Freya Jonas
Harbottle & Jonas
David Harbottle
Freya Jonas
support
Andy Smythe
TwickFolk - The Cabbage Patch Pub, 67 London Road, Twickenham, TW1 3SZ
www.twickfolk.co.uk
2nd April 2023
David Harbottle
Harbottle & Jonas are one of the most exciting acts on the UK circuit today, combining a love of the richness of traditional folk with their own original and powerful songwriting. Dave and Freya have developed a distinct and compelling signature sound, blending concertina, harmonium, cittern, stomp box, acoustic guitar and banjo with their beautiful and closely intertwined vocal harmonies.
They released their debut album ‘Cutthrope Hill‘ in 2014 and even had a beer named after it at the launch gig. They have been awarded funding to work with the Peace Museum to create new songs using lyrics from the Conscientious Objectors Songbook and in 2018 and 2019 David and Freya led the folk course at the internationally renowned Dartington Summer School.
Harbottle & Jonas, released their new album ‘The Beacon’ in March 2021, the album received widespread rave reviews and charted at No.24 in the ‘Official Folk Charts’. The album was written and recorded at home. The Beacon itself refers to Ugborough Beacon, an ancient site that looms over South Brent, the Dartmoor village that David Harbottle and Freya Jonas call home.
Andy Smythe
Andy Smythe has for the past 20 years years quietly stolen the hearts and minds of all that hear his evocative, finely crafted songs. He has a truly fantastic tenor voice with a huge range that is arguably as good a voice as you’ll hear on the circuit. Combined with his unique piano, guitar playing and storytelling, Andy will guarantee you an evening of non-stop entertainment! At folk clubs across England such as the Red Lion Folk Club in Birmingham Andy has played with the very best UK folk artists such as Jez Lowe, Peggy Seeger and Martin Carthy.
Andy’s performances have won over audiences and earned him accolades from the likes of The Waterboys’ Mike Scott. In 2003 his debut album ‘Love Unspoken’ was released in the USA. He has since been touring on the folk circuit and has appeared at a number of major folk festivals across the UK such as Broadstairs, Tenterden, Spratton and Folk on the Pier at Cromer. Andy’s act encompasses a huge variety of songs drawing on 5 album’s worth of original material and originals from the likes of Leonard cohen, Rufus Wainwirght and Phil Ochs. His unique piano playing on his full-sized electric piano brings to mind perhaps Rufus Wainwright and he also writes poetic lyrics inspired by very English writers such as Laurie Lee. Andy is also a proficient guitar player and his songs encompass wonderful stories of struggle and joy.
