An evening with The Ruth Eliza Trio at Cafe No9

Event Information

Ruth Eliza, Matthew Ord and Tom Kimber (banjo, guitar and mandolin).

Ruth Eliza is a clawhammer banjo player and singer-songwriter based in Lancaster, UK.
Drawing on her love of old-time Appalachian folk music and contemporary Bluegrass and
Americana, she creates a fresh take on Anglo-Folk-Americana. Her delivery of open, honest
and raw yet well-arranged songs and tunes, combined with her unique banjo style, captivates
audiences. From lively energetic numbers to gentle flowing tunes, her set is varied and
contoured, taking the listener on a journey.

Her debut album, While The Light Shines, has a strong focus on simple, honest songwriting,
producing effective, evocative and timeless results. Subject matter includes reflections on her
own life, such as the search for identity growing up in an ex-mining community in the Midlands,
being a self-taught musician from a working-class background, and parenting, as well as some
classic songs of love and heartbreak. She joins forces with Matthew Ord, guitarist (Assembly
Lane, Cloth-Eared Mule), to put together the arrangements, plus mandolinist Tom Kimber
(Assembly Lane, Pons Aelius), Swedish fiddler Adam Bülow (Bülow’s Kvartett, New Valley String
Band) and double bass player Eleanor Wilkie (Midnight Skyracer, Sapphire Storm, Charlotte
Carrivick Band). The fresh Anglo-Folk-Americana sound produced by the band brings a new
flavour to the table, with most songs led by clawhammer banjo, in Ruth’s unique style, developed through studying old and contemporary banjo players. It was recorded by Josh Clark at Get Real Audio and is due to be released in March 2026.

Ruth’s other projects include Blue Lass, a bluegrass/old-time/Americana band, fiddle and banjo duo Jeri Foreman & Ruth Eliza, and old-time group One Night Stringband. She has toured
extensively in the UK and Europe, and played festivals including Fire In The Mountain (Wales),
Celtic Connections (Scotland), Moniaive Bluegrass Festival (Scotland), La Roche Bluegrass
Festival (France), Herbe Bleue (France), Crossover Festival (England), Didmarton Bluegrass
Festival (England), Purbeck Valley Folk Festival (England), Sweet Sunny South Festival (England).

**********************************************************************************

Please note this ticket price DOES include a BYOB fee should you wish to bring alcohol to the venue.

All additional purchases of drinks and sweet treats from the cafe counter are always very much appreciated.