The December Flowers Album Launch gig

with Banjo Jen & Lewis Pugh (The Burner Band)

Presented by: The December Flowers

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0	SHEFFIELD: The Hallamshire hotel
P	Saturday 8th February, 2025
N	7:00pm

Event information

The December Flowers album launch gig with Banjo Jan and The Burner Band (Leeds).

The December Flowers debut album 'See it Through' will be released on 7th February 2025. See it Through was recorded at Sheffield’s Crystal Ship studios and Balcony Recording Company with Chris Wilkinson (Rhiannon Giddens, T Bone Burnett, Alison Krauss) the Grammy-winning former chief engineer at East of Iris Studios in Nashville. The Album features guest musicians including world-renowned pedal steel guitar player CJ Hillman, and Ambient Americana visionary (and fellow Sheffielder) Bobby Lee.
The opening track and lead single ‘Dream Again’ confirms the band’s evolution from acoustic duo to expansive, psychedelic folk-rock 5-piece, but the range, warmth and candour of Gemma Gray’s voice and song writing remains at its heart.
The defiant yet dreamy title track ’See it Through’ is adorned with majestic swells of pedal steel, as is the hypnotic ‘Beautiful Day and the frazzled Americana of ‘My Joshua Tree’. ‘Mind Game’ best showcases the band’s hallmark interplay of Wurlitzer piano and electric guitar - 60’s nostalgia abounds throughout but the timeless nature of the songwriting shines through in Gemma’s vocal. ‘Anyhow’ and the upbeat Beatles-y waltz of ‘No Words’ are lent further retro authenticity by cosmic chimes of Lee’s 12-string.

Lewis Pugh (The Burner Band)
Lewis Pugh is a prolific songwriter influenced by everything from bluegrass, country, folk through to skiffle and punk. Brought up going to bluegrass and folk festivals with his family who were often performing, such as Cambridge Folk Festival and Edale Bluegrass Festival, Lewis' appreciation of roots music came at a young age. After playing in countless punk and metal bands from age of 12 until 26, Lewis gradually shifted back to the music of his upbringing. Self-releasing his first solo album in 2017, he has since released 'Dark Wheels turn Above Our Heads' in 2020 and 'Bullets for Bread' in 2024, finding a sound which lies between country, folk and bluegrass with a distinct political slant. In between albums there have been countless singles & EP's, often raising money for homeless outreaches or food banks.
Pugh has supported the likes of Ferocious Dog, The Mary Wallopers, Bob Log III & The Legendary Shack Shakers. He has performed at the legendary Otley Folk Club and Topic Folk Club in Bradford. He has appeared at Maverick Festival, Orwell Bluegrass Festival, Hexham Bluegrass Festival and Strummer Camp. Previous albums have received rave reviews Saving Country Music, FATEA Magazine, Celtic Punks and the Rocking Magpie.
Lewis's third solo album 'Bullets for Bread' was released on vinyl in March 2024 on Leeds based indie label 'Shed Load Records'. Lewis has also recorded with Jason and the Scorchers frontman Jason Ringenberg and Victoria Liedtke on the Grammy Nominated Dolly Parton and Porter Wagnor tribute album 'More than Words', released in 2023.
'Featherstone Massacre', Lewis' song about a tragedy which happened in Yorkshire in 1893, has recently appeared on a documentary film by Ian Clayton about the events. He also plays with The Burner Band, a five piece country and rock 'n roll band, featuring pedal steel and electric guitar, who are working on their 3rd record of original songs.

Banjo Jen
Original Americana with Yorkshire personality.

Sheffield-based artist Banjo Jen is difficult to categorise but easy to fall for. Her unique brand of folky Americana, with insightful observations and an eclectic original repertoire, has seen her gain a growing reputation as one to watch on the UK singer-songwriter scene. With razor-sharp songwriting, percussive Appalachian step-dancing and engaging between-song banter, her refreshingly original live act is guaranteed to win the heart of every crowd.

'What more do you need to gladden the soul?' - Metro newspaper
'Smart and sassy' - Maverick magazine
'A standout figure in the UK's singer-songwriter scene' - Aldora Britain Records