The Breath - 7.30pm Fri 15 Nov 2024 with support from Georgie Buchanan
“Quietly, inexorably, The Breath have become one of the … most exciting folk acts… Only Stories… an acoustic recording that unfolds like a paper flower”
The Financial Times ★★★★★
The Breath is Manchester-based guitarist Stuart McCallum and singer/flautist Ríoghnach Connolly. They met on the city’s gig circuit in the late noughties. An unlikely pairing though it was, he an acclaimed guitar whiz, ex long-time member of The Cinematic Orchestra and a softly spoken Manchester urbanite, she a folk singer with a larger-than-life personality and a powerful voice to match. Their connection was immediate; they formed The Breath in 2016, a singer-songwriter duo to present their contemporary take on alt-folk.
“raw, soulful, often mesmeric, richly textured and lushly constructed…versatile persuasive vocals” Mojo
This special event will be held at St Leonard’s Church in Bridgnorth
Doors open at 6:45pm with the music starting at 7:30pm
For them, it’s all about the song. Connolly is a storyteller and their exquisitely crafted, honest, personal, heartfelt songs are as likely to touch on childhood summers and first love as cultural dislocation, post- colonial injustices and grief. But it’s Ríoghnach’s impassioned delivery and extraordinary stop-you-in- your-tracks voice, coupled with Stuart’s understated brilliance that is so engaging.
Support from Georgie Buchanan
Georgie Buchanan is returning to the Shires following her fantastic ShireFolk tour back in April 2024 and will be performing a support set for The Breath.
Inspired by voyages to the Outer Hebrides, tales of ancient Celtic Goddesses and great folk singers from Peggy Seeger to Joni Mitchell, Georgie Buchanan is a unique singer and harpist on the contemporary folk scene.
"This is beautiful, subtle and sophisticated folk music. Ethereal yet rooted. I can’t wait to hear more from Georgie Buchanan.”
– Miranda Sykes (Show of Hands)
"Exquisite" – Hannah Peel, BBC Radio 3
"Gorgeous" – Guy Garvey, BBC 6Music