Biography

BBC Radio 2 Horizon Award Nominees Katriona Gilmore (Rosie Doonan & the Snapdragons, ex-Tiny Tin Lady) and Jamie Roberts (Kerfuffle) have been performing together on the folk scene since 2006. Their self-penned material ranges from blazing instrumentals to ‘heart-wrenching’ songs, to contemporary arrangements of traditional songs.

Jamie’s dextrous percussive and lap-style guitar work is a visual as well as a sonic delight, while Katriona’s intricate fiddle playing shifts seamlessly from sensitive to fiery and back again in the blink of an eye.

Shadows & Half Light, the duo’s first full length recording, has made waves in the national music press, being described as 'inspired' by fRoots and awarded five stars by Rock'n'Reel . The album makes the most of Katriona and Jamie’s multi-instrumental skills – mandolin, banjo, and even trombone can be heard alongside the usual fiddle and guitar, as well as guest vocals and piano from Jamie’s sister Kathryn Roberts.

In 2009, the duo brought their unique sound to more than ten festivals and supported, among others, Dave Swarbrick, Bellowhead, Nancy Kerr & James Fagan and Spiers & Boden. To further cement their reputation as two of the folk scene's rising stars, Katriona and Jamie were delighted to be offered an endorsement deal by Fishman, one of the world's leading pickup companies.

With a BBC Folk Award nomination under their belts, a 20-date nationwide headline tour in April and a second album due for release in the autumn, 2010 is shaping up to be the duo's biggest year yet.