Fritillaries
Friday 19th August 2022
Fritillaries are a Bristol-based folk and Americana duo, playing original songs on guitar, mandolin and banjo. Their recent songs have their hands in the soil, and take a compassionate look at the shadowy parts of ourselves.
Playing together since childhood, Hannah and Gabriel share a unique intimacy and ability to draw audiences into their world. First playing music together in Exmouth, Devon, they’ve been based in Bristol since 2020. Their debut album – about people missed, places found, and things unearthed from the spaces the light doesn’t reach – will be released on 15th July 2022 on Pear O’Legs Records. The album was made possible by generous funding from Crowdfunders and Help Musicians.
Fritillaries’ music – sometimes upbeat and bold, sometimes slow and contemplative – is always original and engaging, combining Americana instrumentation and English folk roots with a pop song sensibility.
Over the last five years, Fritillaries have toured extensively in the UK and Australia. Their 2021 headline tour saw dates at The Green Note (London), Kitchen Garden Cafe (Birmingham) and The Southbank Club (Bristol). They’ve shared stages with Sam Brookes, Madison Violet, Reg Meuross, Blue Rose Code, and many more. Their upcoming album and recent singles have been produced by Ru Lemer (Tom Grennan, Alfie Castley) and feature Andy Hamill (Annie Lennox, Martha Reeves) on double bass and Kit Massey (Aphex Twin, Anna Calvi) on violin. Recent singles have featured multiple times on BBC 6 Music and been played extensively on BBC Introducing.
RnR Magazine described one 2021 headline show as ‘a delight … theirs is an emotional and intense music that needs concentration and the audience obliges, hanging onto and appreciating every word.’ ‘Unearthing’, the recently-released first single from their upcoming debut album, has already been voted a ‘Fresh Fave’ by Fresh On The Net and described as ‘brilliant’ by BBC Introducing, with Folk Radio UK praising it as ‘an outstanding single [which] bodes so well for their forthcoming album.’ Cerys Matthews described the song as ‘wonderful’ on her BBC 6 Music show.