HarmonicaUK Festival 2025
17-19th October 2025 at Hillscourt Hotel, Birmingham
HarmonicaUK is proud to announce the lineup and details of our 2025 Festival
More details to be added, so please check here again soon
Join us 17th- 19th October 2025 at Hillscourt Hotel, Birmingham, for our 90th Anniversary special.
We commence with our annual AGM at 7 pm on the Friday, followed by a jam supported by a line-up of seasoned musicians, led by Chris Collis on keyboards. Chris will also accompany some of the featured artists, as well as provide backing for any members who require it, during the Sunday afternoon concert.
On Friday at 7 pm, we also host our Annual General Meeting (AGM). To learn more about the AGM, get the documents,or use our online Proxy Voting form, visit the AGM Page.
Saturday and Sunday will be filled with all the fun and opportunities you’ve come to expect with the festival, masterclass workshops by the featured artists and other workshop leaders for all levels of players in many different genres of music.
Our amateur harmonica competition will once again be available by video submissions sent in before the event. Click on the button below to learn more.
Competition winners will be announced on Saturday, and we will also host the legendary HarmonicaUK auction, this year again being called by John Cook, with some excellent goodies donated by our trade stand exhibitors and other Harmonica equipment manufacturers. There will be trade stands from leading Harmonica and accessory retailers.
A spectacular concert by the featured artists is on Saturday evening, and don’t forget the concert on Sunday afternoon, where attendees get to play on stage and show us what they've got!
Your chance to be in the spotlight in a professional stage setting.
Featured Artists
Lee Oskar
Lee Oskar is an internationally acclaimed harmonica virtuoso, composer, producer, and lifelong musical explorer. He is renowned for his iconic role as a founding member and lead harmonica player of the pioneering funk/jazz band that composed and recorded such hits as “Low Rider,”“Spill the Wine,” “Cisco Kid,” “The World is a Ghetto,” “Slippin’ into Darkness,” “Why Can’t Be Friends,” and many more chart-topping songs from 1969- 1993. Since then, Oskar and his original band mates from that era perform as the LowRider Band. Oskar also performs around the world with outstanding musicians from the Pacific Northwest, known as Lee Oskar and Friends, featuring his own new arrangements, innovative compositions and well-loved hit songs.
In the words of Seattle Times critic Misha Berson, “The harmonica man can really blow, but he can croon, too.” With a wide-ranging portfolio of unforgettable compositions evoking different moods, rhythms and genres, Oskar has earned critical and popular acclaim for nearly four decades. Most recently, under the umbrella of Lee Oskar Productions and Publishing, Oskar has brought in highly accomplished instrumentalists to play exciting new arrangements of his original compositions. This material will soon be released through two recording projects, entitled “Faraway Dreams” (the first of the “Passages” series) and “Lee Oskar & Friends” (the first of the “Cricket In The Box” series.)
Lee is proud to be a featured artist on globally recognized Playing for Change's “Songs Around the World” album and the “Listen to the Music” project in collaboration with musicians from around the world.
More info at leeoskarmusic.com
Steve Baker
Born in London, England and resident in Germany, Steve Baker has long been regarded as one of the great harmonica artists, with an impressive reputation as a player, teacher, author and long-term consultant to the Hohner company. A full-time professional since the late 1970s, his rhythmically accented phrasing and rich command of timbre and tone have helped him create a unique sound which has influenced harmonica players around the world. Drawing on the blues harmonica tradition, he combines it with elements from country, folk, funk, soul and jazz to create an exciting and individual fusion which transcends stylistic boundaries while sounding totally natural.
In his lengthy career as a sideman, he has worked with a wide range of artists, including first-generation rock n ' roller Tony Sheridan, the late great Chris Jones (with whom he released four highly acclaimed CDs ) and European blues legend Abi Wallenstein, as well as playing on countless studio productions as a session musician.
Ever in the service of the song, Steve Baker’s funky, melodic and elegant harmonica style is instantly recognizable, forming a perfect foil to his voice. With his latest album Too Much Is Never Enough, he steps back to his acoustic roots, creating compositions that sound both totally familiar as well as fresh and original.
More info at www.stevebaker.de
Mat Walklate
Mat Walklate is a professional musician, singer, composer, & songwriter. He works mainly as a vocalist and harmonica player, but also plays flute, tin whistle, and uilleann pipes.
Mat predominantly plays the Blues and Irish traditional music. It's his Irish traditional playing that we're showcasing at this year's festival, but almost certainly his love of the blues will shine through.
The new EP, “Ain’t That The Truth” by Mat Walklate & Alex Haynes, is now available on Bandcamp: https://walklatehaynes.bandcamp.com/album/aint-that-the-truth-e-p
Mat leads the Irish band The House Devils, and also performs blues sets with Alex Haynes and Tom Attah. He teaches harmonica privately and is also a harmonica lecturer at Leeds Conservatoire, and runs classes at The Met in Bury.
Mat has written dozens of songs and tunes on numerous albums, and has composed for TV, theatre and film.
More info at www.matwalklate.uk/
Joe Powers
Joe Powers is known for bending and blending genres from Jazz to Classical, Blues to World Music, and Argentine Tango. He has been a global talent for over 20 years, performing more than 1000 concerts in North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He won a Belgian Crystal Harmonica Award and took fourth place at the World Harmonica Championship in Germany in 2005. He is a harmonica ambassador at masterclasses and events around the world and endorses Suzuki Harmonicas and BlowsMeAway Microphones.
Powers has collaborated with renowned Tango maestros, including Narcotango, Tanghetto, Otros Aires, Nicolás Ledesma, Emilio de la Peña, Oscar de Elía, Horacio Cabarcos, Pablo Motta, the UK's "Tango Siempre", and Japan's "Orquesta Aurora". He has also appeared with groups/artists as diverse as Pink Martini, British pop icon Jamie Cullum, Canadian Boogie-Woogie pianist Michael Kaeshammer, Sony jazz guitarist Yosuke Onuma, and the Ichikawa Symphony Orchestra in Japan.
More info at www.joepowers.com
Hillscourt room bookings are now "*** SOLD OUT ***
Contact [email protected] to be added to the waiting/cancellations list
Weekend/day players, concert, and meals are
STILL AVAILABLE.
Book below now to avoid disappointment
Please note:
- Places are limited and subject to availability, so don’t delay. See below for further details, prices and how to book.
- We have block-booked Hillscourt for the Friday and Saturday night of this event, and you will not be able to book accommodation for these days directly with the hotel. For any nights other than Friday and Saturday evening, you must book directly with Hillscourt.
- Accommodation will be booked on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the primary venue is fully booked, attendees will need to arrange their own accommodation.
- This event will require attendees to wear lanyards indicating their level of access, including the Saturday evening meal. Accommodation will be made for anyone unable to wear a lanyard due to medical reasons.
- Bar meals will not be available on Saturday evening if you choose not to purchase the Saturday evening meal option.
Book your place!
Weekend Links
Weekend Player
£185 - full weekend access, including workshops, concert, refreshments and lunch both days (note: excludes Saturday evening meal)
Non Playing Partner Refreshments - Two Days
£90 - Refreshment charge for accompanying non-player partner/carer for both Saturday and Sunday (includes refreshments and lunch)
Single Day Links
Saturday Evening Concert Only
£25 - Saturday evening concert only
(no access to workshops)
Saturday Player
£105 - Saturday only player fee including workshops, concert, refreshments and lunch (note: excludes Saturday evening meal)
Sunday Player
£80 - Sunday only player fee including workshops, refreshments and lunch
Saturday Evening Meal
£27 - Saturday evening meal (note: no bar meals available onsite on the Saturday evening)
Non Playing Partner Refreshments - One Day
£45 - Refreshment charge for accompanying non-player partner/carer for either Saturday or Sunday (includes refreshments and lunch)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weekend - Double Room all in one, 1 Player
*** SOLD OUT ***
£452 - Double Room Single Occupancy All in one, including Friday and Saturday B&B, workshops, concert, refreshments, lunch both days and meal
Single Room Friday
*** SOLD OUT ***
£90 - Single room for Friday night, including breakfast
Single Room Saturday
*** SOLD OUT ***
£90 - Single room for Saturday night, including breakfast
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weekend - Single Room all in one, 1 Player
*** SOLD OUT ***
£392 - Single Room All in one, including Friday and Saturday B&B, workshops, concert, refreshments, lunch both days and meal
Weekend - Double Room all in one, 1 Player 1 Non Player
*** SOLD OUT ***
£594 - Double Room All in one, including Friday and Saturday B&B, workshops, concert, refreshments, lunch both days and meals
Double Room Friday
*** SOLD OUT ***
£120 - Double/twin room for Friday night, including breakfast
Double Room Saturday
*** SOLD OUT ***
£120 - Double/twin room for Saturday night, including breakfast
Do you have limited means but would still like to attend and contribute? To apply, please complete the bursary form available below before the events sells out or no later than 4 weeks prior to the event.
To speak to us about volunteer roles, email:
Volunteer today.
Bursary Application Form
