Will Addison, Robin Jones & Tomos Williams aka The Trials of Cato are something of a triple threat. Remarkable young players with an arresting onstage energy, with the release of their debut album Hide & Hair, they’ve also proved to be an equally gifted set of songwriters.
If you are local to York, Chester or Cambridge, perhaps you once caught them cutting their teeth whilst out busking, attracting a crowd of otherwise distracted shoppers. I often savoured the moments of respite when caught in the midday rush, I’d hear the chatter of Tom Paine’s Bones drifting up Chester’s cobbled high street.
It’s much more likely however, you will have seen one of their many performances at folk clubs or festivals over the past couple of years. As Mark Radcliffe attests (and their BBC Folk Award nominations go to show) the trio are rapidly becoming one of the most exciting up-and-coming acts on the circuit. Winning over international audiences; this October also sees the guys making their NYC debut.
After their encore over on Folk by the Oak’s Acorn Stage this July, I caught up with them backstage to discuss touring life, the recording process of Hide & Hair and much more. What you don’t happen to catch though, is us stumbling across a wasp’s nest shortly after filming and the sheer horror that followed; the trials continue.
Tour Dates
Sep 19 – King’s Place, London
Sep 20 – Acapela Studios, Cardiff
Sep 21 – Dunton Folk, Dunton, St Mary Magdalene Church
Sep 25 – Blue Sky Cafe, Bangor
Sep 26 – The Met, Bury
Sep 27 – Noyal Châtillon sur Seiche, FR
Sep 28 – Kerfolk Festival, Plabennec, FR
Sep 29 – Toucouleur Cafe, Tregastel , FR
Oct 04 – Medallion Opera House, Gorham, US
Oct 05 – Seven Stars Arts Center, Sharon, US
Oct 06 – Calais Celtic Concerts, Calais, US
Oct 09 – Rockwood Music Hall, New York City, US
Oct 11 – Uptown Concerts, Timonium, US
Oct 12 – Upper Jay Arts Center, Upper Jay, US
Oct 17 – Costa Del Folk, Portugal
Oct 18 – Costa Del Folk, Portugal
Oct 26 – Ragged Bear Festival, Nuneaton Main Stage
Oct 27 – Grimsby Folk Club, Grimsby
Oct 28 – Skipton Folk Club, Skipton
Nov 07 – Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury
Nov 14 – The Platform, Morecambe
Nov 15 – St Edith Folk Club, Sevenoaks
Nov 18 – Colchester Folk Club, Colchester
Nov 20 – The Red Lion Folk Club, Birmingham
Nov 21 – Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea
Nov 22 – The Willow Gallery, Oswestry
Nov 23 – Music in Ulpha, Ulpha, Cumbria
Nov 30 – Great British Folk Festival, Skegness
Dec 02 – The Nettlebed Folk Club, Nettlebed
Dec 04 – Ty Pawb, Wrexham
Dec 05 – The Black Swan Folk Club, York
Dec 06 – Queen’s Hall, Hexham
Dec 07 – The Cluny, Newcastle Upon-Tyne
Dec 09 – Glenfarg Folk Club, Kinross
Dec 17 – Hoy at Anchor Folk Club, Westcliff-on-Sea
Dec 18 – Ely, Ely Folk Club
For Ticket links and more details: https://www.thetrialsofcato.com/