EVENT CANCELLED
Hannah James and Toby Kuhn are a dazzling combination.
Hannah is an award-winning musician, dancer, songwriter and singer, a creative force renowned for her work with Lady Maisery, Seasick Steve, Maddy Prior and Songs of Separation with Eliza Carthy, Karine Polwart and others. Toby is a globetrotting French cellist whose post-classical, inventive, improvisational playing combines beautifully with Hannah to create a charismatic, playful chemistry. If you’re looking for warmth, honesty and musical excellence, look no further. This folk is full of soul.
Hannah and Toby met in Summer 2018 at Floating Castle festival in Slovenia and it was clear that these two musicians shared a common approach to music making and a real artistic chemistry. Hannah is one of the key figures in the modern UK folk scene. Rooted in the English Tradition but enriched by her collaborations all over Europe, her charismatic blend of accordion, vocal and clog dancing forged an instant artistic chemistry with impressive French cellist Toby Kuhn. Toby is always on the lookout for new ways to play his instrument, his unorthodox approach has won admiration and acclaim from Japan to Canada, bringing the full potential of the cello with him on his journey across style and invention.
Together, their music is soulful, original and conversational. The combination of accordion and cello allows for a huge palette of sounds and textures which lift James’s pure voice and deeply honest songwriting. In the next breath they switch to choppy rhythms and joyful interplay between cello and percussive dance. This duo deliver a diverse, playful and hugely original performance.