The Weeping Willows (AUS)

Event information

3 x CMAA ‘Golden Guitar’, 2 x Australian Folk Music and Music Victoria Award winners, The Weeping Willows (Laura Coates and Andrew Wrigglesworth) are a couple of old souls, steeped in Bluegrass tradition and draped in Gothic Americana imagery. They regale their audiences with stories of sunshine and romance, God and The Devil, murder and decay. Real music.

2017-2023 saw The Weeping Willows nominated for 14 x CMAA ‘Golden Guitar’ awards, 7 x Australian Folk Music Awards (AFMAs), 4 x Country Music Channel (CMC) awards, 2 x National Live Music Awards (NLMAs), performing an Official Showcase at AmericanaFest (USA) and appearing at Folk Alliance International (USA), Maverick Festival (UK), Port Fairy Folk Festival, National Folk Festival, Queenscliff Music Festival, Out On The Weekend and the Australian Americana Music Honours. In recent years they have supported Lukas Nelson & POTR (USA), Hayes Carll (USA), Iris DeMent (USA), Willie Watson (USA), Eilen Jewell (USA), Cory Branan (USA) and Kevin Welch (USA) and completed national and international tours in support of their three LPs, including sophomore album, Before Darkness Comes A-Callin’, which received four-star reviews in Rolling Stone, The Australian and The Music. A Weeping Willows performance, whether live on location or caught on tape will always delight.

“…a mature, courageous and beguiling experience.” (No Depression).
“…on the way to making some serious waves in Americana.” (AmericanaUK).
“…stunning acoustic guitar work, heavenly harmonies, and a haunting melody rooted in American Gothic.” (Pop Matters).
★★★★ – Rolling Stone, Rhythms Magazine, The Music and The Australian.

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.

Tipped by Maverick magazine for a ‘long musical career’, Jen hit the ground running by playing fringe events in Austin TX during SXSW 2017 - just a couple of months after her first ever gig. She's since been selected by the Americana Music Association UK to showcase at both Red Rooster and The Long Road festivals, was invited to perform at Eagle Music / Deering Banjo Company’s banjo event of the year, and has played numerous folk and Americana events and supported many touring British and international acts.

There’s a lot more to come from this charming Yorkshire songstress, so grab yourself some cowboy boots and come along for the ride.
"Smart and sassy" (Maverick Magazine).
"Fantastic ...we don't hear enough brilliant music like this on the radio" (BBC Radio Sheffield).