Will Stratton & Jay Hammond (aka Trippers and Askers)

Event information

Will Stratton(pictured) is a songwriter and guitarist born in California's Central Valley and living in New York’s Hudson Valley.

His eighth LP, Points of Origin, is a sprawling concept album, telling a story about intensifying California wildfires, intergenerational nostalgia, and human connection. It is out on March 7th on Bella Union (worldwide) and Ruination Records (USA).

His previous albums, 2021’s The Changing Wilderness and 2017’s Rosewood Almanac, received critical acclaim from Sir Elton John, Alexis Petridis (The Guardian), and journalists at Pitchfork, Mojo, Guitarist, and Uncut, among others.

Collaborators have included Hannah Frances, Cassandra Jenkins, The Weather Station, and Ben Seretan.

'Points Of Origin' on Soundcloud https://on.soundcloud.com/jbnUNznP2GL9T9wH7

Trippers & Askers is the folk/spiritual jazz project of musician, sound artist, educator and researcher Jay Hammond.

The group's latest album Acorn takes inspiration from Octavia Butler's immersive and frighteningly prescient novel Parable of the Sower. As an intertextual work, Acorn brings together a wide array of collaborators that include members of Wye Oak, Califone, former Sun Ra member Ken Moshesh and comic artist John Jennings to explore the book's narrative as it pertains to the very real political and emotional challenges of the present. The album was called "a shimmering homage to nature" by The Guardian.

Will Stratton - The Changing Wilderness

“I was stunned when I heard it, it’s such a beautiful album...the guitar playing is exquisite.” Elton John, Rocket Hour on Apple Music

“An understated delight, Will Stratton’s sixth album is beautifully written, beautifully played, and beautifully arranged, its gorgeous, cosseting sound masking a series of deeply uneasy songs in which even the most personal moments feel tainted by paranoia brought on by global events. ” Alexis Petridis, The Guardian’s “Best Albums of 2021 So Far”

“Will Stratton has developed a musical character pretty much all his own... An album that sustains a beautiful atmosphere throughout.” Tom Doyle, Mojo

“Haunting and evocative...any reference points fade into irrelevance...simply breathtaking, fatalistic folk.” Johnny Sharp, Uncut

“A singer-songwriter of pure class and quality... If deft fingerstyle guitar with warm vocals and thought-provoking lyrics are your thing then you are in for a real treat with The Changing Wilderness... The songs deal with current world issues, invoking the spirit of greats such as Leonard Cohen and Nick Drake...Wonderful.” David Mead, Guitarist

“Magical and charming indie-folk... Stratton’s finest hour finds him at ease with both the beauty and solemnity of his vocation.” Gareth Thompson, Rock’n’Reel

Will Stratton - Rosewood Almanac

“Not a single note sounds out of place here, meshing into a breathtaking whole.” Saby Reyes-Kulkarni, Pitchfork

“[Stratton] manages to convey gratitude, understanding, pain, and affection across the album and even within single songs. That’s no small feat, and the guitar playing’s really pretty, too.” Marcy Donelson, AllMusic

“Rosewood Almanac delivers in an economical 34 minutes as vividly and as seductively as any other 21st century confessional singer-songwriter you care to mention.” Terry Staunton, Record Collector

“Overall, Rosewood Almanac—the rosewood from his favoured guitars—suggests a conjoined Jackson Browne and Nick Drake with touches of Paul Simon. Rosewood Almanac more than transcends its influences.” Kieron Tyler, Mojo