Named after the old Northumbrian word for twilight, The Darkening is made up of four North-East England-based members: Kathryn Tickell (Northumbrian smallpipes, fiddle, vocals), Amy Thatcher (accordion, synth, clogs, vocals), Heather Cartwright (vocals, guitar), Joe Truswell (drums, percussion); with Stef Conner from Cambridge (vocals, lyres). Together these dazzling musicians create musical magic; dynamic and unique “Ancient Northumbrian Futurism”.
Based in the shadow of Hadrian’s Wall yet reaching out to the wider world, Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening explore the connecting threads of music, landscape and people over a period of almost 2000 years. Songs range from themes of freedom, nature and venturing out into the world after times of darkness, to a Roman inscription with links to Libya and Syria magnetically pulled into the 21st century with glorious vocal harmonies and the wildest of piping.
Praise for the latest album Cloud Horizons:
“...wildly thrilling” The Guardian
“…unexpectedly cosmic” MOJO
“…vital and assured, folk stomp” Americana-UK
“…this is a blinder! …just fantastic” Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 6 Music
LIVE REVIEWS:
“… a euphoric experience… edgy, dark dance-based adventures, precise virtuoso instrumental wizardry and magical, haunting soundscapes” Fatea
“…tremendously energising, polished and thought-provoking” Americana-UK.
“Dynamic and breathless jigs and spins… this is the energy we want!” The List (Celtic Connections 2024).
