The Black Feathers, described by Fatea Magazine as “a duo of undeniable talent,” will play in concert on Thursday, June 20, at The Allen Center in West Newton (MA). The British couple, Sian Chandler and Ray Hughes, intertwine effortlessly to create a genre-defying sound combining elements of folk, roots, Americana, and southern rock. Tickets and information can be found at newtonculture.org.
Chandler and Hughes first became aware of the magic between them while collaborating on several musical projects, becoming The Black Feathers and life partners in 2012. Americana, folk, and acoustic indie rock sensibilities coexist comfortably in their musical world, with Hughes’ guitar work buoying the kind of harmonies often only heard in family bands. Their music quickly draws the interest of listeners, but it is the stage chemistry that keeps them riveted.
The Black Feathers’ debut EP, Strangers We Meet, was named one of “the best folk albums of 2014" in The Telegraph and the Sunday Mercury’s Number 1 Folk and Roots album of 2014. “Stunning harmonies that were so good it reminded me of seeing Gillian Welch and David Rawlings,” wrote No Depression magazine, and R2 Magazine proclaimed, “their blend of English folk influences and Americana is a tasty concoction indeed.”
Having already built up a loyal following in the UK, The Black Feathers have been spreading their wings across the US. They have performed at the Philadelphia Folk Festival and AmericanaFest and have also been awarded official showcases at the North East Regional and Far-West Folk Alliance conferences.
“We’re thrilled to welcome The Black Feathers back again to Newton,” said Executive Director Adrienne Hartzell Knudsen. ”Our audiences at The Allen Center eagerly expressed that they’d love to hear more diverse programs of Americana, folk, jazz, pop, and roots music on our schedule, and this group was fabulous when they first joined us in 2023!”
Allison Eldredge, Artistic Director of Cherry Street Music, continued, “The 2023-24 season was divided into two parts: Classics With a Twist, including Beethoven and The Beatles (Pts 1 & 2), and our Americana programs, including A Celtic Soirée in March, and now The Black Feathers. We hope our programming has something for everyone! We’re looking forward to continuing to present concerts that embrace both classical and non-classical genres of music in coming seasons.”
About The Allen Center
The Allen Center (TAC) is an arts and cultural center in West Newton, MA, owned and operated by the Newton Cultural Alliance (NCA). The Allen Center’s historic facility is the beacon of arts and culture in the City of Newton, a unique space dedicated to the creative community. The renovation of the facility was completed in the spring of 2021, and, as with many performance venues, it has slowly been expanding its programming over the past two years. Since that time, the offerings of TAC have broadened. In the fall of 2022, the NCA established an Artist in Residence program and invited Allison Yoshie Eldredge, an international concert cellist, to fill the position. Cherry Street Music is the chamber music series of The Allen Center.
Cherry Street Music presents The Black Feathers on Thursday, June 20, at 7:30 PM at The Allen Center, 35 Webster Street, Newton, MA. Tickets and information are available at newtonculture.org.
