Edgelarks

BBC Folk Award winners for Best Duo, Edgelarks, began their musical journey living in a caravan in Devon, UK. Phillip Henry had not long returned from India, where he studied slide guitar under the master Debashish Bhattacharya. Hannah Martin grew up playing and singing in Devonian folk sessions, and met Phillip on his return.

The pair had an instant musical connection, and began playing wherever they could. They were busking around the highways and byways of these islands, and were soon spotted by Steve Knightley of Show of Hands, who offered them a prestigious support tour.

Fifteen years and seven albums later, the pair have travelled from Australia to South Africa, Canada to Japan with their music. They have twice joined Show of Hands for performances at the Royal Albert Hall.

They have collaborated with some of the top names in British folk, including The Gigspanner Big Band, a project with Peter Knight (Steeleye Span) and John Spiers (Bellowhead).

In 2018 they formed part of the “folk supergroup” that played BBC Radio Two’s Festival in a Day at Hyde Park, to a crowd of 50,000 – supporting Kylie Minogue and the Manic Street Preachers! Martin’s soulful voice and songwriting meets Henry’s virtuosity on dobro; fiddle and banjo meld with party-starting beatbox and harmonica.

Combining strong roots in British traditions with influences as diverse as the blues of the deep south, and Indian classical ragas, their sound is like no other.

“Virtuosity, intensity and charisma…Bravely original” The Guardian