The Breath is Stuart McCallum (ex-guitarist of The Cinematic Orchestra), Irish singer Rioghnach Connolly and McCallum's fellow Cinematic alumnus pianist John Ellis, along with drummer Elliot Bennett. Born out of Manchester's fertile music scene they mix Irish folk influences with mesmerising guitar riffs, anthemic themes and powerful hooks. Connolly's soulful vocals are interwoven into the electronic fabric of McCallum's distinctive sound-world. In turns hypnotic, lush, powerfully raw and raucously punchy, their songs entrance, uplift and break your heart as The Breath conjure a kaleidoscope of sound that perfectly frames Connolly's raw songs and soul cleansing vocals. Drawing on the influences of traditional Irish folk song, Connolly's original lyrics pour forth from her own life in a torrent of meaning. She sings songs of birth and death, woman's rights, first love, the call of motherhood, the death of men at sea and post-colonial wrongs. All delivered with compelling emotional honesty and a raw urgency as McCallum, Ellis and Bennett delve deeply into the spaces between rock, ambient, folk and jazz to deliver a powerfully hypnotic accompaniment that moves from chilled soundscapes to rocking anthems.

Welcome to the Alps! Join Aurora and soprano Mary Bevan on a mountain journey in the third concert of Aurora’s year-long exploration of Mahler’s music. Ayres offers a different perspective on mountain life with his extraordinary No. 42 - In the Alps: an ‘animated concert’ which combines a virtuosic and ravishing score with a zany story and projected silent film-style titles. Mary Bevan appears as soloist for this playful, beautiful and often uproariously funny piece which tells the story of a young girl stranded on top of an unclimbable mountain-top, who learns to sing from the mountain animals around her and falls in love with the distant trumpet-playing of a boy in the valley far below. And where else could this journey continue but Mahler’s Fourth Symphony? Written following a lazy summer in the very mountains Ayres describes, Mahler drew on themes of childhood, innocence and spirituality to create some of his most affecting orchestral music. Aurora performs Iain Farrington’s arrangement for chamber orchestra, which retains the character of Mahler’s original symphony and draws out the composer’s soloistic instrumental lines for a more intimate presentation. This event will last approximately 2 hours, including an interval. Presented by Kings Place. This is a 14+ event

Erland Cooper: Carve the Runes Then Be Content With Silence Erland Cooper is a Scottish composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist originally from Stromness, Orkney. As a solo artist, he has released five acclaimed studio albums, including a trilogy of work inspired by his childhood home, as well as themes of nature, people, place and time. His work combines field recordings with traditional orchestration and contemporary electronic elements. Through music, words and cinematography he explores landscape, memory and identity. He develops these themes further by partnering with other artists, writers and poets. Cooper also works across mixed media projects including installation art, theatre and film. He’s widely known for burying the only existing copy of the master tape of his first classical album in Scotland, deleting all digital files and leaving only a treasure hunt of clues for anyone to seek it. The tape was found in 2023 and the album will be released, exactly as it sounds from the earth, this year along with its world premiere of the completed score. Presented by Hey! Manchester. This is a 14+ event. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult

Matt Carmichael and Fergus McCreadie first crossed paths as teenagers while playing in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland. It didn’t take long for them to recognise a deep musical connection—one that has only grown stronger over the years. Now, they reunite to bring music from Matt’s latest album, Dancing with Embers, to life. This stunning collection of instrumental pieces weaves together the raw energy of jazz with the rich storytelling of folk, creating something truly special. Featuring collaborations with Rachel Sermanni, Brìghde Chaimbeul, and Charlie Stewart, the album is a journey through emotive soundscapes that feel both intimate and expansive. Join Matt and Fergus for an unforgettable performance, where their lifelong musical bond takes centre stage. Tickets are Pay What You Decide

Gazelle Twin presents her haunting album Black Dog live for the last time - a plunge into darkness rooted in the theatrics of the séance and the phenomena of ghosts. From recurring dreams to childhood fears and memories, she transforms personal experiences into songs that will resonate with her audience in this intense live performance. This final show follows the release of Shadow Dogs on Invada Records, featuring collaborations with Gary Numan, Marta Salogni, BEAK>, Penelope Trappes, Mark Jenkin, Sealionwoman and Keeley Forsyth on new versions of tracks from the Black Dog album. Composer, producer, musician and visual artist, Elizabeth Bernholz created the transformative performance persona, Gazelle Twin, in order to broadly encompass multiple art forms such as composition, live performance, studio albums, scores for film, television and theatre, and art installations and simultaneously challenge deep-rooted traditions within them. Presented by Kings Place. All ages

Join us for what will be an unforgettable night of soulful music as Nigerian-French singer-songwriter AṢA takes to the stage as part of Platoon Presents at Kings Place. Known for her distinctive blend of R&B, Soul, Jazz, Pop, and Afropop, AṢA’s powerful vocals and heartfelt lyrics have captured the hearts of millions around the world. Prepare to be mesmerized by live performances of her greatest hits, including songs from her acclaimed albums. Join us for an intimate evening filled with rhythm, emotion, and pure musical artistry. Presented by Kings Place. This is a 14+ event

The Vernon Spring is the recording project of North London-born musician Sam Beste, whose journey traces various arcs across jazz, soul, ambient, and songwriting modes. Beste's dedication and talent placed him in Amy Winehouse’s orbit, whom he accompanied as her live pianist for the majority of her ascendent career. Their pairing paved the way for other significant and diverse collaborations, including work with Gabriels, Kendrick Lamar producer Sounwave, Beth Orton, Kano, Joy Crookes, Matthew Herbert, and MF DOOM. After years of writing and releasing music with the alt-soul outfit Hejira during his mid-twenties, Beste helped form the Lima Limo collective and label, which offered a supportive community and inspiring creative foundation. By 2019, he began releasing solo music as The Vernon Spring, developing a voice that merged his jazz background with contemporary electronic production. His debut EP and subsequent releases, including the acclaimed A Plane Over Woods and Earth, On A Good Day, established a signature sound for The Vernon Spring: ethereal piano work layered with emotive vocals and subtle electronics.

Kings Place is proud to present Daniel Pioro's curated weekend for Earth Unwrapped. We invite you to immerse yourself in a sonic art-installation presented by composer and producer Valgeir Sigurðsson as he takes us into a journey of deep listening about Earth and its hidden mysteries. Composer and producer Valgeir Sigurðsson is known for his immersive sound world, often blurring the lines between contemporary classical writing and electronic production. This sonic art-installation, commissioned by Kings Place and featuring throughout the weekend, is a sanctuary from the world outside. It puts the listener deep within the earth and tells the sonic tale of growing things, of slowed down time, and hidden mysteries. This event will last approximately 40 minutes, without an interval. Presented by Kings Place. This is an 18+ event

Violinist Daniel Pioro presents a sonic meditation, allowing audiences to tap into their conscious and unconscious listening instincts. Deep Listening, as developed by Pauline Oliveros, explores the difference between the involuntary nature of hearing and the conscious nature of listening. In this collaborative performer/audience session, join violinist Daniel Pioro for a sonic meditation to begin the second day of our weekend festival, Time Unravelling Sound Unfolding. This event will last approximately 1 hour, without an interval. Presented by Kings Place. This is an 18+ event

Enhanced by the use of the Kings Place d&b Soundscape system and performed in-the-round, The House of Bedlam present two contrasting works by British composer Larry Goves and American electronic pioneer, Pauline Oliveros. Crow Rotations, an Ivor Novello 2023 nominated work, is the fruit of long-term collaborators Larry Goves and Matthew Welton, exploring the movements of crows through their connection with air, the earth and people. Alongside this work, we hear Pauline Oliveros’ To Valerie Solanas And Marilyn Monroe in Recognition of Their Desperation written in the aftershock of the political upheavals of 1968. This event will last approximately 1 hour, without an interval. Presented by Kings Place. This is a 14+ event.

Join Voces8, scholars, Carducci Quartet and pianist Christopher Glynn for an evening paying tribute to bird species driven to extinction by humankind, through Christopher Tin’s work The Lost Birds. The Lost Birds is a musical memorial. Sweeping and elegiac, it’s a haunting tribute to those soaring flocks that once filled our skies, but whose songs have since been silenced. It’s a celebration of their feathered beauty: their symbolism as messengers of hope, peace, and renewal. But it’s also a warning about our own tenuous existence on the planet: that the fate that befell these once soaring flocks foreshadows our own extinction. This event will last approximately 70 minutes, without an interval. Presented by Kings Place. This is a 14+ event

Join Solem Quartet at Kings Place for an evening of music which asks us to contemplate, or perhaps mourn Earth’s current condition, whilst reminding us of its natural aural beauty. This event will last approximately 1 hour, without an interval. Presented by Kings Place. This is a 14+ event.

Manchester Camerata and Daniel Pioro join forces for a two-hour spatial performance in the foyer of Kings Place and Hall One, presenting works from Catherine Lamb, Pēteris Vasks and James Tenney. In a Large, Open Space by James Tenney has become a classic of modern music where the composer does not focus on himself as a composer or the ensemble as performers, but on the listeners alone. In this two-hour spatial performance, throughout the foyers of Kings Place, audiences are invited to be absorbed in this active sound piece, to walk amongst the music and Pangolin London’s group exhibition of artists inspired by Earth. At the end of the spatial performance, the performers will lead the audience to Hall One for a short performance of music by Catherine Lamb and Pēteris Vasks. This event will last approximately 2 hours, without an interval. Presented by Kings Place. This is a 14+ event

A father-son celebration of Ashley’s Hutchings’ 80th birthday with words and music from a life in folk music and beyond. ‘My friend Ashley is the Godfather of Folk Rock. He made us a genre we couldn’t refuse.’ Bob Dylan Ashley Hutchings ‘The Guvnor’ formed Fairport Convention in 1967, a group that went on to invent British folk-rock with the album Liege & Lief - an album that was voted the ‘Most Important Folk Album of All Time’ by BBC Radio 2 listeners in 2002, and at the 2006 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards it won the award for Most influential Folk Album of all time. He subsequently formed Steeleye Span who also had enormous success and then the first of many Albion Bands. By 1977 the Albions became virtually the house band at the National Theatre with Ashley as Music Director. The band provided music and acted in many plays including the much-loved Lark Rise. In recent years “The Guvnor” has concentrated on songwriting, spoken word and groundbreaking shows and albums and has released one hundred albums. Ashley’s son Blair Dunlop joins his father for this very special tour. A BBC Folk Award-winning singer-songwriter in his own right, the pair will reflect on a very special musical relationship in chat, music and song. This event will last approximately 2 hours, including an interval. Presented by Kings Place. This is a 14+ event

Join vibrant group Kit Downes, Lauren Kinsella and Robin Fincker, for an evening of modern and folk music with a repertoire of improvisation and original compositions. Inspired by a blend of early music, folk and plainchant Shadowlands weaves a form of contemporary chamber music rich in sonic textures. The three vibrant voices well known to European creative music scenes and adept of the crossing of genres, agree to jump together into the unknown, with a repertoire where improvisation rubs shoulders with centuries-old melodies and original compositions. Thus the language of Kit Downes, an essential pianist of the new British scene, mixes with that of the Anglophile saxophonist and clarinetist Robin Fincker and the Irish singer Lauren Kinsella in a common desire to question slowness and good gestures.  The weaving and singing melodies are surrounded by a halo of shimmering and moving sound material and little by little, the shadows stretch and come alive… Presented by Kings Place. This is a 14+ event.

Get ready for a night like no other as Suli Breaks hits the stage as part of the Platoon Presents at Kings Place series with his signature mix of storytelling, spoken word, and sharp, relatable humour in Psalms of Suli III: The Millennial Mid-Life Crisis. This show is a rollercoaster ride through the highs, lows, and downright absurdities of millennial life-from navigating the maze of education and the chaos of fatherhood, to the modern-day hustle of marriage and why adulting always seems to come with hidden fees. Suli Breaks isn’t just a performer; he’s a movement. Known for his viral hit, Why I Hate School, but Love Education, which resonated with millions, he has proven time and again that he can entertain, provoke thought, and leave audiences in stitches. With collaborations alongside heavyweights like Facebook, Nike, and Microsoft, Suli brings a one-of-a-kind charisma that’s as bold as it is unforgettable. Since 2022, he’s added another dimension to his artistry as part of the legendary musical band, Faithless, infusing their sound with his powerful spoken word. Come and experience Suli Breaks live-a show packed with wit, wisdom, and a level of realness that will make you think, laugh, and maybe even question your own path. This event will last approximately 90 minutes, without an interval. Presented by Kings Place. This is a 14+ event.

Having bewitched audiences annually with their much-loved wintertime show, Awake Arise, two of the most engaging and inventive acts on the English folk scene Lady Maisery and Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith return to Kings Place with their hotly anticipated next alchemic collaboration: an essential incantation to the summertime. Award winning trio Lady Maisery (Hannah James, Rowan Rheingans and Hazel Askew) have for nearly a decade produced “some of the most exquisite, thrilling work in the English folk scene” (The Guardian). The beguiling musical partnership of Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith complete the powerful line-up. With more folk songs collected about the month of May than any other time apart from Christmas, the charismatic supergroup embark on a journey to mark this season in song. There is of course morris, mayday and magic. There is also ritual, rave and cider with Rosie. There are countryside cuckoos and city foxes. There is fear for our warming planet alongside the promise of ripening fruit. As with their extremely popular wintertime show, the Awake Arise midsummer offering is a multi-layered, surprising and essential incantation to long summer days and effervescent nights. Presented by Kings Place. This is a 14+ event

Honing his synthesis of folk and blues for over 50 years, Chris Smither, truly an American original, returns to the Kings Place to perform music from his vast song catalogue. A profound songwriter and captivating performer, Chris Smither mesmerizes listeners with his guitar playing - melding the styles of his two major influences, Lightnin’ Hopkins and Mississippi John Hurt into his own signature guitar sound. His music draws deeply from the blues, American folk music, modern poets and humanist philosophers and continues to earn accolades. Critics universally agree on Smither’s important contribution to contemporary music from five-star reviews in Mojo magazine to a Top 10 spot on Rolling Stone Senior Editor David Fricke’s best of New Orleans Jazz & Heritage festival performances in 2014. Chris’ songs have appeared in films and TV shows and been covered by Bonnie Raitt, John Mayall, Emmylou Harris and Diana Krall, among others. Chris continues to tour festivals, music clubs and concerts halls all over the world. Chris’ 20th album, All About the Bones, produced by longtime friend and producer David Goodrich, features eight brand new songs plus Smither renditions of Eliza Gilkyson’s ‘Calm Before the Storm’ and Tom Petty’s ‘Time to Move On.’ Recorded at Sonelab Studios in Easthampton, Massachusetts with Goodrich, Zak Trojano, BettySoo, and Chris Cheek joining Chris, All About the Bones is signature-Smither. Presented by Kings Place. All ages

Sons of Town Hall-an immersive, theatrical folk duo blending storytelling, soaring harmonies, and adventure. Part concert, part performance art, their show captivates fans of Simon & Garfunkel, Tom Waits, and Monty Python. A Sons of Town Hall show is more than a concert, it’s an immersive experience unlike any other. American songwriter/author David Berkeley and British songwriter/producer Ben Parker are the men beneath the hats in the transatlantic folk duo. They’re also the stars of the hilarious radio-theatre podcast series Madmen Cross the Water. Sons of Town Hall is creating an entirely new performance genre: Part live concept album, part performance art, the pair conjures their timeless mythic universe under the aliases Josiah Chester Jones and George Ulysses Brown, 19th-century vagabonds who travel the world in a hand-built boat to escape troubled pasts and search for adventure and love. The Sons weave wild stories between their heart-breaking and rousing songs, taking audiences on a deeply imaginative trip every show. For fans of Simon and Garfunkel, Tom Waits, and Monty Python alike, concertgoers are uplifted and inspired, transfixed and transformed, in awe of Sons of Town Hall’s harmonies, and drunk on adventure and the tragic beauty of the human condition. Presented by Kings Place. This is a 14+ event

We welcome stalwarts of Glasgow’s fertile traditional music scene, The Canny Band and support from Beth Malcolm, for their Kings Place debuts, as part of our weekend celebration, Ímar Fest. The Canny Band (Sam Mabbett, Michael Biggins (BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2021) and Callum Convoy) are a rare fusion of piano, diatonic button accordion and Bodhran. In 2021 the band were recipients of the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music ‘Up and coming’ award which led to a busy summer touring festivals around Scotland and England. Fellow stalwarts of Glasgow’s fertile music scene, the already-seasoned trio cook up an expert and effervescent mix of trad-based material with borrowings from classical, jazz and beyond. Rising stars of the traditional music scene, The Canny Band are not to be missed! Beth Malcolm is a singer-songwriter and keys player from Perth. Beth’s music is folk-inspired, and she sings traditional, modern and self-penned Scots songs. Beth had a ‘breakout’ moment when she won a coveted ‘Danny’ award at Celtic Connections 2019. This led to performing at the virtual Celtic Connections in 2020, alongside her folk heroes Ross Ainslie, Siobhan Miller, Talisk and Mànran. Attracting attention from international agents with her songwriting and modern arrangements of traditional song. Please note, this event will use water-based haze. This performance will last approximately 2 hours, including an interval. Presented by Kings Place. This is an all ages event.

Part of Kings Place’s Ímar Fest, we welcome Astro Bloc, a bold and dynamic new folk band that blends deep-rooted tradition with boundary-pushing creativity, producing a thrilling sound that redefines the genre, with support from one of Scotland’s finest singer-songwriters, Paul McKenna. Featuring BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year Eryn Rae, internationally renowned percussionist Paul Jennings, multi-award-winning instrumentalist Éadaoin Ní Mhaicín, and the innovative, genre-spanning talent of Gillie Ó Flaherty, Astro Bloc is breathing fresh life into the folk scene. With influences from Scotland, Ireland, and beyond, their music offers an exhilarating mix of heritage and innovation. Scotland’s Paul McKenna has long been ranked among our finest younger singers and songwriters, armed with a powerful yet intensely emotive voice and passionate social conscience, a combination that’s brought frequent comparisons to the great Dick Gaughan. He was a featured artist at the world-renowned Transatlantic Sessions in 2019, alongside Cara Dillon, Tim O’Brien, Molly Tuttle, and the multi-talented house band, he performed a string of shows across the UK. 2024 saw Paul McKenna team up with long term friends, and traditional music powerhouse, Ímar to release a brand-new song titled Always You. Please note, this event will use water-based haze. This event will last approximately 2 hours, including an interval. Presented by Kings Place. All ages

As part of Classical Pride, step into a world of rich storytelling and bold musical expression with trumpeter Aaron Azunda Akugbo and Manchester Camerata. Classical Pride is an annual music festival curated by conductor Oliver Zeffman to celebrate the breadth and diversity of LGBTQ+ artists across classical music. From the raw emotion of Joy Guidry’s They Know What They’ve Done to Us-a striking fusion of trumpet and electronics-to the sweeping beauty of Copland’s Appalachian Spring, this concert is a journey through resilience, nostalgia, and joy. Poulenc’s playful Banalités leads into the electrifying rhythms of Bernstein’s West Side Story Suite. Born in 1998 and of Nigerian-Scottish descent, Aaron Azunda Akugbo hails from Edinburgh and is poised as a future leading exponent of his instrument. He brings a wide-ranging musical taste to his artistry and despite being classically trained, cites Louis Armstrong as his biggest musical inspiration. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and an ex-principal of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, Akugbo made his BBC Proms concerto debut in 2023, performing the Haydn Trumpet Concerto with Chineke!, recent highlights include visits to Lucerne, Bath International, Lichfield, Petworth, Ryedale, St Magnus and Lammermuir festivals and leading the Emerging Talent programme at the 2024 Edinburgh Festival. This event will last approximately 75 minutes, with no interval. Presented by Kings Place. This is an 18+ event.

Erland Cooper makes his debut at Kings Place as part of Earth Unwrapped, presenting the world premiere of his new work ‘The Peregrine’ for small ensemble. Inspired by J.A Baker’s seminal 1967 book of the same name, the evening will also include a special performance of Erland Cooper’s 'Do Birds Dream?' played in darkness, for an all-encompassing sensory experience. This event will last approximately 70 minutes, without an interval. Presented by Kings Place. This is a 14+ event

BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winners, Irish/Manx/Scottish quintet mar are amongst Glasgows hottest folk property. Their most recent release, Awakening (2023) delivers a critically acclaimed third round of the high octane fuel that has energised audiences worldwide, making mar one of the most sought-after folk festival bands (Folk Radio). With a line-up boasting a heavyweight collective haul of top solo prizes including nine All-Ireland and eight All-Britain titles audiences are unfailingly transfixed by mars formidable technical prowess, underpinned by an electric live energy and out-and-out joy of playing together. With a wide-reaching fanbase throughout the UK, Europe, USA and Canada, the quintet fast became one of the trad scenes most talked about groups thanks in no small part to their debut video, LAir Mignonne catapulting the group to the attention of audiences and media worldwide. Adam Brown (bodhrn), Adam Rhodes (bouzouki), Mohsen Amini (concertina), Ryan Murphy (uilleann pipes) and Toms Callister (fiddle) share a strong background in Irish music; a grounding that underpins many of mars distinctive qualities, in both instrumentation and material. Indeed, the groups very being embodies a personal reconnection with its members formative years, dating back long before their recent camaraderie around Glasgows celebrated session scene. The shared cultural heritages between Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man are well documented: all three once shared the same Gaelic language, and a similar, clearly potent, kinship endures between their musical traditions. striking musicianship, artful arrangements and sheer absolute delight | Songlines

Tom Hickox is a singer, songwriter and composer specialising in the art of storytelling through music. He's renowned for his celebrated storytelling and rich baritone, Hickox promises a cinematic sweep of a show, brimming with drama and poignancy.

Join two Scottish powerhouse bands Ímar and Kinnaris Quintet as they come together to headline Ímar’s weekend celebration at Kings Place. BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winners and Irish/Manx/Scottish quintet Ímar are amongst Glasgow’s hottest folk scene. Their most recent release, Awakening (2023) delivers a critically acclaimed third round of ‘the high-octane fuel that has energised audiences worldwide, making Ímar one of the most sought-after folk festival bands’ - Folk Radio. The band features Adam Brown (bodhrán), Adam Rhodes (bouzouki), Mohsen Amini (concertina), Ryan Murphy (uilleann pipes) and Tomás Callister (fiddle) share a strong background in Irish music. Based in Glasgow, Kinnaris Quintet take influences of traditional Scottish, Irish, Bluegrass, Classical, Scandinavian and Appalachian music, creating technically dazzling and evocative arrangements. Since bursting onto the music scene in 2017, Kinnaris Quintet have gone on to be at the forefront of originality in the traditional music scene. This group features Jenn Butterworth guitar, Laura-Beth Salter mandolin/tenor, Aileen Reid 5-string fiddle, Fiona MacAskill fiddle, Laura Wilkie fiddle, forging new attitudes towards traditional and folk music with their unique and signature sound. Please note this event will be using water-based haze. This event will last approximately 2 hours, including an interval. Presented by Kings Place. All ages

Join us for what will be an unforgettable night of soulful music as Nigerian-French singer-songwriter AṢA takes to the stage as part of Platoon Presents at Kings Place. Known for her distinctive blend of R&B, Soul, Jazz, Pop, and Afropop, AṢA’s powerful vocals and heartfelt lyrics have captured the hearts of millions around the world. Prepare to be mesmerized by live performances of her greatest hits, including songs from her acclaimed albums. Join us for an intimate evening filled with rhythm, emotion, and pure musical artistry. Presented by Kings Place. This is a 14+ event

On arrival by critics as the toughest and most creative group of his career, Tommy Smith’s KARMA sees the brilliant Scottish saxophonist lead a band of virtuosic musicians on a deeply grooving acid jazz adventure that draws on influences from around the world. Fresh from their 2024 sell-out appearance at Edinburgh Jazz festival, KARMA is led by Tommy Smith on tenor and soprano saxophones and Shakuhachi flute, mega-talented pianist and keyboardist Peter Johnstone, six-string bass guitar sensation Kevin Glasgow and jet-powered drummer Alyn Cosker, KARMA presents the music of gob smacking energy and superb inventiveness. Writing for these musicians has given Smith a new edge. KARMA’S ten brand new compositions, while acknowledging past masters including Weather Report and Michael Brecker, drive forward concisely and urgently into the urban club culture of the current age with occasional pauses in a chill-out zone that evokes Smith’s native Scottish landscapes and Japanese meditation rites. This is invigorating music of high quality presented with authoritative skill and boundless vitality and imagination by musicians playing at a creative peak, a truly KARMIC experience. This event will last approximately 2 hours, including an interval. Presented by Kings Place. This is a 14+ event

Lauded singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier makes a welcome return to Kings Place for a 25th year celebration. ‘Drag queens in limousines, nuns in blue jeans, dreamers with big dreams, they all took me in.’ Drag Queens in Limousines - Mary Gauthier What out-lesbian moves to Nashville at 40 to start a troubadour career? Who goes from playing open mics to playing the Newport Folk Festival in one year’s time? It’s been 25 years since Mary Gauthier, now revered songwriter, released her groundbreaking debut album Drag Queens in Limousines. Eighteen months after this record was released, the response was so incredible that she hung up her chef’s coat, moved to Nashville, and started to make her mark as an exciting new voice in the songwriting world. Drag Queens in Limousines is an anthem for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider. It turns out, that’s all of us. For twenty-five years, Mary Gauthier has brought all kinds of folks from all walks of life together with her deeply personal, yet paradoxically universal work. By writing about what matters most to her, having the courage to sing what’s often too hard for us to say, and delivering the work authentically, Mary Gauthier opened the gate and widened the path that many who came after her have travelled. Join us in celebrating twenty-five years of the unique, courageous songs of Mary Gauthier. This performance will last approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes, including an interval. Presented by Kings Place. This is a 14+ event

S. Carey is the moniker of multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer Sean Carey, commonly recognized as the drummer, backing vocalist, and second-longest serving member of Bon Iver. Over the past decade, Carey has fostered his flourishing solo career via themes of nature and sustainability, songwriting built from jazz beginnings, and heartfelt, emotive lyricism. He makes his Kings Place debut in the ample acoustics of Hall One. His latest and fourth album, Break Me Open, adds to a discography of three full-length releases, two EPs, and countless collaborations. As S. Carey developed his songwriting and producing talents, he was commissioned by Will Arnett to write the track ‘Rose Petals’ for his Netflix series Flaked, co-wrote ‘Hold The Light’ with Dierks Bentley for feature-length film Only The Brave, contributed to Sufjan Stevens’ album Carrie & Lowell, and has produced for and written with the likes of Low, Mike Kinsella, Pieta Brown, and Ed Tullett of Novo Amor. Carey and his adept band of long-time friends and collaborators celebrate their 12th year of touring everywhere from international headline shows to intimate living room performances to theatre stages. This event will last approximately 2 hours, including an interval. Presented by Kings Place. This is a 14+ event

Do you love singing? If you do, and can read a bit of music, this inspiring workshop is for you. Led by the celebrated composer and conductor John Rutter, Come and Sing is an afternoon of choral singing to lift the spirits. He will be unveiling a new choral composition he has just completed called I’ll make me a world. It will be receiving its official concert premiere in St Paul’s Cathedral in November this year, but John has agreed to allow a pre-release workshop performance which we will be rehearsing during the afternoon, with the aim of a complete sing-through of this 20-minute work at the end of the afternoon, with two wonderful professional soloists, Melanie Marshall and Jonathan Brown. John Reid will be our accompanist. Suitable for ages 14 and over, and open to anyone with a bit of choral singing experience. The workshop will run for 3 hours and 30 minutes, from 2pm – 5.30pm, and includes a 20 minute break. Nearer the time, all bookers will be contacted by the Kings Place team with a questionnaire about your preferred singing part. Music scores will be provided on the day, and there will be tea/coffee and biscuits served in the break.

We're thrilled to welcome back performance artist, politician, model, and fingerstyling maestro Hayden Pedigo.

'Proof of Life' Album Launch British Nigerian, singer songwriter, Ola Onabulé, joins forces with the exciting Swiss Guitarist Nicolas Meier for an EU quintet tour presenting their brand-new album Proof of Life. Songs about love and life that delve further into their expression than just the subject matter, with references from around the world. Both artists are perfectly matched in their habitual exploration of culturally diverse elements of sound in their music. Onabulé’s songwriting style blends beautifully with Meier’s exploration of Eastern stringed instruments in the Turkish Makam and Ayak scales. Onabulé has performed on the main stages of many of the world’s most prestigious festivals in Montreal, Vancouver, Victoria, Washington, San Sebastian, Istanbul and more and has collaborated with some of the world’s leading big bands and symphony orchestras, including the Grammy Award-winning The WDR Big Band. He has also performed with many legendary jazz artists including Diane Reeves, Al Jarreau, Natalie Cole, Hiram Bullock, Randy Brekcer, Gladys Knight, Roberta Flack, Patti Labelle and Diana Krall. Meier’s considerable talents drew the attention of rock guitar legend, Jeff Beck, who made Nicolas a mainstay in The Jeff Beck Group - carrying him on two world tours during the course of the last several years.) This event will last approximately 90 minutes, including an interval. Presented by Kings Place. This is a 14+ event

Chris Wood is an uncompromising writer whose music reveals his love for the unofficial history of the English speaking people. With gentle intelligence he weaves the tradition with his own contemporary parables. A self-taught musician, composer and song writer, Chris is a lifelong autodidact whose independent streak shines through everything he does. Always direct and unafraid to speak his mind, his song writing has been praised for its surgical clarity. He cites his major influence as Anon. On stage Chris has the air of a craftsman who no longer needs to be precious about his art. Without any apparent effort he reaches deep into an enviable repertoire of songs before revealing another gem.

The Frank Gambale 'All-Star' Group - sizzling with a fantastic variety for guitar enthusiasts to feast on, the group showcases a formidable line-up that includes bassist innovator Federico Malaman, the ever-impressive Yoann Schmidt on drums, and Jerry Leonide, keyboard master from Mauritius via Paris. With support from exceptional pianist and composer Andrew McCormack Grammy-winning guitar virtuoso Frank Gambale exploded on the L.A. scene in the early ‘80s. His meteoric rise to fame is a testament to his passion-powered playing - a style Rolling Stone magazine called “ferocious!" As a jazz legend, Frank was a Chick Corea’s Elektric Band member for over 36 years, spent twelve years as a member of Vital Information, and joined Return to Forever IV. Grammy Award winner and three-time Grammy nominee, Gambale is an undisputed genius who originated the "Gambale Sweep Picking Technique" and his revolutionary “Gambale Tuning”, both of which continue to inspire generations of musicians. As an inspired songwriter with over 300 songs published on 20+ albums, his music touches on many styles from rock, funk and jazz to R&B and some Latin and Brazilian influences. Exceptional pianist/composer and long-term Kyle Eastwood Band member Andrew McCormack will provide support with a solo piano set, playing music from his upcoming album Luminosity. Presented by Kings Place. This is a 14+ event.

Presented by The Listening Planet in collaboration with Martyn Stewart Earth Unwrapped Two of the most electrifying virtuosos of the UK scene, Jack Jennings & Omar Puente create new music inspired by the world’s biggest natural sound library. A powerful electric band led by guitar and violin, combining raga themes of Indian classical music, with a jazz/rock rhythm section of Domenico Angarano on bass, Arthur Newell on drums. Bringing nature’s voice to the project is wildlife sound recordist Martyn Stewart and The Listening Planet - a ground-breaking initiative dedicated to preserving the Earth’s most fragile soundscapes. Martyn has spent a lifetime traversing the globe, recording the raw, untamed voices of the wild - from the haunting call of an Arctic wolf to the rhythmic symphony of a rainforest at dawn. £1 of each ticket purchased will be in support of The Listening Planet’s mission to protect endangered species and the fragile environments they call home. This event will last approximately 90 minutes, with no interval. Presented by Kings Place. This is a 14+ event

Albany Down + 2 supports to be announced

The Haar make their Kings Place debut, bringing the formidable singing talent of Molly Donnery combined with three of the most exciting instrumentalists on the folk and traditional music scene in Cormàc Byrne, Adam Summerhayes, and Murray Grainger. This exciting Anglo/Irish band features four captivating musicians, each at the pinnacle of their respective fields, whose spontaneity thrives on the trust they put in each other to create a unique and ‘splendid balance of swirling instrumental magic and beautifully sung narratives,’ as KLOF Mag says. Known for taking a familiar tune and turning it into something breathtakingly fresh and ambitious, this band of World-leading improvisers produce ever-changing musical soundscapes, while Molly lets her sublime vocals flow to stunning effect. Stunning, made-in-the-moment renditions of some of the world’s most incredible songs. The Haar will be recording a third album this summer for release early 2026. This event will last approximately 2 hours, including an interval. Presented by Kings Place. This is a 14+ event

DHP Presents Connor Selby \+ support Presented by DHP FAMILY. All ages (U16s to be accompanied by an adult)

Respected fiddle player, singer, songwriter and composer Mikey Kenney makes his Kings Place debut, accompanied by drummer Michael Paul Metcalfe (the Hermit, Luce Mawdsley, Plutonia 4, Kippers) and cellist Hannah Moule (Moulettes). Embracing duality, Mikey Kenney is very much the musical outsider artist; he is hailed by many as an important conduit of learning, conserving and handing down both English and Irish traditional fiddle music in England’s Northwest. He is constantly composing alternative and progressive music of his own with his last two releases Counsel of Owls and The Reverie Road receiving widespread acclaim (both ★★★★★ fRoots magazine). Through direct experience, Kenney allows other musical forms such as psychedelia, bluegrass, jazz and Italian tarantella to seep into his music but never so far as to allow any one influence to dominate his deep love for traditional fiddle playing. The result of crossing these stones is his forthcoming work Tiny Little Light, set to be released in September 2025. Tiny Little Light is, with the exception of two instrumentals, a collection of songs written around original fiddle tunes in keeping with traditional forms but progressive in their arrangement and instrumentation. Kenney considers it his finest work yet and the truest expression of a life devoted to his craft. He will spend 2025 celebrating this new material by performing it live accompanied by various ensembles. Presented by Kings Place. All ages

Influenced by the artistry and the expression of intuitive solo voices like Joni Mitchell, Nick Drake and Adrienne Lenker, Eve Goodman combines honest lyricism with mesmerising musical hooks and patterns. Inspired by nature and the more-than-human world, her songs connect deeply to our inner and outer landscapes. Eve Goodman grew up in North Wales and has had a deep relationship with singing and sounding for as long as she can remember. Eve writes and performs in both Welsh and English. Having spent much of her childhood feeling things deeply, music became a way to give voice to her inner landscape, allowing her to express herself in a reflective and honest way. ‘Music is like a portal to my emotions, a way of transmuting and transcribing them.’ In 2024 Eve released her debut album, Summer Sun, Winter Trees, a collection of songs about healing through the grieving process. Her songs have garnered plays on Radio 2, Radio 6 and she has featured as a vocalist on BBC One’s drama, Wolf. In recent years Eve has dived into a yearlong study of ritual singing and vocal improvisation, performed internationally, and featured on Welsh bass baritone Sir Bryn Terfel’s new album Sea Songs with two duets in both Welsh and Breton. This event will last approximately 2 hours, including an interval. Presented by Kings Place. All ages

Award-winning Anglo-Scottish duo Janice Burns & Jon Doran make their Kings Place debut as part of Future Folk, coming together to tell vivid festive stories about the nature of life and our place in the world. Janice Burns & Jon Doran‘s winter gigs have become something of a tradition over the last few years, and now they’re heading out on tour with their brand-new festive album, Great Joy to the New. Beautiful, colourful, musical traditions, linked by the common cause of sustaining people spiritually, mentally, or financially through a harsh winter. Janice and Jon’s new album and live show explores these themes through a collection of traditional folk songs about Christmas, winter, and optimism for the new year. Janice & Jon’s ‘clever and uncluttered musical storytelling’ Songlines comes alive through tight vocal harmonies and sensitive interplay between mandolin, bouzouki and guitar. Their arrangements have a spellbinding presence and an understated energy that transports songs from the pages of books and manuscripts into the imagination of the listener. Following the success of their self-titled EP in 2020, Janice & Jon released their debut album, No More the Green Hills, in Autumn 2022. The album had overwhelmingly positive feedback, finding its place in the Official UK Folk Albums Chart, as well as gaining airplay on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio Scotland. This event will last approximately 2 hours, including an interval. Presented by Kings Place. All ages

Paddi Benson, Grace Lemon & James Patrick Gavin’s debut project is a conceptual retelling of the patient ballroom dances that took place at Bethlem Hospital (Bedlam) throughout the 19th century. It is a blurred lines composition, in which the two sets of pipes speak to and layer upon one another almost like the right and left hand of a piano, rather than two distinct instruments. The trio have been praised for their emotional connection to their music, alongside their exceptional technical mastery of their instruments. Grace Lemon and Paddi Benson, two highly accomplished uilleann pipers, and James Patrick Gavin, an acclaimed fiddle player and guitarist. They have performed their work at venues / events such as Cafe Oto, the Lexington, the William Kennedy Piping Festival, and St Mary’s Music Hall. Grace is at the forefront of London’s thriving folk scene; Paddi is a graduate of a Masters in Music and currently undertaking a PhD by Design in Edinburgh; and James is a member of the acclaimed trio-folk groups TEYR and Gavin Fairhall Lever, whose work has been described as ‘The Sound of today’s London Irish’ by Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2. Together, they represent the best of collaborative creation and are a compelling new voice on the contemporary folk scene. This event will last approximately 2 hours, including an interval. Presented by Kings Place. All ages

Innovator, award winning, multi-instrumentalist Malin Lewis’ debut at our venue, melding Scottish West coast tradition with a newly invented, self-made bagpipe. Hair tingling, philosophical and dance inducing melodies inspired by European folk traditions, queerness and the universe. Having toured across the UK, Canada and Europe, Malin Lewis released their debut album Halocline in May 2024 on Hudson Records. A Halocline is a visible layer that forms between salt and fresh water and is home to a unique microbial ecosystem. Halocline is a metaphor for Malin’s trans identity and living in a space in between; a beautiful space between a binary. Malin’s unique timbre is born from the deep connection that comes from making and composing for their own instrument. Their one of a kind two-octave Smallpipe creates a whole new world of sound, captivating audiences at every opportunity. Inspired by the likes of Martyn Bennett, Duncan Chisholm and Sharon Shannon their music is as lively as it is thought provoking and sensitive. Recently Malin has been recording music for The Outrun film, composing for contemporary dance and theatre, and been learning the tradition of the extinct Finnish Bagpipes. This event will last approximately 2 hours, including an interval. Presented by Kings Place. All ages