Biography

Emily and Hazel Askew have become known as two of the foremost performers and interpreters of English folk music. Their live performances brim with the depth and connection not only of two sisters, but also of two musicians who have been immersed in folk music all their lives. Together, they rework and reinterpret songs and balladry, creating breath-taking arrangements, which allow words that are hundreds of years old to resonate profoundly with contemporary audiences. Alongside this, both women are also skilled multi-instrumentalists and expert players of dance music, using fiddles, melodeons, concertina and cello in their innate drive to bring old dance music to life. As well as playing as a duo, the sisters work with a number of the folk scene's most innovative acts, such as Lady Maisery, Coven, Alma, the Emily Askew Band and Songs of Separation, who won Best Album at the 2017 BBC Folk Awards. Stirred by these new musical experiences, the sisters returned to their duo with fresh vision, culminating in their fourth studio recording ‘Enclosure’. The album was inspired by the land enclosure movements as well as wider themes of freedom, captivity and disconnection from the natural world. Five years since their last album, the arrangements and production on ‘Enclosure’ take a new direction for the duo, but are unmistakably the Askew Sisters, featuring gritty cello alongside sweeping fiddles and melodeon, and Hazel’s captivating vocals.