Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening

Named after the old Northumbrian word for twilight, The Darkening comprises four North-East England-based members: Kathryn Tickell (Northumbrian smallpipes, fiddle, vocals), Amy Thatcher (accordion, synth, clogs, vocals), Kieran Szifris (octave mandolin), Joe Truswell (drums, percussion, programming, plus Stef Conner from Cambridge (vocals, lyres, sistrum) and Josie Duncan from the Isle of Lewis (vocals, clarsach). (Live concerts feature either Stef or Josie).

Their inspiration comes from the wild, dramatic, weather-bitten countryside along Hadrian’s Wall, which seems so quintessentially Northumbrian… and yet, almost 2000 years ago that same landscape was inhabited by people from around the world, worshipping different gods and following different customs. Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening explore the connecting threads of music, landscape and people. Songs range from themes of freedom, nature and venturing out into the world after times of darkness, to a Roman inscription with links to Libya and Syria magnetically pulled into the 21st century by Amen-inspired breakbeats, ominous vocals and the wildest of piping…

Praise for The Darkening’s debut album, ‘Hollowbone’: “A clever, shape-shifter of a record… founded on an exceptional band.” The Observer.

Praise for current album ‘Cloud Horizons’ (2023):

“…wildly thrilling” The Guardian
“…unexpectedly cosmic” MOJO
“…vital and assured, folk stomp” Americana-UK
“…this is a blinder! …just fantastic” Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 6 Music

LIVE REVIEWS:
“…tremendously energising, polished and thought-provoking” Americana-UK

“Dynamic and breathless jigs and spins… this is the energy we want!” The List (Celtic Connections 2024)

“Kathryn Tickell and The Darkening hold Cropredy in the palm of their hand…“At The Barrier (Cropredy 2024)

“… a euphoric experience… edgy, dark dance-based adventures, thoughtful mystical evocations, precise virtuoso instrumental wizardry and magical, haunting soundscapes” Fatea