The Magpies announce new single and tour dates

The Magpies

It seems no time since The Magpies burst onto the UK folk scene, but they have already made a huge impact with their fresh brand of transatlantic neo-folk and have been ‘making waves wherever they play’ (Phil Beer, Show of Hands).

Following the success of their debut album in 2020, The Magpies are set to release the third single from their upcoming album on 4th March – ‘Undertow’. The trio are also set to return to the road in March with a 12-date UK tour, ahead of their album release in Autumn 2022.

Written by Bella Gaffney, ‘Undertow’ explores drug addiction and the exploitation of women. The single is released ahead of International Women’s Day on 8th March, a day to challenge these often unseen and unspoken issues.

The song features driving clawhammer banjo, punchy guitar, soaring fiddle and poignant three-part female harmonies. ‘Undertow’ will be released alongside a video by Kate Griffin, which reflects the dark undertones at the core of the song.

The Magpies’ debut album – Tidings – was released in June 2020 to critical acclaim: ‘effervescent’ (The Sunday Times), ‘folk with finesse’ (The Daily Mail), ‘check that album out’ (BBC Radio 2). A rich and varied showcase of the live show, the album draws on a range of influences and delivers a sound that can only be described as contemporary, bringing a fresh and feminist voice to the current milieu.

Three accomplished musicians in their own right, The Magpies is a combination far greater than the sum of its parts. Guitarist Bella Gaffney, banjo player Kate Griffin and fiddle-player Holly Brandon draw on their wide-ranging influences to create a unique blend of transatlantic folk.

In their live performances The Magpies have been exceptionally well-received, with festival performances including Glastonbury Festival, Cambridge Folk Festival, Larmer Tree Festival, Shambala Festival, Towersey Festival and Deer Shed Festival and international shows in Canada, Ireland and Portugal.

Artists’ website: themagpiesmusic.com

Tour Dates

11th February – Nettleham Live, Lincoln

22nd February – Dartford Folk Club

13th March – Queen’s Hall, Nuneaton

15th March – The Cluny, Newcastle

18th March – The Ropewalk, Barton Upon Humber

19th March – Nailsea Folk Club

20th March – Swindon Arts Centre

25th March – Vestry Hall, Cranbrook

26th March – Prema Arts Centre, Stroud

27th March – The Lexington, London

30th March – Willows Folk Club, Preston

31st March – Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury