Brooks Williams & Aaron Catlow

Presented by: Barry Walsh UK

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0	AXBRIDGE: Town Hall
P	Sunday 24th September, 2023
N	7:15pm

Event information

'Axbridge Folk & Acoustic' are delighted to present Brooks Williams & Aaron Catlow to our town for the first of this season's events.

BROOKS WILLAMS & AARON CATLOW :

Magnificent! A pairing made in heaven!” - At The Barrier
“If it looks easy to accomplish something complex and difficult, then you are in the
presence of excellence” - Folk London
“Absolutely wonderful!” - Mike Harding
Brooks Williams & Aaron Catlow bring soaring Trans-Atlantic melodies and bluesy-folk
brilliance to the time-honoured guitar and fiddle tradition. These two are masters of their
respective instruments.
This inspired pairing has been gathering praise from the likes of “Songlines,” “Folk Radio
UK,” and “Penny Black Music,” among others, and delighting audiences from festivals like
Ely, Middlewich, Raunds and venues like Stoller Hall and The Atkinson, who stated their
concert was “one of the best nights ever.”
A chance meeting on tour in The Netherlands led to the two collaborating on two
recordings in as many years. The magic is evident from the start.
“Ghost Owl” is first in 2021. A collection of guitar & fiddle duets written for, and inspired
by, the barn owl, “Ghost Owl” is shortlisted ‘Instrumental Album Of The Year’ by Fatea.
The sound, says “Songlines,” recalls the style of “Martin Carthy and Dave
Swarbrick….Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli.”
“Ready For The Times” follows in 2022 and showcases the depth and breath of their
musical vocabulary. With two voices, an acoustic guitar and a fiddle, these two show just
how versatile they can be. From Ola Belle Reed’s “I’ve Endured” to a Hot Club-styled
reading of “If You Want The Rainbow;” from the Piedmont classic “CC&O Blues” to full-
tilt bluegrass on “Love Too Soon,” “this album,” says Penny Black Music, “is a joy to
listen to.”
Aaron Catlow is a master violinist and half of the Bristol-based duo Hawes And Catlow,
with guitarist-singer Kit Hawes. He is also the fiddler in UK festival favourite
Sheelanagig. Catlow's other credits including playing with Grammy Award-nominated
Yola, Mad Dog Mcrea and Afro Celt Sound System.
Cambridge UK-based, Georgia US-born, Brooks Williams has a long-standing solo career
in both North America and the UK and is also known for his adventurous collaborations
with the likes of Dan Walsh, Sloan Wainwright, Boo Hewerdine and Rab Noakes, among
others. He is named one of WUMB-FM Boston's Top 100 All-Time Artists. Fatea refers to
him as “one of those select few 'how on earth does he do it?!' artists."
The music of Brooks Williams and Aaron Catlow, says Folk Radio UK, is “a thing of
beauty" (Folk Radio).
www.brookswilliams.com/brooks-williams-aaron-catlow
raise For Ready For The Times
“Refreshingly engaging, this is a cracker!” - Living Tradition
“Fantastic collection of songs with great arrangements and inspired choices…” - Penny
Black Music
“A testament to both their individual musical talents and the chemistry they spark in each
other as a duo…” - Folk Radio UK
“Williams & Catlow are a talented musical duo who amaze the listener with their musical
dexterity and enjoyable selection of songs…” - Ready To Rock
“I’d recommend you study the pizzicato blues fiddle on ‘Jackson Greyhound,’ a song
about the segregation of public transportation in the 1960s.” - Irish Music
Praise For Brooks Williams & Aaron Catlow In Concert
“The audience loved every minute and afterwards begged them to return to the stage.... ”
- Big Wheel Blues, Isle Of Man
“An outstanding performance of sublime quality, entertaining and beautifully paced. Two
musicians at the top of their game.” - RAFA Club, Cleethorpes
"One of the best nights ever. Great songs, great fun and wonderful musicianship. Two of
the nicest people too. Do not hesitate. Go and see Brooks and Aaron while you can. You
will have the best time.” - Grateful Fred’s, The Atkinson Southport

PLEASE NOTE THERE WILL BE A CASH ONLY BAR AT THIS EVENT