Andy Irvine is one of the great Irish singers, his voice one of a handful of truly great ones that gets to the very soul of Ireland. He has been hailed as "a tradition in himself." Musician, singer and songwriter, Andy has maintained his highly individual performing skills throughout his over 50-year career. From Sweeney's Men in the mid 60s, to the enormous success of Planxty in the 70s, his duo with Paul Brady in the later 70s and then from Patrick Street to Mozaik, LAPD and Usher’s Island, Andy has been a world music pioneer and an icon for traditional music and musicians.

Aaron Jones is a bouzouki player, guitarist and vocalist best known as one part of Scottish band Old Blind Dogs who he has toured all over the world with.  Aaron is a member of Scottish/German group Litha as well as performing as a duo with superb flute, whistle and fiddle player Claire Mann.  Aaron also performs regularly with popular English folk singer Kate Rusby as well as with countless other well known and award winning Scottish musicians and vocalists including Siobhan Miller and Robyn Stapleton.

Nathon Jones has played acoustic and electric guitar since the age of 11 and performs in a duo with Scottish vocalist Rhona Jones.  He has played resonator guitar for over 10 years, performing regularly with his own bluegrass band in which he also plays the 5-string banjo.  He has also, more recently, started learning Irish tenor banjo.  Nathon has performed at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall as part of the Celtic Connections festival and was one of the musicians who provided music for BBC Scotland's Katie Morag television series.

Founders of Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival, the Jones family are well known for their passion for, and commitment to, traditional music.  Parents Billy & Carmel play, sing and have been involved in traditional music almost all their lives, attending countless festivals, concerts and sessions throughout the UK and Ireland.  Their twin boys, Aaron & Nathon, have a special chemistry between them built on a unique understanding and appreciation of each other's playing combined with years of fantastic tuition and musical influence from their parents and family.