Emily Barker + The Trials of Cato + Kate Ellis
Emily Barker + The Trials of Cato
Entry Requirements: 16+ under 16s must be accompanied by an adult 18+
*A special concert as part of Leigh Folk Festival *
Award-winning Australian singer-songwriter Emily Barker is best known as writer and performer of BBC’s ‘Wallander’ theme tune. Her latest solo album, ‘A Dark Murmuration of Words’, hit Number 1 on the official Americana chart in the UK and has garnered widespread acclaim. Combining expressive vocals and warm acoustic aesthetic, while subtly shifting her sound towards contemporaries such as Laura Marling and Phoebe Bridgers, it is “ an album of spare, striking beauty ” — Mojo ★★★★
Previous releases with various bands and collaborations have run alongside solo work. Album ‘Applewood Road’ with two Nashville-based singer-songwriters – a remarkable album of original songs recorded live around a single microphone – was dubbed “flawless” by The Sunday Times.
Not forgetting film composition – Emily has written and recorded a feature film soundtrack for Jake Gavin’s lauded ‘Hector’ staring Peter Mullan and Keith Allen!
Support comes from The Trials of Cato dubbed by BBC’s Mark Radcliffe as “one of the real discoveries on the folk circuit in recent times”, but also invited them to appear live in session last month on his BBC Radio 2 Folk Show. Best Album Winners at 2019’s BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, the UK folk trio have been the subject of massive critical attention of late. Lined up for two huge festivals this summer – The Cambridge Folk Festival and the legendary Beautiful Days – we’re thrilled they are joining us as Emily Barker’s special guests.
Referred to as “the Sex Pistols of folk,” (J Davis) they pay clear homage to the tradition whilst twisting old bones into something febrile and modern, with stomping tunes and captivating stories.
Their hotly anticipated second album Gog Magog was recently recorded in New York and due for release soon – we can’t wait to hear a preview in June!
Louisiana born, New York raised Americana/Folk Singer Songwriter Kate Ellis opens the show. Kate’s southern country-folk roots come from her father who was an important early musical influence – as a young man he once played guitar with Hank Williams on the famous Louisiana Hayride, where Elvis and Johnny Cash started out.
Kate uses melancholy Americana and Folk to conduct fearless soul-searching. Her emotional and seductive vocals take you into a world of private beauty, reflection and feelings. The music is intimate and evocative – you listen and want to be there.