Imagined Village

It's probably not hyperbole to describe The Imagined Villlage as one of the most important folk collectives ever assembled. The intent to try and put together a band that defined Englishness, not in a xenophobic, opvertly patriotic way, but one that really defined the people and identity.
With a cast consisting of The Imagined Village are: *Benjamin Zephaniah * Billy Bragg * Chris Wood * Eliza Carthy * Johnny Kalsi * Martin Carthy * Paul Weller * Sheila Chandra * Simon Emmerson * The Copper Family * The Gloworms * Tiger Moth * Trans-Global Underground * Tunng, Imagined Village tried to do just that. Picking up the folk award for Traditional Song along the way.
The man behind the idea, Simon Emmerson, describes it thus, 'It's a record that, in the time-honoured way of folk, is about sex and death,'but it's also about honouring England's own distinctive traditions.'
A live unit has evolved out of the original recording project, but it's difficult to say for sure who'll actually be performing on the day. What is certain is that individual members of this band will be performing their own sets during the course of the festival.