The Séamus Ennis Arts Centre presents The Breath, guitarist Stuart McCallum and BBC Folk Award winner, singer Ríoghnach Connolly.

Based in Manchester their unique, contemporary take on alt-folk journeys from lush, beguiling storytelling to uplifting, punch-the-air anthems.

At its heart is Rioghnach’ s utterly engaging, stop-you-in-your-tracks voice alongside Stuart’s understated brilliance and their exquisitely crafted, personal songs. Yet it’s the emotional depth of the songs and the remarkable connection the duo shares with their audiences that makes The Breath’s live performance so compelling.

The Breath appear tonight presenting material from their two Real World Records releases, Carry Your Kin and Let the Cards Fall, a bewitching collection of heartfelt songs as likely to touch on childhood summers and first love as cultural dislocation, post-colonial injustices and grief.

“Quietly, inexorably, The Breath have become one of the UK’s most exciting folk acts… Only Stories… an acoustic recording that unfolds like a paper flower” The Financial Times ★★★★★

Spacious, nuanced and skilfully crafted… songs performed here are all the more affecting for their simplicity. (‘Only Stories’) has a quiet, shimmering beauty… a treasure.
Evening Standard ★★★★

“Two halves of one person… deeply lovely… spectacular songs, beautifully sung”
BBC R2: The Folk Show with Mark Radcliffe (live session)

“folk roots but different horizons… the jaw-droppingly stunning, woozy voice of Ríoghnach Connolly”
The Guardian

“Ríoghnach Connolly, a truly fabulous singer… just one of the most intoxicating voices anywhere”
BBC R2: The Folk Show with Mark Radcliffe

“Let It Calm You Down’… was my favourite original ballad of the year, Ríoghnach Connolly’s voice as tender as the grasp of a child’s hand” The Guardian, 2018’s Best Folk Albums

“exquisite…. Beautiful”
BBC 6Music: Mary Anne Hobbs

“utterly beautiful”
BBC Radio London