Tag Archives: folk

Chloe Foy, St Pancras Old Church, London, 16 October 2025

The timeless surroundings and balanced sound quality of this historic venue were perfect for the thoughtful songs on show tonight. Opening the evening Jack Patchett played his gentle acoustic compositions, sung with calm sincerity to an attractive guitar and keyboard accompaniment.

‘Where Shall We Begin’ and ‘Complete Fool’ are the title tracks to the first two albums from Chloe Foy and they resonated around the church at the start of her set; gorgeous and atmospheric. With a changing line-up of backing musicians there were many highlights, especially the stunning duet with Eli Carvajal ‘What I’d Give’ and the heartbreaking piano ballad ‘Empires of Dust’.

‘Spare’ is a lovely track, the hypnotic melody completely driven by Chloe’s clear and expressive voice as was the surprise encore of an a capella version of ‘Squareface’, performed wearing the black crown against the orange sun of the album artwork and a fitting end to this excellent show.

http://www.chloefoy.com

https://jackpatchett.bandcamp.com/music

https://elicarvajal.com/

Katherine Priddy, Cherry Hinton Hall Grounds, Cambridge, 2 August 2025

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The world famous Cambridge Folk Festival is being rested this year, replaced by a series of alternative events such as a free day of music in the picturesque grounds of Cherry Hinton Hall. Katherine Priddy brought her likeable personality and dreamlike folk songs to the large crowd on this warm afternoon, accompanied by additional guitar and vocals from George Boomsma.

With two albums to draw from this compact set had a haunting intensity, as shown in the first two songs ‘Does She Hold You Like I Did’ and ‘Eurydice’. The pure sound and gentle waltz of ‘A Boat on the River’ is a gorgeous song, with melody and lyrics combining perfectly, for me one of the highlights of the afternoon. The irresistible tempo of ‘Letters from a Travelling Man’ raised the pace before the last song ‘Ready To Go’ showcased the duo’s harmonies and acted as a fitting finale to an excellent performance.

http://www.katherinepriddy.co.uk

http://www.georgeboomsma.com

The Magpies, Stapleford Granary, Cambridge, 3 May 2025

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Folk trio The Magpies played to a sold-out audience in a spectacularly converted building that is relaxing visually and perfect acoustically.

Opening with the busy ‘Now And Then’, the trio immediately pulled the listeners into their musical world; the line-up of violin, banjo and guitar along with various vocal combinations bringing the stories and emotions in the songs to shimmering life.

Most of the tracks were drawn from their last album, a follow up to their debut ‘Tidings’ (see review below). There is also an EP due soon. The set is balanced between their own compositions, with rich ballads like the title song ‘Undertow’ and ‘Galileo’ alongside sprightly instrumentals ‘Solstice’ and ‘Colin’s Set’.

The featured traditional tunes are highlights too, especially the singalong of ‘Fall On My Knees’ and the gorgeous ‘Hares On The Mountain’, the beauty of this performance seeming to make time stand still in the auditorium.

A cover of ‘Sweet Dreams(Are Made Of This)’ was a lively finale to a superb show.

https://www.themagpiesmusic.com/

The Magpies : Tidings, LP released June 2020

Esther Rose, Prince Albert, Brighton, 8 September 2024

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Woody Green opened the show with his experimental, ethereal folk, blending thoughtful lyrics with gentle, empathetic guitar instrumentation from the two musicians on the stage of this intimate venue.

Esther Rose has stories to tell and many melodic songs including a fine medley from her 2017 album ‘This Time Last Night’. She holds the audience with her compact country-folk tales and adds variety with classy duets with guests Dylan Earl and Jude Brothers.

https://www.estherrose.net/

https://www.facebook.com/WoodyGreenMusic/

The Unthanks in Winter, Corn Exchange, Cambridge, 19 December 2023

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Katherine Priddy opened the show with her warm and atmospheric songs infusing the wide spaces of the Corn Exchange, delivered by her gentle voice and empathetic guitar work. From ‘Wolf’ to ‘Letters from a Travelling Man’ to the mythical ‘Eurydice’, Katherine brought style and emotion to these subtle vignettes.

The Unthanks were previewing a seasonal suite that will eventually be recorded; an amalgam of classical and folk influences blended by the timeless harmonies of Rachel and Becky Unthank. This mostly continuous performance featured dreamlike renditions of traditional pieces such as ‘The Coventry Carol’ and ‘The Cherry Tree Carol’ interspersed with wintry instrumentals.

The band conjured up snowbound landscapes and distant comforting lights using an array of acoustic instruments and the fluid vocal line-up of this gifted ensemble. Ending with the haunting anthem ‘Tar Barrel In Dale’ and the valedictory ‘Dear Companions’ it was a show to linger long through the Christmas season.

http://www.the-unthanks.com

https://linktr.ee/katherinepriddy

The Wandering Hearts, Norwich Arts Centre, 13 December 2022

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Opening this fine evening of folk and Americana music in this converted church venue was Lauren Housley, showcasing her soulful voice and song writing as featured on her album ‘Girl From The North’. With just acoustic guitar backing her performance had instant appeal for the near sell-out audience.

For this tour The Wandering Hearts have stripped back to the core trio and with two excellent albums already and many new songs due for release soon their set was rich in highlights. Blending their three harmonies for an introductory cover of ‘White Christmas’ and then into the subtle delights of early single ‘Burning Bridges’, the acoustics of this ancient building showed off the gorgeous sounds.

The three performers create a very full sound, with only guitar backing for many of the tracks, sometimes augmented by mandolin and piano. To contrast the gentleness of ‘Dolores’ and ‘Lullaby’ there were plenty of anthemic choruses like ‘Build a Fire’ and main set closer ‘Devil’. With a seasonal finale of Auld Lang Syne blended with the outstanding ‘Wish I Could’ it was a superb show, echoing long in the memory.

https://www.thewanderinghearts.com/

https://www.laurenhousley.com/

Jesca Hoop, Storey’s Field Centre, Cambridge, 8 December 2022

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Chloe Foy opened the show with the ethereal title track from her 2021 debut album ‘Where Shall We Begin’ (reviewed here) and immediately set the tone for this thoughtful and engaging evening in the spiritual surroundings of this attractive hall. Her songs interweave lyrical honesty with a heartfelt vocal performance supported by a single guitar; combining to great effect particularly on the glorious ‘Evangeline’. Chloe also contributed harmony vocals and multi instruments for the rest of the show.

Headliner Jesca Hoop, brought her evocative songs to shine and intrigue, featuring many from her newest album ‘Order of Romance’. Her sparse guitar lines combine with sensitive percussion and bass as a platform for her distinctive voice and lyrics that pull the listener into a world of abstract imagery and personal reflections.

The music moves in unexpected directions, a balance of dark and light that gently sparkles in the excellent acoustics of this venue. The melodic beauty of ‘Lyrebird’ and ‘Pegasi’ were standout tracks, staying in the mind long after this brilliant show had ended.

https://www.jescahoop.com/

https://www.chloefoy.com/

The Staves, Junction J1, Cambridge, 24 September 2021

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Live music at last!

First onstage was US singer/songwriter Samantha Crain, a performer with a quiet authority evident from the first track ‘Joey’; a languid leisurely waltz with the gentle instrumentation as a perfect platform for her rich vocals. The tempo was increased for ‘Pastime’ and through her short set her accompanying musician played pedal steel, second guitar and keys to add extra colour to the involving narrative strengths of the songs. A highlight was the emotive tale told in ‘Elk City’, sung to a solo guitar as her overall performance effortlessly won over the audience.

The Staves create an intimate and welcoming musical atmosphere; opening song ‘Failure’ features the harmonies and indie folk rock ambience that instantly draws the listener in. Sisters Camilla and Jessica (Emily is currently not touring) are joined by an empathetic band that knows how much to push the sound forward or keep in the background more for a track like ‘Good Woman’; the title song from the 2021 album that makes up most of the set.

The songs can move into moody territory like the walk through a dark forest of ‘Blood I Bled’ or luxuriate in the deceptively simple beauty of ‘Make It Holy’. It all flew by in a delicious haze of ethereal melody and musical textures, a triumphant performance after too long away..

https://www.thestaves.com/

https://www.samanthacrain.com/

Tape Runs Out : Ode to Barry, single released 8 September 2021

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A new single from Cambridge ensemble Tape Runs Out is a dreamy tribute to the bearded dragon belonging to lead singer Liam.

Starting with a hypnotic figure generated by the haunting sonics of the hammered dulcimer the track adds layers of acoustic texture to produce a stately paean to the precious pet ‘….Barry you know we’re here for you….Barry won’t you stay with us…’.

The song gently eases along but continues to build the boldness of the sound with strings, a guitar solo and overall a feeling of melancholy and lost prog-folk drifting off into the ether. Watching the video it doesn’t seem like the languid lizard is going to wander too far away anyway, but this track acts as a splendid showcase for the instrumental possibilities and otherworldly viewpoint of future recordings from this unique group of musicians.

https://www.taperunsout.co.uk/

https://www.trappedanimal.com/home

review of 2020 EP ‘Sleepwalking Into A Fire’ here

Fuzzy Lights : Burials, LP released 2 July 2021

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A new LP from Cambridge folk-psych collective Fuzzy Lights delivers on many levels. Opening track ‘Maidens Call’ threads a contemplative vocal over a loping bass line with violin interludes, but it is the second track ‘Songbird’ that opens the consciousness into a ten minute psychedelic workout, full of energy, colour and a voice that inhabits the darkness.

‘Graveyard Song’ strips the sound back into a sinister medieval acoustic ballad gradually building into a big instrumental coda. There is so much going on in this excellent album, like the languid interlude and speculative history of ‘Haraldskaer Woman’ contrasting with the sweeping folk-rock momentum of ‘Under The Waves’. ‘Sirens’ is possibly my favourite; with the descending chord sequence, timeless and mysterious vocal, dissonant chorus and enough noise to lose yourself in.

Ending with the ‘The Gathering Storm’, using all of its nearly seven minutes running time to build atmospheric musings over a persistent bass note this album pulls you in for an unchartered musical journey….

Welcome to Fuzzy Lights

Fuzzy Lights (bandcamp.com)