Next Festival: Saturday 28th March 2026 – SYDNI Community Centre, Sydenham, Leamington Spa
Evening Show at Temperance Café
About the Festival
The Leamington Feel Good Festival is an annual community celebration of music, art, and wellbeing — run by RYTC Creatives CIC (The RYTC).
Inspired by our much-missed friend and former Head of Music, Stephen Boyer, the festival continues his mission: encouraging children and young people to discover the joy of music and creativity.
From hands-on workshops and live music to headline performances and school showcases, the Feel Good Festival is all about celebrating local talent and nurturing the next generation of artists.
All proceeds go directly to supporting RYTC’s year-round creative work with children and young people — helping to make sure every child can access high-quality arts opportunities, no matter their background.
Tickets
Tickets available soon via: Ticket Tailor (Daytime) and Eventbrite (Temperance Café) (Evening Show).
Optional donations and raffle tickets will help fund free Animal Tales workshops in local schools.
Children will go free for the Daytime session (but must be accompanied by a ticketed adult)
Saturday 28th March | SYDNI Community Centre & Temperance Café
Festival Programme
Daytime at SYDNI Centre
(12.00 PM – 6.00 PM)
12 PM – 3 PM
It's all about the Children!
A gentle, joyful start to the day filled with laughter, music, and creativity for children and their accompanying adults.
All daytime activities take place at the SYDNI Centre, with the café open from 12–3 PM for drinks and light snacks.
A family-friendly performance of stories, songs, and silliness — guaranteed to make children and adults laugh together.
A short welcome to the festival, introducing the team, the purpose behind the day, and a sneak peek into the Animal Tales story theme.
Toilets, refreshments, and a chance for a stretch before the next activity.
Explore sounds, stories, and imagination inspired by nature. Children will help bring Animal Tales to life through movement, sound, and creativity.
Local schools share their creative work — followed by mask decorating and art activities inspired by the Animal Tales characters.
(Depending on attendance, this session will take place in the café or main hall.)
3 PM – 6 PM
Young and Emerging Bands & Workshops Section
Afternoon sessions designed to inspire the next generation of musicians — with hands-on creative workshops and a live gig from up-and-coming local talent.
Songwriting for Beginners: what makes a great song with professional musicians. Paul Monks and Jon Harrington
A live showcase of the region’s best young musicians — bold, original, and ready to make their mark.
- 3.30 PM – 4.30 PM Wes Finch
- 4.30 PM – 5.00 PM Jonathan Waller
Play, listen, share with M.C. Maria Barham
A live showcase of the region’s best young musicians — bold, original, and ready to make their mark
Evening Concert at Temperance Café
(7.00 PM – 10.45 PM)
Doors Open at 7:00 PM | Show Starts at 7:30 PM
Multi-award-winning acoustic duo blending folk, Americana, and roots. Their lush harmonies and uplifting lyrics have made them festival favourites across the UK.
“Beautiful and with something to say.” — BBC Northampton
🎶 Headliner: Kevin Dempsey
A master guitarist, arranger, and singer admired across the UK folk scene. Kevin’s dexterity, soulful melodies, and warm stage presence have captivated audiences worldwide.
“Kevin’s guitar playing is inspired and inspiring.” — Joe Broughton
“I’ve played with them all. Kev’s the best.” — Dave Swarbrick
Headliner & Supporting Acts
Kevin Dempsey
Headliner
Kevin Dempsey is one of the most sought-after musicians on the UK folk scene and beyond. A master performer on the guitar, an arranger, a singer, and a top-quality live entertainer. He is an expert in guitar styles and will dazzle you with his dexterity, haunt you, with soulful melody, or simply play you a song you will never forget. He has played and recorded with many of the most famous names in acoustic and folk music: Dave Swarbrick, Joe Broughton, Chris Leslie, Peter Knight, Dando Shaft, Uiscedwr, Whippersnapper, Mary Black, and Jacqui McShee. Whether in an intimate acoustic environment, or a large festival stage where he fills the air with spellbinding music, Kevin puts his audience at ease and takes them on a varied and wonderful musical journey.
Tu-Kay & Ryan
Support Acts
Multi-award-winning acoustic duo Tu-kay & Ryan (Ash Tu-kay & Rebecca Ryan) craft a captivating blend of folk, Americana, and roots music, renowned for their lush harmonies and profoundly optimistic lyrics. Since forming after an instant musical connection in 2018, they've released four critically acclaimed EPs (2019-2022) earning glowing reviews and global radio play, and unveiled their debut album in 2023. Their single 'Temporal Drifter' hit #1 on the Amazon Folk Charts in May 2022. Veterans of UK and international stages, Tu-kay & Ryan consistently engage audiences from intimate clubs to major festivals.
Daytime Artists and Facilitators
Maria Barham
Singer-songwriter
Maria play guitar,sing and sometimes dabbles with other instruments. You might catch her playing all types of covers, self penned,traditional and not so traditional songs....in fact any thing she can get to work with guitar and vocal. She enjoys recording her own songs at home and making videos to go with them. She also plays and sings with The Redhills, The Ashby Fishwives and PedlarTom. All links can be found on her website at www.mariabarham.com.
Wes Finch
Singer-songwriter and Workshop Leader
Wes is a Midlands based guitarist, singer and songwriter who you might say plays in the folk/rock/Americana style of music. You can find his music online under the names Wes Finch, The Silver Wye and The Mechanicals Band. He also plays bass and sings in the group WLDFLWRS, who perform original material and have developed a show based on the music of a group called The Band and their The Last Waltz film and concert. Expect a mixture of cover material and original songs from his range of musical projects.
Steve Redshaw
Singer-songwriter and Youth Mentor
Steve has taught in primary schools for the best part of forty years. Now retired and living aboard his narrow boat, Miss Amelia, he can pursue his passion for making music. Over the years, Steve has played in a variety of bands - a Pogues rip-off, the Lincolnshire-based Old Parrot Band, several East Anglian Ceilidh bands, the Petworth Town Brass Band and The Charcoal Burners, a south of England based folk fusion four piece. He is presently a member of the popular Rugby trio, The Scutters. His aquaintance with the unique Steve Boyer (now sadly departed) has involved him in much charity busking, a children's holiday club, dementia music cafes and even a Hank Williams tribute band. He has also worked on musical and film projects for young people with the Warwick based RYTC. Steve has involved children in music and storytelling throughout his teaching career. More recently he has run music sessions at the two previous Feel Good Festivals and at this year's Rugby Literacy Festival.
Lauren South
Songwriter and Folk Artist
Residing in Warwickshire, Lauren South is an accomplished singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist renowned for her original compositions and traditional melodies. With the accompaniment of tenor guitar, fiddle, and shruti box, her songs exude heartfelt emotion and vivid imagery, drawing inspiration from her passion for the nocturnal heavens, the natural world, and her journey through motherhood. Lauren’s debut solo album, Tiny Boat, was released in November 2023 to critical acclaim, with tracks featuring on FATEA’s Spring Showcase 2024, BBC Lincolnshire and Shropshire folk shows, and BBC Introducing. Beyond her solo endeavours, Lauren is an enthusiastic collaborator and is often found playing alongside John Parker (double bass) and Keith Donnelly (guitar). Lauren is also a regular performer on the UK folk circuit and has been playing folk festival main stages since 2019.
Keith Donnelly
Family Musician and Storyteller
Keith Donnelly, one of the most popular, and, yes slightly crazy, figures in the folk world, teams up with the scene’s most exciting new voice - Lauren South. Keith’s songwriting and guitar-playing often take a back seat to his onstage madcappery. Not so in this duo (He promises!). Lauren’s stunning vocals on her own originals, Keith’s, and the odd ‘trad’ songs, not forgetting her violin, guitar and shruti box playing, never fail to ‘wow’ audiences wherever she goes. Although this new combo might at first raise a few eyebrows, anyone who ever saw Keith work with Dark Horses, Nothing by Chance, or indeed (back in the day) Waterfall, won’t be too surprised to see him jump at the chance to work with a vocalist like Lauren. Anyone who’s heard these musicians separately will hopefully be as thrilled as we are to see the launch of this new duo.
Jonathan Waller
Folk Musician
Jonathan started performing in South Yorkshire folk clubs in the latter half of last century and has since turned his hand to folk, blues, rock, bluegrass and jazz on guitar and mandolin. His particular forte is the grinding melancholia that's a hallmark of many a childhood spent in the North.
Jon Harrington
Singer/Songwriter
A founder member of the Coventry Singer Songwriters group, Jon has been active in the Coventry area music scene for over 25 years, appearing on stage and radio as well as at many local music venues. He has written hundreds of songs, and run many songwriting workshops to share knowledge and inspire people to write songs, including here at the Feel Good Festival. Catch Jon and Paul at the 2026 Feel Good Festival as they offer up their thoughts on what makes a great song!
Paul Monks
Singer/Songwriter
Paul Monks is a singer-songwriter from Coventry. As one half of Yonderland he has performed in and around the Midlands folk circuit for 10 years and is a member of Coventry Singer Songwriters.
Rupam Barthakur
Artist in Warwick
Rupam Barthakur is a local artist based in Warwick. He developed “Art Busking” - painting live musicians at gigs. He has a passion for creating figurative painting that capture the movement and emotion of dancers and musicians. If you see him painting- come and say hi … he says “ There’s nothing better than talking music and art”
In Memory of Stephen Boyer
This festival is a tribute to Stephen Boyer, our former Head of Music and community champion, whose passion and vision continue to shape everything we do. His belief in young people’s creativity lives on through every note played and every story told.
The search is on...
We are on the look-out for young bands from the Leamington area.
- 1. Publicity for your band on our website and across our social media, showcasing your music, linking to your online presence and listing your upcoming gigs.
- 2. The chance to perform at the Feel Good Festival. We will be showcasing three bands at the festival.
- 3. We are inviting you to get in touch. Any genre considered. We are interested in how and why you formed, your musical journey so far and where you want your music to lead you in the future.
If you are interested, please visit our website and fill in the Contact Form. Tell us about your music, how long you have been together, how you got to where you are right now and where you see yourselves heading in the future. If possible include a link to a video or sound file of your band.
We look forward to hearing from you…
The Feel Good Festival is an annual event, held at the Sydni Community Centre in Sydenham, Leamington, which remembers, honours and celebrates Stephen Boyer, musician and Community Champion, who passionately and enthusiastically encouraged children and young people to get involved in music and develop their musical skills.
Each of the three chosen bands will have a 20 minute spot from 5pm on Saturday 28th March 2026 at the Sydni Centre in Sydenham, Leamington.
You must be available on the afternoon of Saturday 28th March. 2026. Bands will need to arrive by 4pm for setting up and sound checking.
Band members must be aged between 15 and 18 years and have from 2 to 4 members. There is no festival charge for under 16s, but they need to be accompanied by an adult who has purchased a ticket. 16-18 yr old members of the bands chosen for performance will receive a free ticket.
At least one band member must live in any of the following areas; Leamington, Sydenham, Radford Semele, Whitnash, Bishop’s Tachbrook, Lillington, Cubbington, Warwick Gates, Warwick (East of the A46) – if in doubt, just check with us via the Contact Form.
PA will be provided, it may be possible to accommodate extra amps (eg guitar and bass). There will be a drum kit available (separate drum kits would take too long to set up at the performance),
Bands need to arrive by 4pm for setting up and sound checking.
If you would like to be involved or have any other questions please get in touch via the Contact Form.
Join Our Feel Good Crew – Volunteer with Us!
Want to Be Part of the Feel Good Magic?
The Feel Good Festival thrives thanks to our amazing volunteers — the friendly faces who make everything run smoothly, keep the music flowing, and the community smiling! We’re looking for helpers with skills in:
- Event setup & coordination
- Stage & tech support
- Arts & crafts facilitation for children
- Photography & social media updates
- Welcoming and assisting festival-goers
Whether you’ve got experience or just heaps of enthusiasm, we’d love to have you join the crew.