The credentials of Will Pound and Jenn Butterworth could never be in doubt – an outstanding acoustic guitarist and a harmonica wizard, melodeon maestro, of off-the-scale brilliance.
Glasgow -based Butterworth won the 2019 Scots Trad Music Awards Musician of the Year accolade while Pound has been nominated for the coveted Musician of the Year title at BBC Radio 2 Folk Award no less than three times. Both have been involved in an array of projects and collaborations – Jenn as a member of Scotland’s Kinnaris Quintet and as one of the Songs of Separation project’s 10-strong female line-up – their release won Best Album at the 2017 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Jenn has linked up with mandolin player Laura-Beth Salter and Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton while Will’s previous partnerships include duos with Dan Walsh and Eddy Jay.
Since his debut album ‘A Cut Above’ (2013) Will has also appeared on BBC Breakfast TV and his music has been played on Radios 2, 3 and 6 and BBC World Service. A keen exponent of the Morris tradition he released Through the Seasons: A Year in Morris and Folk Dance in 2018.
Notably, he also played harmonica on the Hillsborough charity single, joining a line-up of pop and football stars, on He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother (2012 Christmas No 1) and has featured on two Robbie Williams’ albums and the Sky TV comedy drama Breeders.
But it was a chance meeting at a folk session in 2018 which led to Will and Jenn’s music travelling around the world as a viral internet sensation. Subsequently Jenn guested on Pound’s A Day Will Come ‘E.U’ album when he took on the huge challenge of learning 27 tunes from the EU member states.
“Butterworth is one of the most in-demand musicians in Scotland. There are few guitarists in the country able to so intricately guide a set with melody and rhythm.” – The National Newspaper
Now Volume 1 (LuluBug Records) brings their high energy live show to life in a nine-track album of musical cat and mouse. They duck and dive, chase and hide in their intricate and intuitive question-and-answer conversations in an upbeat release sure to banish the winter blues.
Produced by Jenn and Will alongside Keir Long it was recorded live at Glasgow’s GloWorm Studios over just two days.
Two forces of nature. Two crazily talented musicians. A partnership made in musical heaven. And this is just Volume 1!
Volume 1 will be available on Bandcamp and standard streaming platforms.
Will and Jen will showcase Volume 1 on tour March 2-18, 2023 with gigs from Newcastle to the Isle of Wight.
“Pound is one of the world’s top harmonica players” Daily Telegraph
Tour Dates as follows:
March 5th: Flowergate Hall, Whitby (flowergatehall@gmail.com)
March 6th: Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh – 0131 228 1404
March 9th: The Barn, Lancaster – Tickets : (philbleazey@gmail.com)
March 10th: Temperance, Leamington Spa
March 11th: Quay Arts, Newport, Isle of Wight (01983 822490)
