Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne

Event information

Described in The Living Tradition as ‘captivating, bold and striking’, Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne is at the forefront of his generation of English folk musicians as both a powerful and commanding singer and a masterful player of the Anglo concertina and melodeon.

Cohen burst onto the folk scene in his teens with the energetic and much-loved trio Granny’s Attic, along with schoolmates George Sansome and Lewis Wood, and in recent years has embarked on a solo career alongside this.

Cohen’s solo repertoire is rooted in the English folk tradition, celebrating the age-old musical heritage of this broad and diverse land, with a particular interest in the music of the West Midlands, where Cohen spent many of his formative years. Traditional ballads, songs and tunes form the basis of Cohen’s material, but with a smattering of baroque, renaissance, ragtime, and music hall thrown in for good measure.

Cohen has released three critically acclaimed solo albums, Outway Songster (2017), Rakes & Misfits (2021) and Play Up the Music! (2024) , in which he explores Caribbean and Black American versions of English folk songs.

Alongside, performing solo and with Granny’s Attic, Cohen has been involved in several other collaborations working with musicians such as John Spiers, Damien Barber, Rosie Hood, Stick in the Wheel. and Reg Meuross. Short term projects with the likes of Marks & Spencer, Gobbledegook Theatre and EFDSS have also featured in recent years.

Cohen’s passion for the English folk tradition has also led to work in research, publishing, and teaching. So far Cohen has been involved in publishing two books of English folk songs, has given several talks on the subject, and has worked with hundreds of students across the globe from school children to pensioners.

Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne
"A passion for traditional songs that evokes Tony Rose and Peter Bellamy."

- Mojo