Play. We are a young band aged 15-16 who have been together for just over a year. We are constantly practising together as we write all of our own material influenced by our own immature sense of humour and the cool sounds we create! Our genre changes for every song we write which makes practises a little more interesting.

The Lunar Pilots are a new and infectious Indie Rock / Pop band from Essex and Cambridge. Influences stemming from the 70s and 80s through to today's best music, The Lunar Pilots have already defined their own original sound and style. In a short space of time the band have already started to make great waves and are building a strong and loyal following. The songs have dark moments of piano subtleties that fit comfortably alongside high-tempo guitar-led danceable optimism. This backed by a tight and inventive driving rhythm section, has already helped define the Lunar sound. Constantly striving for musical perfection, be it in the rehearsal room, the studio or on stage, the Pilots mix the different flamboyances of 5 very individual musical minds. The result is a winning combination of great songs played with all the energy and passion you’d expect from a band striving for success. The songs are radio friendly and the band is hoping that big things lie in wait around the corner...

Have been together for 3 years and are from the Clacton area. Highly original 4 piece Ian Drury meets Django Reinhardt. Groovy originals and choice covers.

Krow are a local metal band, who are old friends of Riverfest, having played on the stage at previous festivals.

The musical landscape is teeming with singer/songwriters and bands many of them quite capable, but only a handful have something truly distinctive to offer. Andrew McClaine belongs in the latter category. It goes without saying that with a career spanning over 20 years as a professional singer-songwriter and performer already under his belt, McClaine is a musician’s musician and no stranger to the music industry.

Burnham's very own floating musicians.

The White Gospel are a 5 piece based in Essex, fronted by French-English singer/songwriter David Arscott. His writing seems to reflect the emotional melancholy of suburban life. From the word on the street to the crushing wheels of the rat race. The streets of London’s neighbouring county Essex, provide the inspiration for the prose and a backdrop to the cinematic songs.

Consisting of an acrobatic voice; the shimmer and twang of the telecaster guitar, the solid jazz-like rhythm and fundamental elements the organ and piano, TWG deliver an altogether more vintage sound with a eartfelt, well studied approach to their special brand of music.

The Suncars are an indie rock band who performed their first ever show at Riverfest in 1996. They won the Essex Battle Of The Bands in 1998, recorded an album called 'Baby Shaped Exhaust' and played many legendary shows around the South East before they officially split in 1999. Over the years the band have often reformed for Riverfest and this year they are back with a new line-up featuring original Suncars Ross Thomas, Kevin Hill, Chris Hill, Ben Marchant and also Warren Dennis formerly of the band IC7.

Jazmine Ava's Blues/Soul/Country style has burst onto the music scene, with a raw and original sound that inspires the roots of 'real' music. She reaches out with powerful, deep and heartfelt lyrics and with a voice that has stunned audiences all over.

Her critically acclaimed debut album 'Sunshine & Shadows' - only released last year - has received Juice Fm, Radio Reverb, Saint Fm and BBC Essex radio play and her songwriting has been described as "...pure lyrical brilliance" (Musiczine Magazine: Aug 2008).

The track 'Rainbows' was a semi finalist in the 2008 UK Songwriting contest and Jazmine Ava has featured in the Essex County Standard, Gazette and Argus as one of the most up and coming artists!

Playing with a new band of musicians in Essex, including Matthew Kelly on drums, Ken Flatt on Bass and Geoff Clark on lead guitar aswell as violin, piano, harmonica and sax players. In just one year shes played all over Essex, Suffolk, and London - performing at the St. Osyths and Brightlingsea Festivals and on the main stage of The Bedford Fringe Festival - infront of 4000 people.

Saltdog are a 6 piece semi-pro outfit based in Colchester, Essex. They have gained a cult status that is usually reserved for signed bands. They play original songs, no covers and use a banjo, electric fiddle, mandolins, guitars and drums to mesmerize their audiences. Unpopular with the masses, yet more than capable of giving bigger acts a run for their money, they comfortably do what they do without trying too hard. They play angry, tuneful music.

Formerly known as the Saltydogs, they have been together for over 14 years with few line up changes. In this time they have played at Glastonbury, opened some big shows and gigged most small London venues such as the: Mean Fiddler, Dublin Castle, Hope & Anchor etc. Saltdog are big in in their village.

At their shows they make people dance, get crowds going and get the beer sales up! They are a damn good live act, excellent entertainment and they don't disappoint! Gaining a following that has enabled them to continue to create their unique musical style. The response that they receive at gigs is testament to the high energy song writing, managing to turn any audience into a frenzy. Saltdog's appeal is that they connect with the audience. Making people feel part of the gig is what makes them come back for more, and they do. They have topped most festivals in their area as well as biker rally's, runs, a Bulldog Bash, a Strawberry fair and many more events they can't remember.

thefancydressparty are a mixed bunch, hailing from South Woodham Ferrers, Essex, and playing melo-dramatic folk songs, about rural england, adventures and escape. The band consists of 7 members, in what seems to be an ever-expanding project. They also like their name to be written completely joint-up in lower case. This rarely happens, but when it does it makes them very happy.

Doll Set Tones were born out of the little English riverside town of Maldon in Essex. Lee Probert, lead singer and rhythm guitarist, was touting his acoustic songs round the local area when he met Kes Shearer, who became the band's first manager, back in March 2005.

Kes immediately saw the potential of the music and, together, the two quickly assembled the rest of the line up of motley rogues: James Bacon on drums, Ross Fifield on bass and Keith Jackson on lead guitar.

The first four-track demo was put down for next to nothing and consisted of original tracks, rough and ready rock, recorded in a makeshift studio on wine and a prayer. But it got DST on stage and by May 2005 they were gigging. This allowed them to refine their sound and build that all-important fan base. The band gelled fast and soon they were in the studio recording a more assured demo, with tracks like 'Back Pocket Change' and 'Silver', which are still great favourites with fans today.

Mark Barnard, founder member, lead vocalist and guitarist of local Essex folk rock band 'Medicine' and Lyz Le Fay have joined forces to create music less swashbuckling than Medicine but more jiggery pokery than recent music created by Lyz Le Fay. Both are very talented musicians and songwriters in their own right but joined together they make a powerful and magickal duo

The Rough Cuts are a group of local musicians who play together for their own enjoyment... and obviously others when they perform publicly.

I have been performing with Acoustic guitar for the past few years. My vocals are rich and soulful, and my songs are driven with meaningful lyrics and unique melodies. Some of my inspirations come from Artists like: Jewel, Mary Black, Bic Runga, Beth Orton, Rosie Thomas and Sarah Mc Lachlan. If you are looking for something Chilled and Mellow, then indulge yourself in My EP - Living on the edge of my dreams.

Jaycee is a 17 year old Braintree girl who has grown up immersed in a musical environment and who is now taking out her own covers band.

The Bog Dogs feature two well-known local faces playing Irish folk music.

Formed in April 2008 in the Essex Outback by Ian and Sheena Cundy who, up until this fateful moment, had been a duo playing pubs, clubs and festivals in the county and beyond.

Now joined by Jim Olley and Emma Peake (both with plenty of miles on their own musical clocks) - this motley crewe of seasoned muso's deliver their percussive driven sound of fluctuating rhythms and soulful lyrics in charismatic style!

Scott and Joe were both members of the 'TMi' Saturday morning CBBC show's HouseBand in 2007. They performed live on the show on 6 Saturdays. After this they went on to form Where's Spike and got through to the final 10 on XFm's Rock School in 2007. Scott and Joe are really pleased to have teamed up with two very talented musicians in Jack. and Sam. All four are great friends already and are really enjoying this experience.

So these four guys, aged 12 & 13, have formed The Theory of 6 Degrees and they are working with the Realistic Rock team in Epsom. The band formed in January 2008 and they have already got six great compositions which they have performed live at a number of gigs, along with some of their favourite covers.

The band have gigged at Epsom Playhouse, Sutton High Street, Epsom High Street, Wallington, Bourne to Rock, Party in the Park - Caterham, Betchworth Hall, Dorking Halls, Bordon and Carshalton.

Cocker Freeman, a Dengie Boy of international repute (well they've heard of him way beyond the Dengie) expounds his wisdom through the medium of Hio-Hop. Pure genius!

BARAKA is a unique combination of musicians from Ghana, Senegal, Zambia, Dominica and Northern and Southern Ireland. Each musician contributes his individual sound and style - Reggae featuring a Kora and Djembe, Township with a Calypso bassline, Hilife with Blues Harmonica, Soca with Balafon and Flute. Baraka features musical collaborations that you are unlikely to hear with any other band. This is not just one person's music translated by backing musicians, as so many "world" music bands seem to be. Baraka is edgy, experimental and innovative without losing sight of the fact that entertainment is the key.