Introducing Young Waters

Young Waters

Young Waters’ twisted neo-folk is a tapestry of emotionally powerful vocals, stirring harmonies, lyrical strings and finely mastered acoustic guitar. Their exhilarating rhythms and intricate melodies, coupled with a repertoire that combines startling original material with unique arrangements of traditional folk songs, makes for a captivating stage presence. This young band is set to make a big impact in 2018.

A host of festival appearances (including Glastonbury, Broadstairs, Cambridge, Wilderness, Boomtown and Smugglers) have cemented their reputation with fans. After winning Bath Folk Festival’s New Shoots competition, earning themselves a recording session at Peter Gabriel’s legendary Real World Studios, where most of this stunning debut album was recorded.

Young Waters’ is a five-piece band led by Theo Passingham (vocals and guitar) with Kerry Ann Jangle (vocals and percussion), Liam O’Connell (double bass and vocals), Calum Smith (violin) and Rowen Elliot (viola).

Young Waters’ themes range from questioning our contemporary reality to more personal enquiries into Theo’s life and history. Compared to the likes of The Incredible String Band, Fairport Convention, Fleet Foxes and traditional Celtic music. Inspired by composers like Philip Glass, John Taverner (old and new), and Arvo Pärt. Six tracks from the album were recorded in one day at the legendary Real World Studios, and the other two (‘Polly Vaughn’ and ‘Don’t Stare At The Sun’) were recorded in Norton St Philip Church.

The writing is done by Theo Passingham, but the arrangements are heavily collaborative; there is a joint obsession with finding the most emotive and beautiful possible way of conveying the songs through harmony, texture and tension and release.

Young Waters are appearing at:

17th August – Purbeck Folk Festival, Dorset

24th August – Shambala

Artists’ website: https://www.young-waters.com/

‘Swimming Pool’ – official video:


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