Bright Season

Bright Season formed in 2013 bringing together the talents of singer and guitarist Michael J Tinker, fiddle-player Ella Sprung and accordionist Simon Dumpleton. Together they perform traditional and self-penned songs and tunes, displaying their own individual gifts and combining to deliver stunning arrangements and harmonies.

Included in their set are traditional ballads such as 'The House Carpenter', a cappella arrangements of 'John Ball' and the 'shape-note' song 'Africa' and also tune sets drawing on influences from European folk. This is particularly brought to the fore with Ella's Nyckelharpa.

Michael J Tinker has performed and recorded with Damien O'Kane (Kate Rusby band) and Katriona Gilmore and is currently working on a collaborative project with Bella Hardy, Josienne Clarke, The Young'uns, Tom Oakes, Ian Stephenson and Jon Boden. In addition he has supported Bellowhead, Lucy Ward, Sam Carter, Maz O'Connor and many more.

Ella Sprung is a fiddle player, singer and dancer. She specialises in French, Breton, and Scandinavian folk music, and performs with European folk dance band Trip the Light and folk groups Gallivant and Jack's Rake. In addition to playing the fiddle she also plays the Swedish Nyckelharpa.

Simon is a multi-instrumentalist who has performed with numerous people including Kirsty Bromley and in the ceilidh band Trinculo. He has recently produced recordings for Jess and Richard Arrowsmith, Hekety, Outre Manche and the Melrose Quartet.