Burd Ellen

About

Sunday 15th December | 2024 | Doors 6pm, performance 7pm
Peggy's Skylight | Nottingham
Tickets: £15

Burd Ellen is among the most acclaimed innovators in British folk music today. The duo use traditional song to explore and evoke dark landscapes and deep stories, carving out a sonically adventurous niche that is informed by a deep love and respect for traditional song.

Burd Ellen is a project featuring Debbie Armour (Alasdair Roberts, Green Ribbons) and Gayle Brogan (Pefkin, Electroscope). The group uses traditional song to explore and evoke dark landscapes and deep stories. Innovative instrumentation, drone and sound-wash support detailed vocal work to create a unique sonic atmosphere.

Over the course of three albums, they have garnered huge critical
acclaim, being twice listed among the Guardian's top ten folk albums of the year, and receiving praise from Songlines, Folk Radio UK, and many more.

Their third album, A Tarot Of The Green Wood explored the ideas, archetypes and imagery of the Major Arcana. Armour says "I'm a long time collector and lover of tarot, and had become drawn to the idea of finding parallels between interpretation of traditional song and the art of divination." The resulting record is equal parts engaging and experimental, and a vital part of the resurgence in bold and innovative folk. Like contemporaries Lankum and Stick in the Wheel, Burd Ellen are redefining what folk sounds like in the 21st century.

Burd Ellen has appeared at the Cambridge Folk Festival, Celtic Connections, Fanø Free Folk Festival, Cafe Oto, The Glad Cafe and many other stages in the UK and Europe. They are carving out a sonically adventurous niche that is informed by a deep love and respect for traditional song.

"The music here is stark and uncomforting – it conjures a harsh
landscape which in this case could be emotional as much as physical, a fitting setting for a narrative in which the female protagonists face a bleak situation with courage and intelligence." – KLOF Magazine

Originating in Scotland, Armour and Brogan are now split between
Nottingham and Sheffield. We're excited to be bringing them to Peggy's for the first time, you will be mesmerised by their evocative and haunting sound.