Festival favourite Solana's rich and inventive sonic tapestry encompasses folk idioms, modal jazz and experimental grooves.
Hedera is a quintet brought together by a desire to lean into the slower & more delicate side of European folk traditions.
Egyptian/English collaboration.
"A poised, atmospheric fusion delivered by two master players" - The Observer
Tamsin is a multi-instrumentalist and composer with roots in the traditional dance tunes of the British Isles. Her debut solo album FREY (2022) established her as a rising star on the folk scene, with The Guardian praising her "beautiful, filmic compositions for accordion, harp, whistle and voice”. In this work Tamsin explores themes of limbo, pain, healing and acceptance, reflecting on the microcosm of her personal experience of chronic illness alongside wider themes of societal disconnection and environmental grief. Her forthcoming record The Meeting Tree celebrates connection, nature and the joy of sharing tunes with friends.
Tamsin’s critically-acclaimed collaboration with Egyptian oud player Tarek Elazhary explores the parallels and celebrates the idiosyncrasies of Egyptian Maqam music and English folk traditions. Their friendship and resulting duo album So Far We Have Come is a testament to the unifying power of music, and won them a place in The Guardian’s Top Ten Folk Albums of 2023, as well as a nomination for Best Group at the Songlines Music Awards.
A versatile composer-performer, Tamsin also contributes to chamber-folk quintet Hedera and festival-favourite Mediterranean fusion band Solana. As a Musician in Residence at UHBW NHS Trust, she channels her musical passion into healing and connection, writing new music on lever harp and playing for patients on wards including the ICU.
Praise for Tamsin Elliott & Tarek Elazhary's So Far We Have Come
Music for Hospitals (volume i) is a four track EP of harp pieces composed as part of Tamsin’s work as a Musician in Resident at UHBW NHS Trust.
Although written for the patients Tamsin plays for, the tracks are inspired by things she dearly missed when she was a patient herself for long periods of time in her twenties.