The Furrow Collective

BIO

New single releases and crankie theatre creations from celebrated alt-folk band

Drawn together by a shared love of the traditional song and balladry of England, Scotland and beyond and an open, intuitive approach to collaboration, The Furrow Collective share timeless songs of this world and others, with storytelling at their heart.

It is this storytelling focus upon which the band are set to expand with their upcoming project Cantastoria, including digital single releases and the use of visuals, both in their music videos and live performances. Lucy Farrell, who is a talented visual artist as well as musician, will create ’crankies’ for each single, illustrating the stories of the songs. The crankie theatre is turned by hand whilst the story unfolds on a moving scroll, an enchanting addition to their live shows. The songs may be hundreds of years old, but they are chosen for the parallels that can be drawn with our times; tales of courage, resistance and wit.

The Furrow Collective (Lucy Farrell – viola, voice & saw, Emily Portman – banjo, concertina, voice and Alasdair Roberts – guitars, voice) are well-loved for their contemporary interpretations of folk songs, and these releases focus on what they do best, breathing new life into old ballads, in song, story and art.

Biography: The Furrow Collective consists of three talented and individually acclaimed performers: Lucy Farrell (viola, voice & saw), Emily Portman (banjo, concertina, voice) and Alasdair Roberts (guitars, voice). Drawn together by a shared love of the traditional song and balladry of England, Scotland and beyond and an open, intuitive approach to collaboration, the group released their debut album At Our Next Meeting in 2013.  In recognition of their innovative approach, The Furrow Collective were awarded the accolade of 2017 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards ‘Best Group’, hot on the heels of their second album, Wild Hog (Hudson Records). Their latest lunar-themed release We Know by the Moon is the much anticipated follow-up to Fathoms (2018). The Furrow Collective tour extensively throughout the UK as well as in mainland Europe, delighting audiences with their uniquely beguiling approach to traditional song.

Song Workshops with The Furrow Collective 

The Furrow Collective now offer bespoke folk harmony song workshops, sharing songs from their rich repertoire. The band generally teach songs by ear and they can tailor their workshops to suit groups of all levels, as they delve into songs from their back catalogue, from simple lullabies and chorus songs to four-part harmony arrangements. With their combined wealth of expertise in the field of Scottish and English folk song, the band can offer practical workshops that give insight into their approach to singing, working with traditional repertoire, ensemble playing and more.

‘A bravely sparse and compelling new take on traditional songs… A quietly classy young folk band’ Guardian

‘The Furrow Collective have an air of immeasurable antiquity, while at the same time making the songs vibrantly new’. R2

‘A mouth-watering collaboration’ **** 4 Stars Mojo

‘One of the finest collaborative albums of the past few years’ Folk Radio UK

Tour Dates