THE Furrow Collective bring their uniquely beguiling approach to traditional song to Birkenhead’s Future Yard on Sunday, December 8.

The award-winning and critically acclaimed English/ Scottish band consist of four distinctive and talented performers: Lucy Farrell (viola, voice and saw), Rachel Newton (harp, fiddle, voice), Emily Portman (banjo, concertina, voice) and Alasdair Roberts (guitars, voice).

The group formed in 2013, drawn together by a shared love of traditional song and balladry of England, Scotland and beyond and an open, intuitive approach to collaboration.

In recognition of their innovative approach, The Furrow Collective were awarded the accolade of ‘Best Band’ at the 2017 BBC Radio Two Folk Awards, hot on the heels of the release in late 2016 of their second album Wild Hog.

The Furrow Collective’s 2014 debut album, At Our Next Meeting was recorded with award-winning producer Andy Bell and was variously heralded as “a quietly triumphant set” (The Guardian), “a quietly thrilling approach to traditional song”(R2 Magazine) and “one of the finest collaborative albums of the past few years” (Folk Radio UK).

Boasting a stripped-back power, the album led to a nomination for Best Group and Best Traditional Track in the 2015 BBC Radio Two Folk Awards and a live session on BBC Radio Two.

2015’s five-song EP Blow Out the Moon was similarly well received, resulting in another Best Traditional Track nomination the following year.

The group’s aforementioned second album Wild Hog shows a marked development in the group’s sound and approach, with guest musicians Alex Neilson (Trembling Bells) on drums and Stevie Jones (Sound of Yell) on double bass helping to provide fuller, richer arrangements.

The Furrow Collective’s next album Fathoms was released to critical acclaim in November 2018, with Songlines heralding it as “their best album to date”.

In 2024, The Furrow Collective will celebrate 10 years since the release of their first album and will perform a selection of songs from their decade of collaboration. As well as favourites from their back catalogue, the band will share songs from their new album We Know by the Moon, a lunar-themed album of songs set after dark.

n Future Yard presents The Furrow Collective with Calum Gilligan and The Hermit on Sunday, December 8 at 7.30pm (doors).

Tickets cost £18 in advance (standing) from futureyard.org