Wildwood Kin - Spend a nice evening in Bath

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Nicer Folk, you will not meet

Wildwood Kin **** are a three piece Folk band from Devon. Now I know Music Trespass has a wide range of readers but I guess that for most people you now think I am going to write about three middle aged men with beards and probably a pint of ale called something like badgers scrotum on tap. But for those that still need to catch up folk has had a bit of a transformation over the last few years and Wildwood Kin are certainly at the vanguard of that, not a beard in sight (luckily) amongst these twenty something females.

Comprised of two sisters Beth and Emille, who flank the stage and their cousin Meg standing up behind her new drum kit, and she is very apologetic about the new snare deafening everybody, including the band. The humility and down to earth nature of the band is a wonderful trait, they talk between each song almost as if you are just having a chat with a mate than a band criss crossing the country. In fact Meg at one point perhaps over shares with a story of her being sick on the way perfectly into a Starbucks cup, other brands of coffee are available to barf into. Although it was possibly unfortunate timing that the next track was ‘All on Me’ which she said would never quite have the same meaning again.

But you would not be able to tell she maybe under the weather given the energy she put into the drumming throughout particularly on the track ‘Warrior Daughter’ from their first album. I do get the impression she wished she had not shared the story though, so apologies for including her for a wider audience but I think it shows the nature of them in being open and just being themselves on stage. Certainly in their nature is the fact that they are amazing musicians with perhaps the most stunning being their own voices which are often in perfect harmony.

A number of the tracks were taken from their new self-titled album, which having conducted a straw poll seems to have gone down well with the fans. Each track seems to have a meaning to them, particularly poignantly being ‘Never Alone’ dedicated to Meg’s brother who took his own life; it must be tough to play that every night and added to when her mum was in the audience tonight. ‘Breathe’ was them taking time after the lasy round of touring and recording and just needing to step back for a while.

I started by stating they were Folk and they are in the close harmonies and storytelling nature very much what you would expect but it has Rock and Alternative influences to it too given them a wide appeal. A couple of the other standout tracks not already mentioned included ‘Beauty in your Brokenness’ and ‘Headed for the Water’ also both from their new album. It is the second time I have seen them at Moles now and you can hear the sound maturing (though it was top notch last time too). They are a band that deseve to continue to reach a wider audience and I look forward to seeing them again soon as they are certainly one I will be looking out for in future.

Review by Jon Cooper and Photo's by Matt Back

Check out! The Video to 'Never Alone' below...