Hands of the Heron w/ Anna Anise

Hands of the Heron is a Bristol-based dreamfolk trio whose vivid vocal harmonies and shimmering instrumental textures embody a seamless expression of blend and balance.

Each of the band’s frontwomen – Bec Garthwaite, Beth Roberts & Claire Vine – brings a signature style to the band’s mercurial sound of sparse choral folk and spellbinding chamber pop. Their third album Quiet Light (Cuculi Records, Nov 2024) is a contemplative 12-track collection that explores the tension between tending for yourself and connecting with others. 

The band founded Cuculi Records together as a DIY space to release their own albums, as well as music by friends & collaborators from the grassroots alt-folk community. Esteemed jazz critic Ted Gioia recommended their second album 13 Moons as one of his top recordings for 2021, which has also been described as “a wondrous collection of curious story-songs, choral singing and carefully layered instrumentation” (Joyzine) with “songwriting mastery that perfectly delivers reverberating folk-pop” (Tap The Feed). 

They’ve played a diverse range of festivals, including Fire in the Mountain, Purbeck Valley Folk, Green Man, Summer’s End Prog Festival and Fanny’s Meadow. In 2023, they sold out a double bill with Rachael Dadd at St Ambrose Bristol, as well as gigs at Exeter Library, The Barrelhouse, Plymouth Aquarium and Outlandish Nights. In 2024, they’re headlining prog event Eppyfest, alongside gigs at Bristol Folk Festival and The Harrison All-Day Folk Fest in London, before embarking on a UK album release tour this autumn with support from songwriter & labelmate Anna Anise.

More on Hands of the Heron: https://cuculirecords.com/artists/handsoftheheron/  

Support for the night comes from Anna Anise…

Anna Anise is a warm summer breeze of modern folk music, captivating audiences with her lyrical storytelling and glorious melodies. She draws inspiration from her Cornish roots in her new body of work, weaving vivid stories over full bodied guitar tunings with her richly textured vocals. Summer 2024 sees the release of her heartfelt EP ‘Awakening’, which folds traditional tunes into her original songwriting. For fans of: The Staves, Joni Mitchell, First Aid Kit, Laura Marling

“Truly great modern folk music” –  Neil King, FATEA

More on Anna Anise: https://linktr.ee/annaanise