Matinee show added. The Magpies make a very welcome return to our atmospheric basement. Bella & Holly will be joined by Cathy Ife.

EVENING SHOW SOLD OUT. MATINEE ADDED. DOORS 2pm

Transatlantic folk band The Magpies are quickly becoming one of the most exciting and innovative acts on the contemporary roots scene. Combining sublime harmonies with exquisite musicianship and impressive songwriting, The Magpies traverse Anglo and American roots, drawing inspiration from traditional Celtic folk, bluegrass and Appalachian trails, to create an effortless melting pot of music.

Two accomplished musicians in their own right, guitarist, banjo player and singer Bella Gaffney and fiddle player Holly Brandon have come together for an exciting new duo project.

Celtic Connections' Danny Kyle Award winner Bella Gaffney hails from Bradford. She writes folk inspired songs which she performs along with her own original arrangements of traditional pieces. She has played many folk and music festivals over the last few years, including Celtic

Connections, HebCelt, and the Gate to Southwell, to name just a few. And in 2018 she was one of the first recipients of a Friends of Towersey Festival Award for music developmental support and opportunities. 2022 will see the release of Bella’s new album, inspired by connections madeover the lockdown period.

Acclaimed fiddle-player Holly Brandon is an ‘ingenious tunesmith’ (Living Tradition), with roots in traditional English music, but with influences from Eastern Europe to Quebec, she creates a distinctly borderless and progressive sound. Alongside her brother, multi-instrumentalist George Brandon, she forms half of progressive folk duo, Painted Sky.

Bella and Holly both perform with sought-after transatlantic folk band The Magpies. The Magpies have been performing to rapt audiences at sold out shows and festivals around the UK, including Glastonbury, Cambridge, Larmer Tree and Shambala and have been described as ‘making waves wherever they play’ (Phil Beer, Show of Hands). 2019 saw the group’s first international performances, with a tour in Ireland, performances at Costa Del Folk in Portugaland showcases at Folk Alliance International in Montreal. The Magpies released their debut album, Tidings, in June 2020 to critical acclaim: ‘effervescent’ (The Sunday Times), ‘very accomplished’ (The Daily Express) ‘folk with finesse’ (The Daily Mail).

Based on a deep musical friendship, Bella and Holly collaborate and arrange material led by strong harmonies and glittering instrumentals, drawing on a wide-range of influences to create a contemporary transatlantic sound

Description supplied by the event organiser.