Presented by FolkAndRoots….

COUNTER’S CREEK: Counter’s Creek is an acoustic folk band based in London who make original music inspired by the folk music of the British Isles and beyond. Jigs, reels, grooves from Eastern Europe & West Africa, catchy melodies with closely interwoven harmonies allied to a real sense of swing and dance energy. The band play regularly in London for the Nest Collective (including supporting Diabel Cissokho, kora player from Senegal) and have performed at festivals including Sidmouth Folk Festival and BAAFest.

Whistle player Jonathan Taylor has worked in many different musical genres: best known as a jazz pianist who’s played with artists such as Pee Wee Ellis, Fred Wesley, Ruby Turner and various British jazz luminaries, he’s also co-founder of Tango Siempre, appeared on Strictly Come Dancing and arranged music for Robert Wyatt.

Fiddler Tom Newell is known for his work with Effra who perform regularly at UK folk festivals as well as The Ceilidh Liberation Front, Alex Mendham & His Orchestra and pop acts including Muse, One Direction and Lana Del Rey. He also plays banjo and mandolin (not to mention charango and mouth harp).

Guitarist Moss Freed plays with jazz/folk group Flekd, the Spike Orchestra, has recorded for John Zorn’s Tzadik label and has recently completed a PhD at Hull University…

‘Counter’s Creek have expanded their line-up this year to include the very talented and versatile singer Ben Cox who also plays whistles, flute and harmonium. Expect a mixture of energetic, foot-tapping jigs and reels alongside traditional English and Irish songs, brooding ballads and original new material.’

Four musicians from different backgrounds, united by a love of acoustic folk music, great tunes and earthy dance grooves.

The name Counter’s Creek refers to one of London’s old rivers that used to flow from Kensal Green into the Thames. It has gradually disappeared over the last two centuries, first converted into a canal after which parts of it were filled in. These rivers still exist in some form underneath London’s busy streets and like the new weird and wonderful musical projects in the city, bubble up to the surface every now and then…