Spafford Campbell (UK) & The Breath (IE/UK)

Spafford Campbell are two British musicians in their twenties who, each in their own way, are pushing the boundaries of traditional music: violinist Owen Spafford and guitarist Louis Campbell. They met as teenagers while playing traditional music, and they hit it off straight away. Since their live debut in 2018, they have impressed audiences with their dynamic and seemingly telepathic interaction, which has evolved from numerous spontaneous improvisation sessions. Their latest album, Tomorrow Held, is largely instrumental and alternates between jazz, post-rock and chamber music, without losing sight of its folk roots. Call it post-folk, trad-noir or folk nihilism; what matters more is that Spafford Campbell is forging their own path, blurring genres. The album evokes associations with Talk Talk’s atmospheric masterpiece Spirit of Eden (1988) and exudes a Bon Iver-like sense of transcendence, yet remains a work of distinct individuality. You can hear effects pedals, ambient cassette loops, flashes of electric guitar, electronic processing of the violin and impressionistic accompaniment. Thus, they explore a wide range of musical styles: from traditional English dance tunes to post-rock and chamber music. As a result, the boundaries between the traditional, the composed and the improvised begin to blur, giving rise to an intimate yet daring musical language that sounds as refined as it is adventurous. The Breath A happy reunion with The Breath: this is their fourth visit to us, and each time they delivered intense, memorable concerts. The alt-folk duo formed in 2016 when multi-award-winning folk singer Ríoghnach Connolly (Honeyfeet and Afro Celt Sound System, among others) and guitarist Stuart McCallum (former member of the Cinematic Orchestra) met in the Manchester music scene. Since then, they have moved effortlessly between rock, ambient and Irish folk. Layered vocals, hypnotic guitar riffs and sweeping arrangements create a grand, immersive sound. Writing and sharing songs is at the heart of The Breath. Connolly is a born storyteller: her poetic, personal lyrics touch just as much on summers gone by and first loves as they do on cultural upheaval, post-colonial injustice and grief. With her beautiful voice, shifting between delicate whispers and deep, soulful notes, she immediately grabs you by the throat. Combined with McCallum’s understated, ingenious guitar playing, the result is music that feels intense, pure and soulful. The duo have since released three highly acclaimed albums on Peter Gabriel’s renowned Real World label: Carry Your Kin, Let the Cards Fall and Land of My Other, produced by Thomas Bartlett (Sufjan Stevens, The Gloaming). At Rode Hond festival, you can already get a sneak preview of the new album, which is due to be released later this year.