Fran Lusty wins Hello You! The Janice Long Emerging Artist Award 2026

Fran Lusty has been announced as the latest recipient of the Hello You! The Janice Long Emerging Artist Award 2026.

Set up in 2022 for our enthusiastic, longstanding compère, Janice Long, the award is inspired by her insistence and determination to help and support new musicians at the start of their careers, and has been open to new and emerging unsigned solo artists aged 16+ from England and Wales working within the Folk, Rock, Indie, Psychedelic and Alternative genres.

Born in Cambridge and with Norwegian roots, indie-folk singer-songwriter Fran Lusty’s lilting voice and explorative songwriting have been described as ‘dreamful’ and ‘truly transformative’. Her most recent EP, Big Old House, was written at her grandmother’s remote cabin in Norway and explores the dreamlike state one enters when isolated in the wilderness.

As part of her prize, Fran will be appearing on Moseley Folk Festival’s Janice Long Stage on Saturday 6 September 2026, with a return set for 2027.

Fran says, “Janice Long championed so many emerging artists and played an important role at the beginning of many successful careers, and so it is a huge honour to receive this award.
“I am still processing the fact that this has happened, but I am incredibly excited to be opening the Janice Long Stage this year, and to be headlining it next year.
“Thank you so much to Moseley Folk & Arts Festival for this opportunity, and I can’t wait to see you there!”

Make sure to head in early on Saturday to catch her open up our second stage and see how she progresses throughout the year in 2027!