HANNAH SANDERS & BEN SAVAGE

Genre: Folk

Location: Cambridge, UK

Discography: Charms Against Sorrow (2015), Before The Sun (2016) 

Record Label: Sungrazing Records

Website: http://www.hannahsandersfolk.com

It is always exciting when new duos are formed and this recent collaboration between Hannah and Ben is no exception. Both very good singer-songwriters in their own right with years of experience in music. Hannah's started her career in her teens with her family singers, The Dunns. They travelled the UK and Europe singing and worked for English Heritage for some years. Hannah spent several years working in the USA as a writer, academic and cultural anthropologist. During this time she sang with Liz Simmons and then returned to the UK to pursue her passion for traditional folk music and later a solo career. Hannah plays an Eastman guitar and a Ron Ewing baritone dulcimer.

Dobro player, guitarist and singer Ben is also a member of Cambridge Americana Folk band The Willows He was the producer of and also featured on Hannah's debut solo album 'Charms Against Sorrow'. 

Charismatic Hannah follows up her acclaimed debut 'Charms Against Sorrow' with an exquisite album of duets with Ben, recorded in Toronto with award-winning producer David Travers-Smith (Wailin Jennys, Pharis & Jason Romero, Madison Violet). Recorded in duet over 10 days just as Ontario's winter snows gave way to spring sunshine, the album shares a moment and mood with the listener in a way that so few modern records are able. The pair move seamlessly between traditional, self-penned and cover songs; delicately exploring life, love, grief and death through a musical journey that feels perfectly of-a-piece. There is an almost musical soul-mate quality to the support Ben's singing and playing adds to Hannah's stunningly beautiful vocals, guitar and dulcimer work. Travers-Smith frames their special musical rapport within a delicately crafted soundscape reminiscent of his work with Ruth Moody, but with a clarity and intimacy one might more readily associate with Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings. The album features guest appearances on both sides of the pond including Jon Thorne (Lamb, Jon Smith), Kevin Breit (Norah Jones, Rosanne Cash), Jim Causley, Katriona Gilmore (Gilmore & Roberts), Jade Rhiannon and Evan Carson (The Willows, Sam Kelly).

At the time of writing Hannah & Ben are currently on the UK album release tour.....catch them if you can.