Genres Folk, Americana, Roots Years active 2012 (2012)–present | Instruments Vocals, guitar Website theblackfeathers.com | |
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Origin Gloucestershire, United Kingdom Labels Bird in the Hand Records Albums Soaked to the Bone, Strangers We Meet Profiles | ||
The black feathers three songs from a wonderful duo
The Black Feathers are a husband and wife roots music duo based in Gloucestershire, UK who play a blend of Folk and Americana. Their debut EP (Strangers We Meet, 2014) was listed in The Telegraph as one of the best Folk albums of 2014.
Contents
- The black feathers three songs from a wonderful duo
- The black feathers down by the river under the apple tree
- History
- Touring
- Strangers We Meet EP
- Track listing
- Credits
- Songs
- References
Their sound has been likened to that of The Civil Wars, and Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings.
They are sponsored by Walden Guitars.
The black feathers down by the river under the apple tree
History
Sian Chandler was born in Cirencester, while Ray Hughes is a native of Dublin. They met in 2004 and played in a five piece Folk rock band called ‘Just To Annoy Ray’. When the band folded in 2008 they began playing together as a duo playing covers. In 2012 they started writing their own songs and formed as The Black Feathers.
In 2013 The Black Feathers won two awards, the Folkstock award for best live performance , and The Five Valleys Folk award which saw them play main support to Spiers and Boden.
They have been interviewed by Bob Harris on the "Under The Apple Tree Sessions" and were featured in two documentaries on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 2 Country, as well as being interviewed in The Sunday Times.
Their music video for their single 'Strangers We Meet' was premiered on American television network Zuus Country In addition, they have performed on WDVX’s Blue Plate Special in Knoxville, Tennessee and they have appeared in Grace & Tony’s green room sessions, recorded in Saint Joseph, Tennessee, and world premiered by TheBoot.com.
Touring
The Black Feathers have shared a stage with artists such as Heather Peace, Ward Thomas, Ben Ottewell (Gomez), Luke Concannon (Nizlopi), Jim Moray, Paper Aeroplanes, Kim Richey, and Gareth Dunlop.
The band have toured nationally including venues such as Cambridge Folk Festival and St Pancras Old Church in London They have toured internationally in Germany and extensively in the United States, including The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, Tennessee. They have also toured with the duo Grace & Tony both in the US and the UK.
Strangers We Meet EP
In October 2013, The Black Feathers launched a successful Kickstarter campaign, hitting their target in less than 12hrs.
The resulting Strangers We Meet EP was released on their own label, ‘Bird In The Hand Records’, in February, 2014. It received favourable reviews in national publications such as FRoots, The Telegraph, Acoustic Magazine and R2 (Rock'n'Reel).
Songs from the EP have been played numerous times on regional BBC Radio, as well as BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio 2, and BBC Radio 2 Country. In addition it was listed in Johnny Coppin’s ‘best acoustic albums in 2014’ on BBC Radio Gloucestershire, Martin Chilton’s “The best folk albums of 2014’ in The Telegraph and as the Sunday Mercury’s Number 1 Folk and Roots album of 2014.
Track listing
- Strangers We Meet
- 10,000 Times
- Open Book
- You Will Be Mine
- All Came Down
Credits
Sian Chandler - Vocals
Ray Hughes - Vocals/Guitar/Piano
Anna Jenkins - Violin/Viola
Dzal Martin - Electric Guitar/Dobro
Evan John - Mandolin/Resonator Guitar
Mark Hodgson - Double Bass (Tracks 1, 3, & 4)
Patrick Farrell - Double Bass (Track 5)
Steve Lawson - Bass (Track 2)
Rupert Irving - Percussion
Recorded at Wincraft Studios and Strawhouse Studios
Mixed by James Towler
Produced by Richard Neuberg and The Black Feathers
Mastered by John Dent at Loud Mastering
Songs
Strangers We MeetStrangers We Meet · 2014
All Came DownStrangers We Meet · 2014
Open BookStrangers We Meet · 2014