Cardboard Fox are hard to categorise. All four musicians have roots in bluegrass music but their collective influences reach much further and this shows in their music. Formed in late 2013, the band have known each other for much longer but have been waiting for the right opportunity to make it work. All that was needed was for everyone to be in the right place and Joe’s moving from Norwich to Bath was the catalyst that allowed it to happen. This is a group of musicians who are very, very excited about what this line up can create and that’s what makes this acoustic quartet so special. With a focus on original writing and re-imagined folk songs taken from a very different perspective, this band is not to be missed.
John Breese, primarily a classical guitarist as well as one of the country’s top banjo players, is fast establishing himself as an in-demand double bassist. Having gained a Distinction in his Masters degree in Music Performance from Southampton University, John moved back to his native Bath and began his career as a professional musician. Since the age of 16, he has played in many bands, most recently as the current banjo player with the highly regarded Coal Porters and some-time bassist with The Carrivick Sisters.

Charlotte Carrivick began learning to flat pick the guitar at the age of 14, having previously played classical guitar and mandolin. Now a highly respected guitarist and multi instrumentalist on the UK bluegrass and folk scenes, Charlotte plays as one half of The Carrivick Sisters, with which she reached the finals of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards in 2010. Their music gets frequent airplay, including plays on BBC Radio 2 and they have also been interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour. Americana UK described Charlotte’s guitar playing as “simply breathtaking.”

Laura Carrivick began playing violin at around 10 years old. Learning classically to begin with, she soon found herself drawn to folk fiddle styles and began trying to play along to Chieftains CDs. Later, she heard bluegrass and was hooked! In 2008 she achieved 2nd place at the RockyGrass Fiddle Contest in Colorado, America. Laura spends most of her time playing in her critically acclaimed duo, The Carrivick Sisters, with twin sister, Charlotte. Together, they’ve played all over the world, appeared on TV, recorded live sessions for national radio including BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, received several awards and released 5 albums. Maverick Magazine said of Laura; “Laura’s fiddle and dobro playing are astounding.”
Joe Tozer, originally from Norwich and now studying at Bath Spa University, started playing acoustic guitar at the age of twelve, taking up the mandolin a year later. His achievements since then include winning the EFDSS Young Musician Competition three times, giving him an opportunity to play at Cambridge Folk Festival and reaching the finals of the Bath Folk Festival New Shoots competition with his duo, Lost in the Honeycomb. The UK’s leading bluegrass magazine, The British Bluegrass News, described Joe as an “extraordinary talent on the mandolin and guitar.”