Folk-roots acoustic guitar duo Hickman and Quinn embark on their first UK headline tour during February and March to promote their debut album, Times. Co produced by Andy Bell (Sea Sick Steve and KT Tunstall) Times contains all original material from the singer-songwriters.
Sharing lead guitar and vocals duties their live set is also interspersed with songs primarily by the artists that have most influenced them, as well as traditional folk arrangements and instrumentals. Previous support to the likes of The Jools Holland Orchestra, Katie Melua and Seth Lakeman, as well as gigs in their own right and slots at Cambridge and Shrewsbury folk festivals, have led to some favourable reviews for James Hickman and Chris Quinn.
Terry Walden from Ely Folk Festival, said: “This duo is of the highest quality. They are both virtuoso guitarists, easily going from Bluegrass picking to Blues and then into complicated jazz riffs and rhythms and back to gentle folk strumming for delicate ballads. They have equally good voices and harmonising is as natural as breathing. A great performance.”
Times has also generated a positive reaction. Louis Gilbert at ForFolksSake.comsaid: “Their songs follow the recent trend led by Mumford and Sons with rising harmonies and driving choruses. It’s all very well done with some highly technical guitar work.”
Commenting on the forthcoming tour Chris Quinn said: “Over the past five years we have tended to play fairly sporadic gigs, or may be three or four dates at a time as well as festivals and key support slots. So, with experience gained from touring the USA, Europe and Scandinavia and having built up a reputation as a good live act, it’s exciting to be heading out on our own UK headline tour.”
The tour dates (as at 11/01/11) are as follows:
February:
16th – The HInckley Act, Hinckley
17th – The Milkmaid Thursday Club, Bury St Edmunds
18th – The Milkmaid Folk Club, Bury St Edmunds
19th – Harmston MemorialHall, Harmston, Lincoln
22nd – The Hoy Folk Club, Leigh on Sea
24th – The Fold, Bransford
25th – Caffe Vista, Tenby
26th – Soundbites, Llanidloes
March:
4th – The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock
6th – Otley Courthouse, Otley
9th – Jaqz, Ascot
22nd – Cecil Sharpe House, Camden, London
23rd – Rugby Roots, Rugby
25th – Shrewsbury Coffee House, Shrewsbury
26th – Carad Arts Centre, Rhayader
Link: www.hickmanandquinn.co.uk