As the Hinge of the Year Swings Around

Thanks to everyone who braved the dark nights and made our last tour of the year into a magic one.  We’ve enjoyed trying out new songs on you and will be heading to the studio straight after New Year to sing off the Christmas pudding and make a new record! Here’s a sneak preview of our album photoshoot, created by the supremely talented Elly Lucas and Karen Le Roy Harris. It involved lying on a forest floor in midwinter but we hope you’ll agree it was worth it!

It’s been a year of firsts: My first ever solo voyage to Finland, the launch of The Furrow Collective, curating Outlandish Nights with Ali Roberts at The Kings Place,  a lovely Women Folk Tour, a trio trip to Ireland and a Norwegian festival adventure with The Furrow Collective, singing with Eliza Carthy’s Arms Wide Orchestra…Not to mention learning how to write songs with a two year old in tow! In-keeping with my resolution to be brave and do solo gigs this year, my final concert of 2014 will be supporting Paul Smith (Maximo Park) & Peter Brewis (Field Music) at The Sage Gateshead on 20th December. The Furrow Collective will be starting 2015 with a tour of Germany and rehearsals for our next album. But first, here’s to a Merry Yuletide!

Thank you all for your support in 2014, it’s massively appreciated…Wassail!!

Emily x

Emily Portman Trio Ireland Trip

I’m very pleased to announce The Emily Portman Trio will be making our first trip over to Ireland to play at the Earagail Arts Festival in Letterkenny, Donegal on 14th July. This will be followed by a Dublin Concert at the Odessa Club and Restauranton Tuesday 15th July. Buy Tickets HERE. We’re looking forward to crossing the Irish sea to play to a new crowd!

Spring Outings and Summer Festivals

A Spring Outing

The Emily Portman Trio are visiting the South-West this week to consume cream teas and sing murder ballads…

* 23rd April: The Grain Barge, Bristol @ 7.30pm.
* 24th April: The Exeter Phoenix @ 8pm.

Happy Easter Everyone!

Myself, Rachel and Lucy are looking forward to returning to the South-West to air a few new songs and put some old ones to bed before the trio takes a little rest while I write for the next album, out in 2015. Egg-citing times! (sorry couldn’t resist!). Later in the summer the trio are coming to SHAMBALA FESTIVAL! The Furrow Collective also have a busy summer ahead, so hope to see you at some of the festivals listed HERE

Emily x
PS you can listen to my Spring-themed show on BBC Radio Merseyside HERE

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Emily to present BBC Radio Show

Emily to Present BBC Radio Merseyside’s ‘Folkscene’

Emily will present BBC Radio Merseyside’s long-running folk show on Sundays at 4pm.

Emily’s first radio show will be airing from 4-5pm on Sunday 6th and will introduce some current and all time favourites from her collection.
Emily is to take the reins from Geoff Speed, who has retired after 47 years of co-presenting Folkscene with Stan Ambrose. Stan and Emily will now present on alternate weeks, playing music from a range of local, national and international artists, with interviews and local folk news.

Musicians, promoters and listeners can suggest local listings, songs and artists to folkscene@bbc.co.uk.
Or write to :Emily Portman, BBC Radio Merseyside, 31 College Lane, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 3DS.

Folkscene will be available on iplayer for a week following the show.

Emily’s next show airs on Easter Sunday and will play music with spring themes.

Outlandish Nights

A mini-series co-curated by acclaimed songwriters Alasdair Roberts and Emily Portman, reflecting the darker and more leftfield elements in contemporary folk music. They are noted for their eloquent and literary take on song-writing, inspired by tradition – forging new and exploratory paths into rich new musical territories. Emily Portman, Alasdair Roberts and Debs Newbold told us about the upcoming feast of wordsmiths and wild and weird worlds... Outlandish Nights 27 - 29 March | Kings Place http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/ON Tickets from £9.50

I’m excited to announce that OUTLANDISH NIGHTS  is drawing nigh! A mini series, co-curated by myself and Alasdair Roberts that runs at Kings Place from 27th-29th March. I am performing on 28th with The Furrow Collective and 29th with Mary Hampton and storyteller Debs Newbold.

• The Furrow Collective + special guest Marry Waterson

• Friday, 28 March 2014 – 7:30pm / Hall One 
• UNEARTHED – SONGS FROM THE ARCHIVES & NETHERWORLDS – This London debut by the much-anticipated Furrow Collective will see the talented quartet delve into an obscure world of balladry at its darkest and quirkiest. Special guest of the night will be Marry Waterson.

• Emily Portman Trio + special guests Mary Hampton & Debs Newbold

• Saturday, 29 March 2014 – 7:30pm / Hall One 
• HER CONJURING VOICE – Emily Portman, current holder of BBC Radio Two Folk Award for best original songwriting, is joined by special guests writer-singer Mary Hampton and storyteller Debs Newbold. 

Find out more

The Furrow Collective Album Launch Tour

The Furrow Collective is a brand new venture with Alasdair Roberts, Rachel Newton and Lucy Farrell and we are all excited to be touring our new album of trad songs in February! Our shiny website is now live! Here are the forthcoming dates:

• 19th February – Cornwall, Calstock Arts Centre,
• 20th February – Bristol,   The Lantern @ Colston Hall,
• 21st February – Cumbria, Gilcrux Village Hall,
• 22nd February – Glasgow, The Glad Café,
• 23rd February – House Concert, Edinburgh (contact us for details!)
• 25th February – Cardiff, Chapter Arts,
• 26th February – Southport The Atkinson, 
• 27th February – Bury, The Bury Met

Womenfolk Tour

I’m pleased to announce I’ll be performing in a triple bill alongside Emma Sweeney and Lucy Ward in a tour of the North in January and February. We’ll all be performing solo sets, so I’ll be dusting off the banjo and concertina and bringing out some new songs and arrangements, alongside some collaborative pieces. Hope you can make it!

30th January – Manchester, Band On The Wall 

31st January – Clitheroe, Lancs., Clitheroe Grand

1st February – Stockton on Tees, ARC

2nd February –  The Liverpool Philharmonic 

6th February – Barrow on Furness The Forum

BBC Folk Award WIN!

I am very excited to announce that I’ve won ‘Best Original Song‘ at the BBC Folk Awards! The song in question is ‘Hatchlings’, inspired by the myth of Leda and the Swan, a lullaby from Leda to her two sets of twins, hatched from eggs. It was a brilliant night and a highlight was when my 7 month-old daughter shook the hand of Alex Salmond! I’d particularly like to thank the musicians who played with me on ‘Hatchlings: Lucy Farrell, Rachel Newton and Lucy Deakin...And also thanks to everyone who comes to my gigs, supports my music and has given me encouragement over the years – it’s all MASSIVELY appreciated!!
Emily x