Filkin's // Ensemble
‘orchestral-folk forges a new path for traditional music’
The Filkin’s Ensemble, billed as ‘Birmingham’s premier folk supergroup’, is the bold vision of Seth Bye and Chris Roberts. This ensemble, fronted by singer Ellie Gowers, brings together 15 of the UK’s finest young folk musicians in an adventurous collaboration.The ensemble explores British folk traditions through the lens of the diverse metropolitan hub that is Birmingham. Their contemporary arrangements of traditional folk repertoire combine a string quartet, wind section, guitars, and orchestral percussion along with Ellie’s lucent vocals. Drawing heavily from classical, jazz and folk traditions, their distinctive style of ‘orchestral folk’ forges a new path for folk music.
Filkin’s Ensemble was formed as a lockdown collaboration in September 2020 when a virtual tune-a-week project run by the Filkin’s Duo culminated in a live, outdoor recording of traditional song ‘Arthur McBride’.
‘Hugely entertaining’
Rock n Reel Magazine
‘They create a sound that is truly joyful’
TradFolk
Watch the Ensemble Live...
As the sheer joy and energy that radiates from the stage combines with a sophisticated musicianship, the Filkin’s Ensemble produces a musical experience like no other. Drawing heavily from classical, jazz and folk traditions, their distinctive style of ‘orchestral folk’ forges a new path for folk music.
As one festival goer said: “seeing young musicians performing at this level gives me great hope for the future of music”
Show Listings
Watch the Ensemble Live...
As the sheer joy and energy that radiates from the stage combines with a sophisticated musicianship, the Filkin’s Ensemble produces a musical experience like no other. Drawing heavily from classical, jazz and folk traditions, their distinctive style of ‘orchestral folk’ forges a new path for folk music.
As one festival goer said: “seeing young musicians performing at this level gives me great hope for the future of music”
The group is formed of past and present members of bands such as The Destroyers, Bonfire Radicals, Thorpe & Morrison, Joe Broughton’s Conservatoire Folk Ensemble, and Manchester Camerata.
The collective performing experience of this group is impressive for such a young band with appearances including Glastonbury, Shrewsbury Folk Festival, Shambala, English Folk Expo, Boomtown, Gdynia Ladies’ Jazz Festival, and the Commonwealth Games (BBC 1).