Around About Dusk

Event information

Around About Dusk are an adventurous musical project creating original songs with influences ranging from musette, New Orleans jazz and blues, old-time and European folk and roots traditions, brought to life with eclectic instrumentation and rich vocal harmonies.

Haunting melodies, tightly woven harmonies and stories of wonder, nature, and humanity, shifting around like growing shadows with echoes of cabaret, chanson, early jazz, and folk make their sound. With harmonies, macabre humour and folkloric storytelling, their music conjures the romance of old cafés, the spirit of New Orleans porches, and the intimacy of campfire songs, with touches of macabre humour and familiar folklore tales.

Formed from a journey through New Orleans, busking festivals across Europe, and intimate campfire shows in England, Around About Dusk bring warmth, charm, and authenticity to every stage.

Their work has featured on BBC Radio 6 Music and been highlighted as a Fresh Fave on Fresh on the Net and they have been shortlisted for the Peter Whittingham Jazz Award in November 2025. At their core a five-piece ensemble, their debut album releasing in 2026 - an ambitious project supported by Help Musicians—features widescale collaborations with acclaimed guest musicians and vocalists.

With performances at festivals including Glastonbury, Cambridge Folk Festival, Bristol Folk Festival, and Secret Garden Party, as well as European tours such as Ballydehob Jazz Festival (IRE), Ferrara Buskers Festival (IT), and Neuchâtel Festival (CH), Around About Dusk bring a distinctive, memorable presence to every stage, enchanting audiences with a sound that is warm and unique.

PRESS QUOTES:

There’s an idiosyncratic feel to their sound that’s refreshing and the delivery sounds effortless. It’s playful and fun

BBC Radio 6 Fresh on the Net

Bristol based four-piece Around About Dusk fuse New Orleans jazz and Eastern European Folk. It’s the perfect way to start a sleepy Saturday afternoon. Clarinet and trumpet provide a gentle sway on Orchard Fruits and add a drunken waltz to The Moon. Two sides of the Atlantic slide beautifully around one another, like drinks on the bar of a Mississippi Steamer. Ender The Frog pokes the St George’s faithful to life with some delicious Balkan grooviness.

Describing Around About Dusk as ‘utterly charming’ sounds a bit like a put-down but it really shouldn’t. They’ve absolutely nailed that French café musette sound thanks to Gus Dolding’s sinuous clarinet, judicious swirling accordion from Rachel Lawrence and an all-round proper sense of swing. Does ‘jaunty’ sound any better? They have ‘jaunt’ aplenty, whether in the intricate arrangements, economic soloing or insouciant lyrics delivered with Rachel’s easy grace, helped by a nice mix of two-step, waltz and tango grooves. It all hangs together like a perfect wardrobe of vintage clothes ready for the next party - and guess who will be playing?

Tony Benjamin, B/247

https://www.instagram.com/aroundaboutdusk/?hl=en
https://www.facebook.com/aroundaboutdusk/
https://www.youtube.com/@aroundaboutdusk4081
https://www.rachellawrencemusic.co.uk/aroundaboutdusk/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7m7FNke1Qi4iyCkoTunmye?si=Sz3WlZKKQ0-uYwrrMUSQdA
https://aroundaboutdusk.bandcamp.com/
https://soundcloud.com/user-233922155
https://www.tiktok.com/@aroundaboutdusk?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc