“If I was still booking gigs and festivals… [Hedera] would be high on my A-list” – Ian Anderson
Hedera is a chamber folk ensemble from Bristol featuring Lulu Austin (violin), Maisie Brett (violin, hardanger d'amore), Tamsin Elliott (accordion, harp), Beth Roberts (double bass, violin) and Isis Wolf-Light (clarinets). They perform original and traditional pieces inspired by music from England, Scotland, France, Bali, Georgia, Bulgaria, Ethiopia and beyond, translated through a prism of experimental minimalism and contemporary classical influences.
Their eponymous debut album is a collection of twelve original & traditional tunes that reflect their craft as composers, tune-interpreters and collaborative arrangers (due for release 20 February 2026 on Cuculi Records. Lead single 'Sterretjie' is out now (with a video premiere on KLOF Mag), followed by singles 'Sekar Jagat' (9 Jan) and 'Waterwheel' (6 Feb).
In 2022, their debut track 'Waterwheel’ premiered on KLOF Magazine and they performed their first highly acclaimed gigs at Fire in the Mountain festival and The Greenbank (Bristol). In January 2024 they sold out most gigs on their debut UK tour, performing in prestigious venues including King’s Place (London), Upfront Arts (Penrith), Black Fen Folk Club (Cambridge), Ashburton Arts Centre and Cornish Bank (Falmouth). Recent gigs include Bristol Folk Festival and Folk East Festival; many attendees at both festivals expressed that Hedera was the highlight of their weekends.
In 2020, the five musicians began meeting informally to play tunes around winter bonfires, limited to a small gathering due to the ‘Rule of Six’ pandemic measures. They discovered a shared love of deep listening, slow playing and improvisation as they taught each other tunes from different traditions. Over time, the ensemble has evolved into something more structured, but still retains the intimacy and conviviality of its beginnings.
Hedera’s early informal sessions (‘Moon Jams’) have evolved into co-facilitated workshops with a focus on gender inclusivity, collective listening and improvisation. They create a safe space for accessible tune sharing & learning across a number of traditions - get in touch if you’d like to book a workshop alongside a gig.
