WILDWOOD KIN will be performing at PHOENIX SOUND on Saturday 19th August ahead of signing their debut album Turning Tides which will be released on Friday 18th August. This is sure to be an over-subscribed show but entry is guaranteed if you purchase a copy of the album at the event. The event kicks off at 3pm sharp, make sure you get there early for a good spot!

For those not familiar with the band, here are a few quotes from some impressive names in the industry;

"Powerful stuff" Steve Wright BBC Radio 2

"Pretty damned impressive" Simon Mayo, BBC Radio 2

"One of the most beautiful session ever, stunning" Bob Harris

“They just blew me away…” James Santer, BBC Introducing

"Cambridge show stealers... the real deal" Mark Radcliffe

A family trio – two sisters and their cousin – Wildwood Kin formed four years ago while in their mid to late teens.  They borrow heavily from early folk influences, not least in their hypnotic three-part harmonies. But Turning Tides, their extraordinary debut album, delves deeply in to other genres, featuring both electric and acoustic instruments and it boasts inventive electronics and spectral atmospherics.

Guitarist Emillie Key, her bouzouki/keyboard-playing sister Beth and their drumming cousin Meghann Loney all sing, swapping leads on songs they write themselves, and joining forces on harmonies that have remained their trademark. Their sound has matured at speed and their confidence caught up with their talent. From their simple beginnings at a pub near their native Exeter, to a powerful live band inspired by the likes of Fleet Foxes, Mumford & Sons and Fleetwood Mac to the force of nature they are now, Wildwood Kin have become one of Britain’s most exciting and intriguing new bands.

With the aid of producer Jamie Evans, with whom they had recorded Warrior Daughter, Wildwood Kin started stepping further away from their folk roots. Emillie took up electric guitar, out went the tambourine and in came synths, ambient sounds and tougher drums.

“Some people advised us not to change our style, but we were determined to experiment,” says Beth. “We love folk, but we’re also fans of Sigur Ros, Radiohead and Explosions In The Sky. We didn’t want to take the safe option. The aim was to find a sound that reflected the music we love, but was ours entirely."

“Some of the album is still quite folky, elsewhere it’s not,” says Meg. “We like having lots of different styles on there. There’s even some blues-rock which we got in to towards the end of recording and decided to include. No one told us what we could or couldn’t do so we took that freedom and ran with it.“

Wildwood Kin were already at work on Turning Tides last year when Seth Lakeman asked them to collaborate on his album Ballads Of The Broken Few, on which they feature on every track, working closely with producer Ethan Johns. Supporting Lakeman in London, they were spotted by labels who fought to sign them, much to the band’s surprise.

“It’s a bit daunting to be on a major label and we had concerns they might try to change to us,” says Emillie. “But we soon realised after meeting the team that we had nothing to worry about and we are really excited for what’s to come.”