Festival favourite Solana's rich and inventive sonic tapestry encompasses folk idioms, modal jazz and experimental grooves.
Chamber folk 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 new collection The Meeting Tree (2025) 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
'Lonely Jig' is the lead single from my forthcoming album The Meeting Tree.
"I wrote Lonely Jig on a solo retreat in a remote cabin, watching the icy rain on the windows and enjoying the warmth of the woodburner. The name is counter-intuitive as I didn't feel lonely; the simple, unfussy melody feels like a celebration of being content in my own company."
The Meeting Tree is a collection of small social tunes, celebrating connection, dance, nature and the joy of sharing music with friends.
Commissioned by Penny Fiddle Records and made possible with generous funding from Arts
Council England, the album features Tamsin's trio, Sid Goldsmith (cittern) and Rowan Elliott (five-string fiddle).
Wednesday 17th December - BRISTOL - Strange Brew (Tamsin & Tarek)
January / February 2026 - HEDERA TOUR
Sat 7th March - The Cut, HALESWORTH (Solana)
Friday 1st May - BRISTOL FOLK FESTIVAL (Tamsin Elliott trio)
Sunday 3rd May - The Fleece, BRETFORTON (Tamsin Elliott trio)
Saturday 23rd May - The Pound, CORSHAM (Tamsin Elliott trio)