SykesMartin - Settle Victoria Hall

Presenting a new collaboration from two of the UK's finest folk singers, Miranda Sykes and Hannah Martin.

Miranda Sykes, the acclaimed singer and bass player with Show of Hands, is one of UK folk's most respected musicians. A career spanning 20 years has seen her play with many of the finest performers in the folk and roots world. Her great musicality and sensitivity means she is an in-demand session player; while her crystalline voice has established her as a leading interpreter of song, whether performing solo or in a larger line up. Hannah Martin is best known for her work in the BBC Folk Award winning duo Edgelarks. Playing fiddle, banjo and tenor guitar, Hannah has been described as having one of the best voices on the planet (FATEA). She has toured from Japan to South Africa; written for theatre shows including for Bristol Old Vic and Theatre Alibi; played as part of Steve Knightley's Wake The Union band, and Nancy Kerr's Sweet Visitor Band; and is also part of the Gigspanner Big Band and pioneering literary-folk collaboration Saltlines (with author Raynor Winn).

Miranda and Hannah had played together many times, but always as part of a much larger line up. But a sociable Devon winter evening led to an exchange of songs; which proved to be so much fun that they soon arranged another musical get together. Swiftly these became rehearsal sessions, as a strong new sound emerged. Miranda and Hannah gathered together a set of songs that drew on the roots of their musicality. When they decided to record an album, asking long-term collaborator Phillip Henry to produce the record was the logical next step. Centred around their deep knowledge of roots music, and a love of harmony singing, their record Unquenching Fire brings together old songs with new ideas; ancient tales with bass, fiddle, and banjo; and two mesmerising storytellers joining voices to create a spine tingling testimonial to our shared musical heritage.