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Ember is:
Emily Williams: songs, vocals, violin, guitar, whistle, bouzouki
Rebecca Sullivan: songs, vocals, guitar, harmonica, clarinet
and featuring on the latest album "Open all the Doors":
Job Verweijen: many wonderful world percussion instruments
Dylan Fowler: guitar, piano, low whistle, vocals
Nathan Thomson: double bass, kalimba
Gillian Stevens: cello
Jaime Smith: accordion
Matt Hooper: duduk
KTB: vocals
Great harmonics... far more than folk-- fRoots Magazine
Expansive folk -- Musician Magazine
Unique, intimate charm. . . a fabulous disc -- Properganda
Irresistible --Taplas
Get your own copy of "Open All the Doors"
Donate any amount towards recording costs of Ember's next CD
Musicians on previous albums:
Emma Bryden: cello, vocals, celtic harp
Nick Sullivan: percussion
Influences
Ani Difranco, Indigo Girls, Gillian Welch, REM, Dead Can Dance, Michelle Shocked, Tori Amos, Regina Spektor, Dar Williams, Simon & Garfunkel, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Bright Eyes, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Be Good Tanyas, Johnny Cash, Woody Guthrie, Willie Nelson, Rick Astley, George Michael, Lhasa, Beth Orton, Lisa Ekdahl, Chet Baker, Allison Krauss, Nickel Creek, Norah Jones, Jacques Brel, Edith Piaf, Hildegard von Bingen, Emmylou Harris, Eva Cassidy, Sinead O'Connor, Rickie Lee Jones, Tiffany, Cyndi Lauper, Joan Osborne, Cowboy Junkies, Sarah McLachlan, Kate Rusby, Kathy and Kelly Sullivan, Patty Larkin, Sean Colvin, Wailin' Jennies. . .
Sounds Like
Sounds like Ember, but influenced by: Indigo Girls, Be Good Tanyas, Ani Difranco, Michelle Shocked, Rickie Lee Jones, Simon and Garfunkel, Tracy Chapman, Regina Spektor . . .
"One of the UK's hottest underground folk acts"
--BBC Wales 2007
"They can really please a crowd. . . one of the most polished and satisfying acoustic acts in the country today"
--Fabulous Furry Folk, Glastonbury
"Ember have been quietly taking their 'easy roots' style to the wider world outside Powys for a time but this is the album that will open doors for Emily Williams and Becky Sullivan. . .There's a light atmosphere, great harmonics and a gentle swing to a collection that touches on far more than folk."
--fRoots Magazine, June 2008
"The highlight of this year's Folk Week . . . Two
wonderful women, an immensely talented
singing/songwriting/playing-of-many instruments duo,
who totally entranced me and everyone else who heard
them."
-- Isle of Thanet Gazette
"Meltingly fine harmony lines . . . a red hot duo."
-- Taplas Magazine
"Both voices are fantastic and move beautifully together..."
-- Bryony, The Demon Barbers
"Superb. Brilliant."
-- Brian Willoughby, the Acoustic Strawbs
"This is excellent stuff!"
-- Johnny Coppin, BBC Radio Gloucestershire
"Truly a class act."
-- Julian, Wheaton Aston Festival Director
"A young singer songwriting group who are rapidly making a name for themselves on the world stage. With roots in both Wales and the USA, Ember play original and idiosyncratic songs and music with a huge enjoyment factor!"
-- Trouble Tree Folk Concerts, Netherlands
“Musical electricity!” -- Netrhythms
"It's not boring!" -- a woman in Great Rollright village hall
It's no wonder they sometimes feel like "a two-headed lady"! Since 2001 Emily Williams (Wales) and Rebecca Sullivan (USA) have travelled and sung together constantly: a unique busking act that has evolved into an in-demand band in the UK and Europe. Two distinctive voices form sizzling harmonies accompanied by guitars, fiddle, harmonica, whistle and clarinet. The catchiest songs about prison, love, murder and apocalyptic floods you’re ever likely to hear!
The unique acoustic magic of Ember has delighted audiences from California to Mexico, Ireland to Spain. Now based in Wales, where they have recorded all four of their albums, the two songwriters travel less far afield in order to write more, and to play regularly on the British acoustic music circuit.
They've thilled and amused audiences at dozens of UK festivals, including Glastonbury, Big Green Gathering, Sunrise Celebration, Cambridge, Sidmouth and Sesiwn Fawr. They've played at folk clubs all around the UK, often as a repeat booking. . .
While recording their fourth album "Open all the Doors" in Abergavenny's Felin Fach Studio, Ember had the great fortune of collaborating with multi-instrumentalist Dylan Fowler, whose inspired playing can be heard on many of the new songs. Other musicians involved include Jamie Smith, the accordionist of energetic dance band "Mabon," and virtuoso upright bass player Nathan Thomson. The sound is further propelled by an unusual collection of world percussion instruments expertly played by Job Verweijen (Netherlands).
You could call it contemporary folk -- with an edge. Comparisons have been made to Indigo Girls, The Be Good Tanyas, Simon and Garfunkel, Tracy Chapman, Michelle Shocked, Rickie Lee Jones, Peggy Seeger, Chris and Kelly While, Wailin' Jennies, the McGarrigles, etc.
Engaging and humorous performers, Emily and Rebecca build a natural repartee with the audience - in true troubadour style. Hecklers are always welcome!
I was your MC at the Cricket Club at Otley Folk Festival, and I thought you were so good that I sneaked off at the end of that concert to see you "headline" at the Rugby Club. Your sets were one of the high-spots of the festival for me, so much enthusiasm, so much energy, and great material. Keep it up - hope to see you again before too long.
Just wish I could stop going Woo-Woo! - no I don't :0) cheers Jim
Hey i just watched your video, loved the syncronized umbrellas. Good luck over there, we have apocolyptic weather here so hope the sun shines on you, lots of love x
hello both, thanks for your messages. I'll check but I think ceri wrote the daniel sgubor tune, he uses different guitar tunings which are a lovely mystery to me but I'll ask him when he gets back. best wishes, Julie
Glad we met. I was listening at the back of the bar (smoke zone, I'm so weak)last night. Very pretty songs. I'm in London end of April, too bad you don't play there then. Good luck with the tour, hope to see you again.
Hey, wassup? Just dropping by to say hey and spread the love.
Just so you know though, if you want extra networking opportunities, exposure, fans who can subscribe to your tracks, the chance to run remix contests for free promotion, and get tons of feedback on your music you should sign up for a free profile @ our website http://groundzeroprojects.ning.com
Hi, nice to hear from you.. balance.. what's that? No, I'm doing quite well actually. How are you doing? and what's facebook? Let me guess.. a book on faces.. on the internet? Cheers.