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The Willows UK Tour

The Willows return to the road for a UK tour through March & April 2016, including dates in Cambridge and Norwich in April.

The folk band’s second album ‘Amidst Fiery Skies’ (produced by Sean Lakeman) was hailed “a triumph” by The Telegraph placing it in their top 5 folk albums of 2014 and the band were subsequently nominated for Best Band by folk magazine FATEA. Fronted by the breathtaking vocals of Jade Rhiannon and supported by rich vocal harmonies and dynamic acoustic musicianship the band take influence from folk traditions on both sides of the Atlantic.

Following a standout performance at Cambridge Folk Festival last summer the family band took a short break for the birth of founder members Cliff and Jade’s first child, Reuben. They now return with a set of originals, covers & traditional songs from their first two albums and some new songs said to be on the slate for their third!

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The band were formed in 2010 by husband and wife, Cliff Ward (banjo, guitar, vocals) and Jade Rhiannon (vocals, shruti box), sister, Prue Ward (violin, vocals), and chance meeting via Gumtree, Ben Savage (dobro, guitar, vocals); more recently augmenting their sound with percussion extraordinaire Evan Carson (bodhran, drums). Having plied their trade supporting the likes of Richard Thompson, Lau, Seth Lakeman and Peatbog Faeries, the band released debut album Beneath Our Humble Soil in 2013. Produced with Stu Hanna (Megson, Faustus, Show of Hands), the album won praise from the likes of Mike Harding and Bob Harris, who subsequently invited the band to join him for a BBC Radio 2 live session. Maverick Magazine gave the record 4½ stars, and it was subsequently nominated for Best Debut in the Spiral Earth Awards.

Second album ‘Amidst Fiery Skies’ saw the band work with co–‐producer Sean Lakeman (Levellers, Seth Lakeman) and double–‐bassist Ben Nicholls (Seth Lakeman, The Full English) to deliver an enthralling mix of original material, traditional and cover songs. “Already selected for the ‘next big thing’ from the burgeoning herds of young English folkies , their 2nd album is beautifully rendered” –‐ Acoustic Magazine

Alongside their achievements in the studio, a hectic touring schedule has helped the band build a reputation as a compelling live act, appearing at the likes of Glastonbury, Shrewsbury Folk Festival, Cambridge Folk Festival, Sidmouth Folk Week, Secret Garden Party, Sark Folk Festival, and Folk By The Oak in recent years.

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Dates:

Fri 29th Apr – Cambridge – Golden Hind (Cambridge Folk Club) / Support: John Buckley / 8:00pm / Tickets: £11 in adv, available at www.cambridgefolkclub.co.uk or 01638 603986

Sun 3rd Apr – Norwich – Bicycle Shop / 7:30pm / Tickets: £12 in adv, available at www.thebicycleshopcafe.com

For more info visit: www.thewillowsband.co.uk

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