The Chapin Sisters are returning to the UK this month for the first time in a decade. They’ll be touring the UK from Jul 20th to Aug 4th.
With Lily and Abigail Chapin’s unique blend of Appalachian folk, classic country, rock and pop, we can expect an evening of musical indulgence. Their high standard of songwriting, mixing the personal with the political and the observational, showcases their modern, lyrical sensibility. At the same time, their striking blood harmonies take it all to another level. Those in-demand vocals have seen them guest on many albums, including Diana Jones‘ Song To A Refugee to the more recent ‘Belong to Heaven‘, the new single from Cass McCombs who they frequently collaborate with.
Music runs in their blood, and they have garnered critical acclaim since their first recordings. Raised in New York’s Hudson Valley, they grew up in a famous American musical family, making their vocal debuts at ages 6 and 8 on their father Tom Chapin’s Grammy Award-winning children’s albums. Their uncle was the late, legendary folk icon and social justice activist Harry Chapin, whose number 1 single ‘Cats in the Cradle’ is still beloved. Their grandfather, Jim Chapin, was a celebrated jazz drummer and their cousin Jen Chapin is an acclaimed jazz-influenced singer/songwriter and activist.
During Lockdown, that seclusion proved to be a creative time for The Chapin Sisters. Once again in the Hudson Valley, in quarantine with their family, they returned to their children’s folk music roots. Along with their dad, they started playing a live-streamed daily concert for families with little ones to help them make it through the pandemic. What they imagined would be a handful of shows ultimately became a year-and-a-half-long project. In July 2021, they played their 200th and final show of ‘Mornings With Papa Tom and The Chapin Sisters.’ Simultaneously they have been busy writing, recording and working towards what will become their fifth album, and we, the good folk of the UK, will be the first to hear many of the new songs ahead of America and ahead of the album.
In 2018, soon after both sisters had given birth to their first children, their ‘Ferry Boat’ EP arrived with a new view of the world around them. Recorded days after Trump’s surprise presidential victory in November 2016. Lily described the time spent recording as ‘A refuge’ while Abigail added that ‘music is something positive that we could put into the world, and now, as new mothers, it feels more powerful than ever. ’ Taken from that EP, here is Bottle of Wine:
The Chapin Sisters UK Tour Dates
Jul 20th: Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham*
Jul 21st: Landmark Arts Center, Teddington/London *
Jul 22nd: St Edith Folk at Oxford Village Hall, Sevenoaks, Kent*
Jul 23rd: Chidham & Hambrook Village Hall, Chichester*
Jul 24th: Ropetackle Arts Centre, Shoreham-by-Sea
Jul 27th: Basecamp, Middlesbrough*
Jul 28th: The Greystone, Sheffield
Jul 29th: The Vault, Hexham
Jul 30th: The Art Shop & Chapel, Abergavenny, Wales
Aug 2nd: Victoria Hall, Settle, North Yorkshire*
Aug 3rd: Grateful Fred’s Americana & Roots Music at The Atkinson, Southport
Aug 4th: The Live Room, Shipley, West Yorkshire*
*With The Ocelots
Ticket Links can be found here