Gill Sandell is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. She works in contemporary folk and is known both for her solo records and for her work with other artists.

Career

Sandell spends much of her career as a collaborative musician, after a decade of working mainly with other acts. She plays with Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo, a folk quartet with whom she tours Europe, the UK and Australia, and she also works around continued commitments with that group.

Her other collaborations include Frank Turner, with whom she plays Wembley Arena and the Olympics Opening Ceremony, and the Broken Family Band, whom she supports and performs with at a time when they are at their peak. She also appears alongside Roddy Woomble, Adrian Crowley and Chris T-T on tour, which helps establish her reputation as a live performer.

Solo work

Sandell releases solo material under her own name. Her 2011 debut solo album, Tarry Awhile, comes out on her own label, Rowan Tree Records, in a deliberately DIY way. Her second solo album, Light the Boats, is also issued on Rowan Tree Records, with distribution through Proper.

Her solo writing is described as dark contemporary folk songwriting, and it is presented as her strongest work as a performer and writer in her own right.

Notable work and appearances

Sandell performs the pipe organ music that opens the BBC drama series The Shadow Line, using the Royal Festival Hall pipe organ. Her work on that piece adds to her profile as an instrumentalist as well as a songwriter.

She also gains notice for playing twice each night when touring as a support act and alongside Emily Barker.

Associated acts

Sandell is associated with Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo, Blusher and Timothy Victor’s Folk Orchestra.