Jon Doran & The Northern Assembly

Event information

Jon Doran & The Northern Assembly is a ground breaking new collaboration that seeks to capture the excitement that lies within traditional song. The trio aims to breathe new life into old stories from across the British Isles, injecting the energy they feel these narratives deserve.

Jon Doran & The Northern Assembly rely upon their varied musical upbringings and experiences to conjure emotions and communicate a story far deeper than the words of the song. With striking vocals from Jon Doran (BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award Finalist 2019) combined with the virtuosic playing of Heather Ferrier (Balter) on accordion and Jordan Aikin (Pons Aelius) on whistle and pipes, Jon Doran & The Northern Assembly take audiences on a journey that explores the full spectrum of human experience. Their strengths lie in Jon Doran's powerful vocal delivery and Heather and Jordan's driving accompaniment. Heather Ferrier ("Accordion Virtuoso" - Tom Robinson) lends her expertise in the alt-folk scene, drawing from jazz and pop influenced chord progressions and rhythms, whilst Jordan Aikin lends his experience of working in big bands to fill out the sound. On guitar and Irish bouzouki, frontman Jon Doran delivers breath taking stories from our past with power and sincerity. The trio are also joined on the EP by Bevan Morris (Grace Smith Trio, Pons Aelius) on electric bass and double bass, Adam Stapleford (Ponyland, Yes! Grasshopper) on drums, and Janice Burns (Janice Burns & Jon Doran, RE:Vulva) on backing vocals.

The EP was recorded over 6 days in January 2024 at The Studio at Sunbeams and produced by Pete Ord, whose insight and experience of working with both traditional singers and instrumentalists was invaluable in shaping the finished sound. The EP was mastered by Sam Proctor at Lismore Mastering, who is renowned internationally for his work across many genres as a musician and engineer.