Stokesley Songfest 'Howay The Lasses' - Stokesley Methodist Church

Howay The Lasses are a vibrant musical collective that celebrate the lives and achievements of notable women from the North East of England through original song. Singer and accordionist Annie Ball, father and daughter singer-songwriter combination Gareth and Bronwen Davies-Jones, and cellistKatie Tertell have a passion to tell stories through music of the engineers, scientists, artists and reformers that have shaped the region historically and in the present day.

Their collaborative output is an engaging and original canon of material in tribute to characters such as mathematician Janet Taylor, musician and missionary Margaret Dryburgh as well as contemporary figures like artist Sheila Graber and foreign affairs specialist (and current Chancellor of Durham University) Fiona Hill. Since their formation in 2021 the group have released a debut album and single, appeared on BBC national radio and television, work regularly in the North East on commissions and community songwriting projects, and collaborate with organisations like The National Trust, English Heritage and Ray Wind Farm Fund to bring imaginative and unique performances in unexpected places.

The group are currently researching material for their second album of original works after receiving a prestigious Alan James Creative Bursary 2025 from the EFDSS (English Folk Dance and Song Society).

"The audience left happier, entertained by artful and joyful music, happier folk, whose faith in the lasses of yesteryear and today was affirmed Newcastle Fringe Festival Review

...a moving paean to the lives of women from the North-East of England, from the feted to the altogether more obscure.. ear-catching three-part vocal harmonies.. an uplifting foot-tapping delight. Songlines Magazine (4 Stars)