Presented by FolkAndRoots
Odette Michell is an award-winning British folk singer-songwriter, guitarist and bouzouki player with a stunning new take on the acoustic tradition and a voice capable of demonstrating the finer points of both folk and traditional song with genuine craftsmanship.
Things have been moving at something of a pace for Odette ever since she released her debut EP ‘By Way of Night’ in 2018. The EP showcased a bold and emerging talent within the British folk and acoustic music scene and garnered high praise, earning Odette her first national and international radio plays on both BBC and Folk Radio stations.
In April 2019, Odette released her debut album ‘The Wildest Rose’. The album gained widespread positive acclaim followed by a string of live interviews, and featured notable musical contributions from Phil Beer (one-half of multi-award-winning acoustic folk band Show of Hands), and Toby Shaer (Cara Dillon, Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys).
Calum Gilligan is a songwriter and guitarist from Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland, now based in the beating heart of British music, Liverpool. Influenced by the likes of Christie Moore, Paul Brady, Paul Simon, Joan Baez and Woody Guthrie, he plays a subtle blend of Scottish, Irish and American folk music with captivating imagery and the lyrical maturity of a much more experienced songwriter. His guitar playing provides enough intricate melodic accompaniment to his singing that he can easily command a stage and captivate and audience on his own. Calum has been described as a ‘gifted musician, playing the guitar beautifully…’ by Spencer Leigh from the Liverpool Echo, and as ‘… a gifted songwriter with a voice to back it up’ by Folk Radio.
Returning to live music in 2021 saw him support the likes of Martin Simpson, Emily Portman, Martin Carthy and Ian Prowse across the country. He was also named as the 2021 winner of Purbeck Folk Festival’s Purbeck Rising competition before returning to a triumphant headline show in the Iconic Cunard Building on Liverpool’s waterfront.
