Footprints Jazz Club: Awen Ensemble + Phoebe Niamh

Awen Ensemble are an alternative folk-jazz outfit hailing from the North of England with roots that extend across the British Isles. Meaning ‘poetic inspiration’ in Welsh, the name Awen outlines the band’s intention to explore folkloric heritage, landscape and emotional processes through their music.

Playing both vocal led and instrumental works, Awen Ensemble take inspiration from modal and spiritual jazz traditions as well as British and Irish folk music, creating compositions that are expansive and expressive.

Following the release of their acclaimed debut album ‘Cadair Idris’ on New Soil Music, Awen Ensemble have been fondly received by UK jazz tastemakers. The band have performed live sessions for Soweto Kinch on Round Midnight, Giles Peterson on WWFM and have had exclusive tracks aired by Jamie Cullum on BBC Radio 2.

As Awen Ensemble take the next step in their musical journey and explore the intrigue of Irish folklore, you are invited to join them for an evening of thoughtful musicianship, shimmering instrumentation and Celtic mystique.

On support, Welsh musician Phoebe Niamh is an experimental harpist based in Sheffield. Surrounded by land and sea during her childhood by the North Wales coastline, Phoebe’s sonic palette draws on the influence of nature, creating dreamy, pattern-based soundscapes shaped by ambient music, shoegaze and minimalism. Phoebe fuses her harp, kalimba and FX pedals to enchant live audiences and listeners. Her debut solo EP Serendipity is a collection of harp improvisations with electronics, and her music has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and The Lot Radio.

We gratefully acknowledge Jazz North's New Northern scheme in supporting this gig.