Manchester Folk Festival 2023: The Breath @ New Century Hall

plus special guest Frankie Archer

Presented by: English Folk Expo

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0	MANCHESTER: New Century Hall
P	Saturday 21st October, 2023
N	7:00pm

Event information

Part of Manchester Folk Festival 2023. Support TBA.

The Breath is guitarist Stuart McCallum and BBC Folk Award winner, singer Ríoghnach Connolly.

Based in Manchester their unique, contemporary take on alt-folk journeys from lush, beguiling storytelling to uplifting anthems. At its heart is Rioghnach’s utterly engaging, stop-you-in-your-tracks voice alongside Stuart’s humble brilliance and their exquisitely crafted, personal songs. Yet it’s the emotional depth of the songs and the remarkable connection the duo shares with their audiences that makes the Breath’s live performance so compelling.

The Breath will present a very special collaboration with the D&B Soundscapesystem – a 360 degree, fully immersive PA which surrounds both performers and audience. The duo will perform material from their forthcoming Real World Records album and re-interpret material from their two previous Real World releases, Carry Your Kin and Let the Cards Fall, to make full use of the immersive sound system. You can expect to be bathed in a bewitching collection of heartfelt songs as likely to touch on childhood summers and first love as cultural dislocation, post-colonial injustices and grief.

Frankie Archer
“Have you ever been there at the start of something new? Something exciting? Something that crackles with possibilities?” Gavin McNamara (Bristol 24/7) witnessed the power of Frankie Archer’s music. She is fresh on the scene and shaking up genres and traditions, sharing the lesser told sides of stories, championing women, challenging perspectives and calling for a fairer future, all to a unique mix of synths, manipulated samples, drum tracks and earthy fiddle and voice.
 
Frankie Archer’s imaginative and bold mash of electro alt-trad shows her Northumbrian fiddle roots, her deep love of electronic music and her immersion in soulful folk songs from the North East of England and around the world. Mark Radcliffe (BBC Radio 2) described her music as “fascinating and intoxicating”.

Venue Access - New Century Hall is located on the first level, above the ground floor of New Century. There is a lift available, which will go up into the main events space. There are a total of three accessible toilets, one on the ground floor by the entrance, and another two where the venue toilets are located upstairs. The main hall’s event space is all on one level, and is not raised or tiered in any way. Our stage is 2 metres high.

We use a range of venues at Manchester Folk Festival and although all are accessible, in order to give the best possible experience, we need to let some venues know in advance if we have any audience members who are wheelchair users or require assistance. If you are a wheelchair user or require an essential companion ticket, please email info@englishfolkexpo.com to let us know before purchasing a ticket.

Please note - this event is part of Manchester Folk Festival 2023. Festival wristbands are available to purchase, and gives you access to ALL Manchester Folk Festival shows across three days. For more information please visit www.manchesterfolk.com/