About this event
Emily Portman is an award-winning singer and songwriter with a passion for traditional song, hailed as “one of the new British folk scene’s most beguiling presences” (Uncut). She has toured widely for over 15 years as a band leader, with The Furrow Collective, the chart-topping Sea Song Sessions, and in a duo with Leveret’s Rob Harbron. Winner of a BBC Folk Award for Best Original Song, Emily has released three critically acclaimed albums that recast old ballads and fairytales into striking new forms.
In 2026, Emily returns to the road with a new live show previewing songs from her forthcoming solo album Dominion of Spells (May 2026), alongside highlights from her acclaimed catalogue. Drawing on ballads and folktales, the songs weave lived experience with rich mythic imagery, exploring themes of parenthood, burnout, grief, and creative transformation.
The performance features a new line-up with guitarist Louis Campbell and cellist Lucy Revis (Before Breakfast). Together they create a richly layered yet understated sound world, with Emily’s luminous vocals, banjo, and piano at the centre, woven through crystalline harmonies, lush strings, and interweaving electric and acoustic guitars.
