Welsh Icons News | Brookfield Nights come to Wales

When people talk about the music of Cahalen Morrison and Eli West, terms such as gorgeous, amazing, gentle, lush, sophisticated, soulful, organic and earthy get bandied around. Cahalen, from New Mexico, is a multi-instrumentalist who is equally at home playing fingerstyle guitar, lap slide, mandolin and clawhammer banjo. Before they met and sharing the same authenticity and outlook, Eli, from Seattle, had also been a busy multi-instrumentalist, sitting in at times with the likes of Michelle Shocked and members of the Wailin’ Jennys and Crooked Still.

When they released their stunning debut album, The Holy Coming of The Storm it created an instantaneous reaction on both sides of the Atlantic. Bob Harris invited them into the studio to record a session for his BBC Radio 2 show, saying their music was “quite extraordinary”, and Mary Ann Kennedy asked them to appear on her World on 3 show on BBC Radio 3.

When the duo arrives in the UK to tour for the first time, a film crew from BBC Alba will also be shadowing them to make a “homecoming” documentary on Cahalen who will be making the pilgrimage back to the Isle of Lewis where his Great-Grandfather was a well-respected Gaelic poet and had work published before emigrating to America at the end of the 19th century.

Reviewers here have praised the duo’s “old-time music styled for the 21st century”.

This is what some others had to say:

“Impeccable” – Verity Sharp, BBC Radio 3

“Music that the world needs!” – Tim O’Brien

“Thrilling” – The List

“A major new talent” – Maverick magazine

“Outstanding” – fRoots magazine

“Thoughtful, gentle, intricate and deep” – Songlines

“Brilliant” – Frank Hennessy, BBC Radio Wales

Tour dates and details: